Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-03-18

county.
"The city of Ottumwa has just made
a contract to sell it's bonds, which beal
interest at the rate Of Az per cent pei
annum, at a premium. II the county
bonds had been made to bear Interest
at Az per cent instead of per cent
the interest which the taxpayers have
to meet would have been less eacf
year by $1,000, or nearly $4,000 in al
for the term Of the bonds. The credit
Of Wapello county Is surely as gooG
as the credit Of the city Of Ottumwa
because the county takes in the city.
"The market for county bonds Is
just as easily ascertained as is the
price of any certain grade of sugar
And while the bond market varies
from time to time, the prices in Decem
Der, 1915, and in January, 1916, are
just as have stated.
II do not claim that because the
board of supervisors have caused the
county to lose $5,755. l ought to be
excused for causing the county loss
Of $39.63. But 1t does seem to me that
l am entitled to the same presumption
that l have acted honestly and fairly
that the board Of supervisors would be
entitled to IL charges were made that
they had wilfully caused the taxpayers
to lose the sum Of $5.755. To center
an attack on me for $S9.63 and to pay
no attention to loss of $5,755 seems
to me to be straining at nat and
swallowing camel.
II was never more surprised in my
life than | was when | learned that z
petition had been filed asking my re
moval. did not know then, as l have
learned since, that have been under
investigation for good many months
have reason to believe that you have
known of the Investigation for long
time, and yet you have never spoken q
word to me concerning the matter
Since the petition was filed you have
not denied the claim have made to
you personally that you have been as
sisting in this investigation by fire.
quent consultations with the represen.
tatives Of the attorney generals Of
fee. have no criticism to make Of
your conduct, II 1t was actuated by a
desire to serve the people of Wapello
county, or to uncover any graft or
misconduct in my Office. So far as you
were actuated by an ambition to sup.
plant me, or to seek revenge for GER
tain differences between us concern
ing your official conduct, l feel free
to say that you have not acted the part
of manly or loyal deputy.
Neither you nor any other county
officer has ever complained that | was
making improper CHI rges for fees and
expenses. l have no criticism Of the
county attorney, nor do | question his
honesty of good faith. Elmer Daugh-
erty is too we'll known to the people of
Wapello county for any Of them to be-
lieve that he is acting from any but
the highest and most disirlterested
motives.
Il have it from him that he did not
know the petition had been filed
against me until after it was received
by mail from the attorney general by
the clerk of the district court.
While | feel that had right to
demand loyalty from you, do not ask
and l never have asked, that you help
me to cover up any improper conduct
Of the Office. But you have had entire
charge Of the bookkeeping In the of.
fee. Last Tuesday evening asked
you to 60 over the books with my at
torneys, which you refused to do.
Last Wednesday morning you again
refused to 60 over the books with one
Of my attorneys, and refused to make
any comment upon erasures and
changes which appear in two of the
items covering transactions complain
ed of in the petition. Although you
did not deny at either time that you
have been in consultation with those
who are pressing the suit for my re-
moval from Office, you have absolute
ly refused to 60 into the matter of
the accounts shown by the books of
which you have had sole charge II
you have knowingly made any false
entries in the books, then you are
guilty Of the crimes which are charg.
ed against me. do not believe that
you have been guilty of knowingly
making any false charges on the
books. II you are innocent OF any
misconduct, az l believe you are In.
nocent, then cannot see what Objec'
ton you could have to going over the
books and accounts with my attorneys
and myself. This 10 vital matter to
HE, uOL DcCd u6S IL AHV1OSCO thO OAAAA VI
1888. but because 1t involves my
good name. You have remained in Of
fee for many months after you learn
ed that was under investigation, you
have been in close and constant rela'
lions with those who have had the In
vestigation in charge, and yet you
have never even intimated to me that
a single improper charge was going
upon the books which you were keep
ing.
II asked you to 60 over the books
with my counsel, In the presence OF the
county attorney, which you refused to
do. do not expect you to shield me
ii | am guilty, but do feel that
have right to demand your assist
ance in an examination of the books
and records of my Office. am pre-
sumed to be innocent until my guilt II
established. It would be the easier
way for me to resign, would prob
ably be better of financially to quit
now, but that would involve an admis
sion that am guilty Of the various
- - = III