The Bowbells tribune. [volume] (Bowbells, Ward Co., N.D.) 1899-1969, 1916-02-04
What Ex-Audit0r R0hine
Admitted While Under Oath

People. throughout Burke county
have been watching the Rom1ne-
stefonowicz libel suit which was
tried here last week with consider
able interest and for that reason
we herewith give! a complete ac-
count Of same. It will be remem!
bered that in the fall OF 1910 when
Romine made hia first run for the
Office of county auditor he made
the statement to practically every
voter with whom he came in con-
tact that in case he was elected he
would conduct the, Office with only
one deputy. He said he could do
this by putting in lots Of hard work
himself. After he had served two
terms the voters naturally wanted
to know whether or not he had
fulfilled his promises, and The
Tribune considered 1t was its duty
to let them know just what he did
do. After he had served two
terms we mentioned his various
de!inquenctes, and this stirred up
his wrath, and he sued us for libel,
claiming that he was damaged by
our article to tho extent of $4,000.
He employed Dudley Nash Of Mi
not, very competent attorney, to
prosecute the case, and was evt-
IDENTIFY of the opinion that the suit
would result in putting him right
with the voters again. Whether
the deired result was accomplished
or not will best be shown by the
court records, or can be testified to
by those who heard most or part
of the evidence.
The following is what was prov
ell during the course Of the trial,
aud is given to our readers with
out malice. and for the sole pur-
pose of showing how we'll John car
ried out his promises.
ROmine was the first witness on
der cross examination admitted
there were employed in his office
during his term from three to six
people during every month with the
possible exception Of one or two
months. and the records showed
that during most of the time from
$50 to $100 more was paid out in
salaries each month during his
term than what was paid out dur
ing the time Melby has held the
office. -: .,e....a;ss. .,s,;-e
Romine also admitted that each
year hes advertised for sale real
estate on which taxes had become
delinquent the year before and the
property had been bought by the
county, when the law requires that
the real estate be sold only once.
and then not again until 1t is re-
leemed. 1t was shown that his
disregard of the law In this instance
cost the county considerable
mount of money each year..
Romine also admitted while undo,
,athi that he kept fees collected IL
lis office and which the law pro
rides should be turned into til.
county treasury once q month, anf
that the fees were turned in b.
lin for the first time OH July 6
912, and at that time sum ex
eeding $3.50 was turned in, ba:n:
the amount Of fees collected he
:ween July I, 1911 and July ]
1919 He also admitted while TN.
Ter oath that he still had in his
possession the fees collected In HE
office between the first Monday in
April, 1911 and July I. 1911. and
'urther said that lie kept no track
II what the fees amounted to dur
ng these three months, and had no
;dea now what they would amount
Q. The law requires that he keep
\ fee book in his Office, and keep a
'ecord of al, fees collected by him
The records Of his office substan-
tiated all of his statements. Our
leaders, can best Judge for them
selves what Romina is guilty Of in
falling to concly with tho lay in
Ibis instance.
Romine also admitted on the
,tand that he spent some time each
Trear working on his farm in North
star township. and that he drew
lis full pay as county auditor dur
ng that time,.. and also that he was
zone for several weeks in Indiana
N the winter Of 1912-1913, that he
vas not even here to draw his pay
IN Dec. 81. 1912. and that he In
,tructed his deputy to sign for his
monthly pay warrant and that such
-arrant was mailed to MIN In IN
diana. Other witnesses also testi-
eed that. John was away from his
office at different times.
Romine also admitted that he
failed !, to certify to tax lists deliv-
ered to the county treasurer In the
'alis OF 1911 and 1912 as required
ny law. The treasurer would have
no right to accept such tax lists.
but nevertheless they wero accept
$ad and the taxes were paid In the
usual way. He also admitted de-
'ivering the 1914 tax lists to the
treasurer later than required by
law. and thereby causing irlcon-
venience in the treasurer's Office.
Only one tax list book was intro
duced to show errors on the part
5nf R0mine's clerks and that was
Ward township for 19 Ia This
.-hOWed that one farmer was assess
I'd for $437 and on account Of
snrr0rs he was only asked to pay
taxes on an assessment OF s87.O 90.
In another instance In the same
book another former was assessed
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