The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-04-25
CLAIM EX-OVERSEER
DID BUSINESS
WITH THE CITY
Auditors Say That w. J. Clapp Sold
Wood While Serving as an Official,
in Violation of the City
Charter.

Information indicating that an ex over
seer Of the poor received pay for sup
plies furnished the charity department,
| in direct violation of clause in the city
charter which forbids city official from
entering into a contract with the city
under such circumstances. reached the
board of aldermen at its regular meeting
| last evening through statements made
! by the auditors, D. j. Sullivan and Will
liam Stephens. The disclosure concerns
w. j. Clapp, who was succeeded April |
by William Mcdonald, present head of
the charity department. Before the audi
tors left the council chamber they had
given evidence tending to show that Al
derman Bruce, member of the charity
committee, received from the city money
for transporting woman to the state
hospital in Waterbury. The aldermen
acted by appointing committee of three,
to include the mayor, the city attorney
and the city clerk, to make careful in
yestigation and report its findings.
Mr.. Clapp was not present to defend
himself and therefore only one side of
the case was heard. But Alderman Bruce
explained the item for transportation by
saying that the husband of the woman
who was transferred to Waterbury later
made good his guarantee by reimbursing
the city for money paid on transporta
ton. According to the statement made
bv the auditors, a member OF the charity
committee received S275. Mr. Bruce as
serted that he accompanied the chief Of
police on the trip and that soon after
ward the patients husband made good
the expenses Of the trip and that the
money was turned over TO the city treas
urer.
Upon appearing before the aldermen,
Mr.. Sullivan explained the mission of the
auditing board by stating that il had
completed the examination Of Mr.. Clapp's /
books. that certain items therein con
tanned appeared to have been entered a.
bills contracted and paid in violation OF /
the city charter. II was not the pur
pose Of the auditors to report the books T
as audited and accounts properly vouched
for before the aldermen had had time to
examine certain entries. The first item
had to do with bill paid March II.
which was not included in the budget az
proved BY the charity committee March
25. Upon inquiry it developed that the
bill was properly contracted. Alderman
Bruce having recalled the circumstances
attending its payment, In the second in
stance. the auditors referred 10 the bill
ior auto hire and the third referred u
wood alleged TO have been sold the de-
,artment by a partnership in which the
-etired overseer was interested
In their statement covering this case
he auditors said that a bill was rendered
FEB. ! for wood claimed 10 have been
furnished by T. Letter. that the check
vas signed. "E Letter. by W. J. Ciapp.
alderman Milne interpolsted the remark
hat maybe Mr.. Letter couldn't sign for
Iimself. The auditors statement went
IN to intimate that the wood rss sold ia
our loads. at 50 per load. the grade be
nc edgings Il was intimated that hard
rood al that time probably cost no more |
han So Per cord. II was the understand q
ng Of the auditors that Messrs Clspp =
nd Letter we're in company in the Nood
usiness. Is
Alderman Bruce thought that tie audi :
ors had the necessary authority t8 deal s