The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-10-28

ACCSeOO - AONCNAOAAAOAA~ ~
the Public Through the
Press of Polk County
Following the publication OF the
pres 'ntment to Judge Edwards OF the
report OF the grand jury in which
. there is contained request that Gov
crnor IIardee suspend the county
board of public instruction and the
county superintendent of public in
sirurtiun pending a more thorough
Investigation Of school matters, rep
rcsentative of the Telegram inter
viewed County Superintendent Park
or who made the statement that he
cuuried the fullest investigation OF
ihc whole matter. In fact, Mr. Parker
stressed the fact that had it not been
tor his initiative the state auditor
would possibly not have come across
the shortage in the school accounts
this in effect being the admission oi
the auditor himself when he began to
go THROUGH the books. Mr.. Parker
says that i'll the very beginning, when
by mere accident he stumbled upon 4
discrepancy in the school funds. he
insisted ON full and complete inves
tigation. sending Immediately to the
state comptroller for someone from
that office to come to Barlow and
ChC"k up. No one at that time had
the slightest suspicion that anythinp
was wrong. and as stated above, ii
was by chance that the trouble wa
mearthed. Since that time Mr. Park
er makes il emphatic that he has
never ceased to endeayor to get down
to the very bottom OF things and tha'
it was he who had the matter called
to the attention of the grand jury He
feels that he has left no stone un-
turned to bring full light to bear on
the entire situation and he says he
proposes to 30 all the way in cooper
attn" with any additional inyestiga-
ton that may be made by the state
authorities. Naturally he deplores
what has occurred and as good citi-
zen proposes to see that right and
Justice are done on behalf of the peo-
Pile.
The following is an official state
ment Just issued to the Polk county
press by the county board of public
instructions
The Boards Statement
Barlow. Fla. Oct %. 1921,
Hon Cary \. IIardee, Governor,
Tallahassee, Fla.
Dear Sir: We. the undersigned
members of the county school board
for Polk county. Florida presuming
that Il copy of the general present
ment of the grand jury for said cOun-
here. has been sent to your excel.
loncy, desire to make this communi-
cation to you in reference to the criti-
cisms of MS as contained in said gen
eral presentment While we do not
desire to indulge in any reciprocal
criticisms against the grand jury, yet
we think there is some political and
partisan feeling as the basis Of much
of said criticisms. Criticisms not
based upon facts are unjust.
The county school board for this
county was re-organized in January
last: G. b. Murrell was reelected
from the Lakeland district. Dr. j. a.
Garrard. being new member. was
elected from the Barlow district, and
{. j. Wilson. being a new member
was elected from the Fort Meade dis
trict. We think we are all average
citizens of our county. and we know
that we have had at heart the inter
est and welfare Of our public schools.
We have acted upon this principle.
trying TO preserve the school funds
as trust for the children of Polk
county. and trying to administer such
funds economically.
n
clerk by the several boards for the
past eight years or more. He had the
full confidence of said boards and the
general confidence of the public. He
I was regarded generally as truthful
and honest and very efficient. Hence
when his shortage as clerk developed
/ Il was not only n surprise to us but
also 20 the general public. AS you
know, the board handles no actual
money but only warrants or negotia-
I BILE papers in reference TO settling the
Indebtedness OF the board in carry.
| ing on the schools and administering
I the school funds The several state
/ auditors would check up or audit the
ONCE and always gave to the Office a
good report and commended tho man.
ner In which the books we're kept
/ There was no law requiring us Ia
I take a bond from Mr.. Woodard and II
had never been done. His shortage
was based upon his manipulation OF
the warrants and his deceit or fraud
/ In reference thereto.
The grand jury says that through.
out the handling OF this entire matter
I the board has displayed a greater con.
/ aideration for the accused clerk than
I they had for the interest Of the citi.
zens Of the county. This statement is
absolutely untrue. Just as soon as the
superintendent discovered what ap-
peared 10 him TO be crooked work on
the part OF the clerk, he called a
meeting Of the board, The board az.
econtinued o. pass q