The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1916-04-07
PLAIN STATEMENT OF
ROAD FUNDS MADE BY
JUDGE J. 7. A'kNIGHT
tContinued from. First Psea-I

(Conunued FROM First PAeo.i
ty trustees office one day and he men
toned the fact to me and asked me
what | thought about it, told him
II was all right guessed. He said
something about having heard some
thing about it being a political move
or something of the kind and that, II
he thought it had any Interior motives
behind it, he would have nothing to
do with it, but he did not believe that.
told nim had heard the same things
by several people, and had. But be-
fore we quit talking told him an in
yestigation was entirely proper, and l
would give him all the assistance
could, If he desired it. And he said he
would like to have some help from me.
He did come to my office and | did
show him everything knew to show
him and everything that he asked for.
During the various times he was in my
Office he said to me that he wanted me
to attend the mass-meeting and give
them anything ! could in the way OF
information, and told him | would
be there. | consider that went on
the general invitation and on Mr.. Tom.
linson's special invitation. Mr.. Tom
linson was fair in all his efforts and
said all he wanted was all the facts he
could get no difference what they
might me, and l think that was the
right thing.
$50 far as cutting off or choking or
preventing or trying to choke, cut on
or prevent or throttle an investigation,
| state most emphatically that / did
not undertake to do any such thing
and any statement to that effect is
absolutely unwarranted. The county
commissioners, in yesterdays Herald
say that they want and will ask for
an investigation by fair and compe-
tent committee and take it that they
mean what they say. So, do not
believe they desire anything choked or
cut off If they do, they have never
intimated any such thing to me. l
certainly am willing for such an inves-
tigation to be had.
"At the mass-meeting Mr.. Tomlinson
made his report, which / thought was
a very fair and proper one, and l did
not say one word about his report.
Then Mr.. Wilkes made what he called
his report, and as those who were
present know, he first spoke Of one
quarter with regard to the work house.
He gave the total expense for that
quarter and stated the number of
miles of road they built during that
time. He did not state that a part OF |
the expense paid during that quarter
was made when the work house was
on the Bigbyville road. thought, if |
fairness was wanted, that ought to be
known, and so asked him II he would
report that fact later in his report.
Then he took seven quarters and gave
the total expenditure during that time
and the number Of miles of road built
during that time. He did not show
that a part Of the total expenses for
those quarters was for two steel cages
at about $4,000, some mules. a pay.
ment on a rock crusher and other
items Of equipment. These things are
now assets Of the county, and | did
not think that they were properly
to the road which was built
1T the time they were bought. They
are now being used on other roads,
and they are valuable. Mr.. Wilkes
lid not state that during those quar-
,ers the work house had at one time
ninety eight prisoners, and about half
II them hoboes, who are of very little
benefit and much expense, but they
lave to be held there under the law.
know the commissioners wanted to
Jet rid of them, but they could not. d
md | though just, full and fair in
'estigation ought to mention that
act as well as any other, and l was
Informed that such facts were not in
Or. Wilkes report And so | men, .
Toned them, and then Mr.. Wilkes u
sked me to say no more and | said
% more. All tried to do was to do r
s Mr. Tomlinson had invited me to '
o-give any facts that | knew. And
did not do anything to hinder a fair
nd impartial investigation and any
tatement that did is unwarranted. in
How could an investigation which s.
hows only one side be worth any W
hing to anybody who wants that a!
yhich is right, and that which is moth 81
lg but the truth? a
at is true that / reported that the cl