The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-11-23
,.ryry TREASURER IN BAD.

MSrY TREASURER IN BAD.
r...,ug has occurred in years in
.ounty administration that has
us so by surprise as the re-
l,st week of the arrest of County
.,.rer F. W. Plessinger, at Okla
4. an a charge of forgery, or ut
4, false expenseNvoucher. one
4 ,se sane thing. THIS paper is al
!, ,n,erested in couEty officials, no
s.r what may be their politics. 1t
-,,ss efficiency. honesty and cour-
!, the conduct of public office,
!, 4 always ready to give an official
a .redit for duties well performed.
rnving that course the Gazette has
y occasion to comment favorably
[, MFR. Plessingers admin
s,,dou of the treasurship, hav-
bsen informed that he was careful
4, accommodating, Hence the news
n backsliding was especially sur
..;ug and in a measure humiliatine
nis only fair to the accused to state
his time that he proposes to take
ase into court in an effort to have
s.ide the action of the county COM
..,ouers in declaring his office va
{, His line of defense will be that
An he accepted favors from a firm
~ business with the county
rush his and other county offices,
feared that that firm would con-
lbr him to be under obligations to
A, members, and that obligation
MIA influence him in giving out
rtrscts for supplies, and hence,
IN he put in his vouchers for the
lesed expense account it was his in
.aton to turn the money over to
~ from whom he had accepted ac-
umodstions. This sounds plausible,
there is danger that it will not
~ the general public, always
Ne to suspicion when acts perform
have tincture of wrong doing.
M Is human nature, if not always
Rdiahle to human nature. Anyhow,
Plessinger is under cloud Of
sIcion, and is called upon to ans
Il nave charge. The following ac-
nut Of the incident is taken from
\ Oianogan Independent:
| 1arged with having fradulently
usated for payment to the board of
np commissioners false voucher
~ intent to lefraud the county,
onty Treasurer F. w. Plessinger
n placed under arrest Thursday by
nmif Clair Ward on an information
Ind by Prosecuting Attorney Chas.
4 Johnson. Plessinger's bond was
Issd It $1,000.
special meeting Of the board of
|Bnr commissioners was called to
|Iadder the matter, yesterday. The
insurer was called before tie board
y n morning and informed that the
mi was there to take up the Ques-
|n d suspendi..g him pending the
|Htnme Of the trial Plessinger was
|Nsaented before the board by Attor
|W r D. Smith ard ]. w. Faulkner.
u afternoon session of the board
IN held at vhica the treasurer was
scared suspended from office.
lM events leading up to the arrest
tne county treasurer are as follows
he September session of the
|Md Of county commissioners Pies
|aer presented vouchers for alleged
qsases incurred on his trip to Ia
|aa 70 attend the meeting of the
|nh treasurer's association. The ex-
|aes Of the trip appeared too high
Y ue board AMI they eliminated i some
Y ne items. One of the eliminated
|ans was voucher bearing the alleg-
l IMMATURE of l.. R. Ufford, travelling
Aesman for Trick & Murray, book
aauers OF Seattle. This was in the
mount Of $3.50. Another was for 81,
s4nag signature purporting to be
!" ol y. d. Trick of the same firm.
ao!aer was signed by Ray Plessinger
nO'aer Of the county treasurer. This
- ior 40. They were all for trans
slatlon bills which Plessinger claim
I nave paid. At the time, the board
4 aos question the authenticity of the
1a'ures on the vouchers, but mere
'Amped the transaction as irregu-
! ana cut the transportation items
w % the amount of the railroad
y Oetween Okanogan and Tacoma.
'ne matter probably would have
~ " no further had not Mr.. Ufford
."sa here last week and learned of
aiair. he asked of County Auditor
s''0ard that he be permitted to see
vouchers and upon examination
u's'a at once stamped the sigma
!. y ol himself and Mr.. Trick as for
y. - ne went to Plessinger, who at
~ aamitted his guilt. Plessinger la
! = y tne day made affidavit to the ef-s
y N mat the names of Ufford and
~ ! nad been forged by himself to
u, 'oucners and that he had paid
.''asr OF the parties any money for
'n'portation.
- reporter of this paper Pies
~. denied any intention of de-
lung the county. He admitted that
!, aad Performed a very foolish act
:. urging the vouchers, but stated he
\. n'ended to pay the money over to
y 's.n. J. ufford and Trick after receiv-
~ - from the county. He stated the
!, ~ Mlng in substance to the board
Sn.y commissioners when called
hI