Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1916-12-22
CHARGE CONTRACTOR
lee WITH PERJURY
Prosecuting Attorney Tuesday Filed
Information Direct in Superior
Court Against Contractor

Tuesday morning PROSECUTING At
torney K. Nj. Burgunder filed an in
formation in the superior court
charging f. l.. Lee, the road con
tractor, with perjury in the second
degree. The information alleges
that on the 9Th day of September of
this year Lee filed payroll with the
county commissioners purporting TO
cover certain work performed on per-
manent highway No. 2, and that on
the same day the defendant, as SUI
perintendent and person in charge of
the work, knowingly and unlawfully
before Geo, II. Newman, deputy au-
ditor and clerk of the commissioners
court, swore falsely and in writing
that the services in the payrolls
were performed and were true and
correct.
The information further alleges
that in truth and fact the payroll
was false and was known to be false
by the defendant in the following
particulars: First, that r. II. Thomas
and X. S. Fuchemin did not work
on permanent highway No. during
the time mentioned nor at all; sec
Ond. that Alfred Lyons and team did
not work over IL hours on the said
hnt I Il a
not work over 10 hours on the road;
fourth, that none of the men or
teams worked on August 20, or from
August 26 to 81 inclusive; fifth, that
the total amount due the men does
not exceed $3.50, and that the de-
fendant's commission did not exceed
$50.
According to the pay roll a copy
of which was attached to the in
formation, . men were employed
on this particular piece of road from
August II to 81, inclusive. and the
total amount alleged to have been
expended on the road was $50. On
this amount Lee claimed as his COM
mission the sum of $162, represent
Ing 20 per cent. AS between the pay
roll and the charges contained in the
information filed by Prosecuting At
torney Burgunder, there is dis
crepancy of $3.50 in the cost of the
work and $72 in the amount repre-
senting Lees commission.
Monday afternoon Prosecuting At
torney Burgunder presented the facts
contained in the information to the
board of county commissioners and
the latter unanimously agreed to CO.
operate with him and directed him
to push the criminal charge against
Lee. This was the first concrete evil
dence pointing toward irregularities
on the part of the contractor in the
fulfillment of his contract which had
been presented to the commissioners
and they are determined to carry the
matter to a definite conclusion.
The case was originally started
against Lee in the justice court, when
he was charged with grand larceny
the specific charge being that Lee
had padded the pay roll for the work
done on permanent highway No. 8
near Pullman. At that time he was
released on $4,000 bonds, furnished
by two Colfax business men, TO ap-
pear at a later date to enter his plea
The date of the hearing was post
poned twice, and in order to get the
matter before the superior court II
time for next jury term, PROSECUTING
Attorney Burgunder decided to Tile
direct in the higher court.
bond in the sum of $4,000 has
been required of Lee under the new
charge, the bondsmen in the former
action having been released.
The preliminary hearing was hello
Wednesday. when Lee filed a de
murrer to the complaint, allegint
that the facts contained therein
were not sufficient to constitute
crime. Judge r. l.. McCroskey flXec
December 30 as the date for hearing
on the demurrer.