The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-06-21
Report ON Shortage
In Treasurer's Office

Believing that the people Of Pickens
county should know the facts in the
case, we are printing below the report
OF w. w. Bradley, who recently ex-
amned the books of the county treas
urer and found discrepancy in that
office. The. report, which is self.ex-
planatory, follows:
10 hon. .. X. LaRoque, State Bank
Complying with the request of
the grand jury Of Pickens county. by
your direction, have made an audit of
the books, accounts and vouchers of the
treasurer's office of said county, to-
gether with the other county Offices
contrlbutory thereto, covering Il period
beginning July ], 1916, the date of the
last settlement witnessed by the comp
troller general, and closing May z, 1917
No detailed audit was made of the
various Offices, except in so far as was
necessary to account for all funds in
which the countyor state was interested.
l lind that the clerk of court has
turned over to the treasurer all fines
and licenses collected by him; that the
probate judge has turned over all mar
riage license fees, according to law;
| that the superintendent of education
has turned over and reported all funds
which have come into his hands, and
that the sheriff has properly accounted
for the 1916 executions. 1t may be said
to the credit of the sheriff, that he is
one Of the few sheriffs Of the state who
reports on all of his executions prior to
the time Of the annual settlement, and
leaves nothing to be carried over in his
hands.
AS the county treasurer's office is:
hnally accountable for all public funds
collected in the county, detailed audit
OF this office was made which is at
tached hereto and made part Of this
report
1t will be noted from this statement
: that the cash of the county treasurer
appears to be short $4432 ~ AS off.
s setting this, in part. the treasurer pre-
sented tax receipts that he had held out
as an accommodation to certain taxpay
y ers, amounting to $l79.lO. While the,
e treasurer assumed responsibility fa..
: these items. in withholding them from
the sheriff's hands, it is my opinion that
II the property covered may still be
e 1ound, he may yet issue his execution
] ana collect these taxes. He presented
items Tor postage bought for the treas
u1ers office and other county Offices.
covering period Of something more
than year. These, we believe renre-
sent actual cash paid out, total of
S4l.49 but of course this cannot be ad
mltted as voucher until passed by the
county supervisor and his warrant issued
therefor. He presented due bills of
INDIVIDUALS amounting to $123GO; his
own personal due bills amounting to
$924.57. and due bill of his assistant,
w. A. lGdens, for $3.50. co. which Mr.
Edens. stated was to take up sundry
smaller due bills which he had from time
to time placed in the drawer Of course
no credit could be allowed for the items
above mentioned
The following irregular credits were
allowed: Accounts paid and held, for
which the supervisor y warrants had not
|
$ll7l.l1; amount paid for board of vital
statistics for which no warrant had
been obtained, $357.
The detailed statement follows:
Respectfully
w. w. BRADLEY,
Assistant State Bank Examiner.
Here follows a mass of figures which
the public would not be interested in.
but which is summed up in the follow
ing rcconcling balance:
Cash balance, state sheet S 7l4.S2
county 20, 0,306. sc
school 21,310l5
S42, 33l .83
Cash in bank as per certifi-
! Gates ~ $3G,2l1.7E
| Accounts paid and held, for
! which vouchers have not
been obtained III 7h
| Paid for board Of vital Stats.
| ties for which no voucher
has been obained 3,57 90
| Cash in office 90 o1