South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-07

Unnamed Official Was "WhoIe
Works" in His Community,
Paying Bills to Himself and
Son on His Own Order With
out Receipts.


ana who has either the greatest ig-
norance of OF disregard for state
laws. Because of the publicity law,
under which the state board operates,
it is impossible at this time TO give
out the name of the man concerned.
Examiners still are working on the
books Of the township trustee and the
grand jury investigation of the case
is expected 10 bring out startling
facts. Mr. Hendren has made pub
lie a statement Of the condition of
the mans accounts as township trus-
tee, signed by the man, which the
state official believes will have a rep
ressive effect all over the state.
practically every statement contained
in the letter from the trustee TO the
state board intimates or acknowledge
es a law violation.
Text of Letter.
The letter follows:
Gentlemen: Regarding your re-
quest that certain records, documents
anC papers be brought in for exam
ination and inspection. / was not able
TO produce but few of those asked, for
the following reasons
Il did not bring the four bank pass
books for the reason that they will be
of little use TO you. as some of them
have not been balanced for about
FIVE years one of them having been
lost. The Cancelled checks / do not
preserve and what | have are scat
tered, some in my desk. some at var
ious banks and some have become de-
stroyed.
The note for SSO2.21, balance paid
on screen and bin, was not preserved.
| made no written contracts with
teachers or janitOrs, term 1911-1912,
all being hired on verbal agreement
No written contracts were made for
any purchases, work or labor per-
formed in 1912. No bills, invoices or
other memOs of purchases other than
the vouchers for 1912 are kept. 1
received no stubs of dog receipts from
the assessor and all collections by me
were receipted without stub record
being kept.
No Deeds.
Il have made no deeds whatever
for township property and you will
have TO obtain data of insurance from
Mr.. Blank. who placed the insurance.
l have no definite recollection of
what various purchases of supplies,
equipment, etc, consisted of as to
quantity and price.
II have never required road super
visors to make reports Of service etc.
as they are not intelligent enough to
make out such reports. but l salts
fed myself by personally looking af
ter it that they worked the full sixty
days charged for in 1912. 1 kept no
itemiZed service account in 1912. /
regarded | was entitled to 365 days
service in 1912, but only received pay
for $50 days. / also received $40 for
taking enumeration. Advisory board
did not pass on amount
1T has been impossible for me to
get the advisory board in Blank town
ship to attend TO their prescribed du-
ties. No meetings have been held
since l became trustee, except the
one held in January TO draw salar-
les No appropriations have been
made. as | have been told that it was
of no use. The appropriations for
1912 shown on appropriation record
were arbitrarily placed there by my
self without any action of advisory
boar and are not recorded on their
record Of proceedings In fact, all
the meetings shown and recorded on
the advisory board records and the
meetings for levies, June, September
and January meetings have been writ
ten up in book by myself after which
present record TO each member for
signature by taking same TO them in
dividually.
No Record Made.
II have some transfers between
Blank township and Blank township,
of which no recotd or payments are
made. as both l and Mr.. Blank regard
il about an even trade and let it go
at that.
Mr. Blank who serves as a mem
Der Of advisory board, is same Blank
who serves and is paid as road super
visor in blank township, road district
No. l.
MIR. Blank is my son, not yet of
age and the sums shown paid him in
&C 60
rendered of my engine, etc, in oper
ating crusher and by my team in
hauling and for rock belonging TO me,
furnished township. I was advised to
enter this in name Of my son to avoid
airy chance for trouble. The sum o
s593.9O Of this~came 10 me. balance
went to my boys for their labor.
Supplies Furnished
Mr.. Blank. who is chairman Of adj
visory board is the same Mr.. Blank
who is one Of the two brothers COM
posing firm Of Blank Bros. and who
furnished all the provisions, etc. for
poor relief to amount OF S303 in 1912,
and who also furnished supplies and
fuel 10 schools.
The $3.50 balance drawn for 1911
was balance Of $500 salary for 1911.
which was not drawn on account Of
lack of funds. but I draw $500 regu
larry for each years service, except
first year. $3.50. No itemized service
account was kept any year. The $40
enumeration is extra for ten days
work above the $500 salary.
The livery charges of $50 for 1911
was for use OF my own rig and charge
was not passed on by advisory board. |
but was reasOna Bile