The Springdale news., 1915-07-30

 SHORTAGE


 Humphreys by w. B. Smith, master in chancery, apointed to state tae matter of the State, by and for the use of Washington County, against NJ F Croxdale, ex-circuit clerk aid ex-officio clerk Of the chaneery court. was filed Friday with the chaneefs clerk here Mir. Smith. $ findings show that Croxdale WAS shortln hls settlement with the county for the two terms which he held from otfo- Der l90S-l912, 5,09t.t2.
 This includes the items which are short in settlement with the county only and does not include shortages to witnesses, to newspapers for legal advertising and other incidental eA- penses. which, according te MT. Smith, Nin easily double this amount Mr smith was not-required by court to state II account q 1ndl8ldaaIs .aea!nst Croxdale as al officer. MT. smith stated today that s1o, o,ooo would D d
 findings of the total Croxdale short age. cr9xlale adnutted to shortage Of | little over 1000, and promised to make it pp, but he left the city just before the leea. limit Of time for him to hold the money out eAp1F- ed. His whereabouts are not ION known though it $ said that he is teaching school in Canada just across the line from Washington State The report of the master in ehaneery will make possible an early disposition of case in chancery court looking toward the recovery Of the coanty's money from Groxdaie g bondsmen
 .Croxdale held office for two terms, and he had different sets Of bonds men, both as circuit clerk and as chancery eelrk. The bondsmen, 1t Is believed, will claim that the short age cannot be located exactly as 10 the term in which it occurred, and it is also said that they will seek relief from liability by reason of the county judges failure to insist on quarterly reports of all county oft1- eers as required by law. It is also said that his bondsmen will defy the State to locate Croxdale's shortage separately as circuit clerk and as recorder for each of the terms.
 The report 6 the master IS very comprehensive and shows clearly eV- cry detail of business transacted lh the office throughout the two terms. It also shows how much shortage there was at every quarterly report period which was an amount that gradually increased until 1t reached more than $7 ,000 just one month be- fore Croxdale's term f office explr- ed About $2,000 was turned in in settlements during his last month in office.
 By reason of law which was re- pealed only by the last assembly, county officers have heretofore been having one year in which to settle their accounts. Therefore. in fixing the liability for the two periods, about S3 ,000 of the actual first term shortage was carried over te tAe second term by MT Smith. Accord ing to his findings, the shortages 10 the county for the first term was ST A. and for the second term was s5,019.17.
 Croxdale made bond for s15,000 a! circuit clerk and for both terms 1t was signed by F. P. Hall, II. k Wade, E. B Harrison and J. H. Nell roy In addition to these (. H. Bel was on the second bond and C. D. McIlroy on the first bond On Crox- dales bond as recorder for the first term were Bruce Hoiconb, $. II. Slaughter and Art Lewis, and on his second bond for recorder George T. Lake and w. W. Bishop. The bond for recorder was 5000 for each term.
 The report of the master shows the standing of the account of Croxda1e with the county for annual periods until June 3Oth, 1911, after which quarterly report periods are designat- ed The change from annual periods to quarterly periods was made nee ess try becausee Of the pas sage of an act i1 the legislature Of 1911 re quiring officials to file quarterly re ports by the fifth day Of each quar- terly term of the county court ill January, April, Juy and October Fayetteville Democrat.
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