The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-02-09
HAMPTON AUDITOR
BEFORE GOVERNOR

Columbia, Feb. 4.-Cfovernor Coon
ef spent the greater part of the day
yesterday hearing the case of the
Hampton county audicor. r. Hagood
Gooding whom the grand Jury had
ms ructed the legislative delegation
TO reIuS' to recommend for appoint
m"nt, IT being charged that he had
failed to put property on the tax
books in the county and to perform
| properly his duties q o-hcrWise.
The governor heard Mr.. Gooding.
the comptroller general, the solici-
! Tor, the tax commission and other
| PEI sons on the case and the hearing
developed to such an extent that the
chief eXecu i've deferred action at
present and ordered the Hampton
authorities to prefer written charges
against the auditor. When these
charges are preferred the governor
will furnish Mr.. Gooding with a copy
and then allow the auditor chance
| % answer them.
| The Hampton county grand Jury
investigated the affairs of the county
during December. had an audit made
OF the books and found that the
former treasurer, w. A. Mason. was
short in his accounts OF $l7,SO1.9l
ana further that the tax collections
were in extremely bad condition as
well as certain other affairs of the
county.
In the, preScntment sent 10 Cow
ernor Cooper, the grand jury said
II found that the tax books had not
been opened on tipe. the same sit
uatiOn having been the case in 1918,
and that due 10 this the schools of
the county We're seriously crippled
in their work along with o.her
cOunjy activities. I'VE direct that
the clerk Of court forward a copy Of
this prcsentmcnt immcdia ely upon
its being filed to the governor 10
whom We take the liberty of sug-
Sesting that the county auditor Of
the counN should be required to per-
form his duties even to the extent Of
requiring him TO show cause why he
should not be removed from Office in
the event he has failed" SAYS the
prcSentmcnt. The county attorney
and the treasurer were instructed by
the grand jury 10 send evidence To
the chief executive on The matter of
the tax situation in the county and
it was largely due to these facts
from chc grand jury. the treasurer,
the attorney, solicitor and others
that Governor Cooper asked Mr..
Gooding TO appear before him.
The grand jury took exception to
;he way the affairs of the county
were being run in general and asked
for complete change. THE grand
jury takes this opportunity of di-
rectinS the attention OF the entire
people Of the county to the fact that
the affairs of the county are not be-
ing conducted in the manner re-
quired by law" the presentmcnt
says.
| Charges against the auditor were
that he had failed to put property
on the books. tha. he had failed to
follow instructions of the tax COM
mission in regard to automobile
and other property and that by his
acts something like 100000 worth
of property was not assessed, ac-
cordinG 20 a statement made after
the hearing yesterday.
The hearing was only in refer
cnce 10 the auditor, it being the de-
sire Of the governor to see whether
or not Alr. Gooding should be reap
pointed. After hearing from all
sides the chief executive decided 10
give the matter moro attention and
Will await the written charges.
Appearing before the governor
were Mr.. Gooding, J. u. Derham of
the tax commission, Walter l. Dun
can. comptroller general: W. V. Su-
,hcriand. former comptroller gem
cral; Rut l.. Osborne. former COMP
trollcr general; j. Fraser Lyon, at
torncy for the tax commission. and
Il number Of Hampton county olIi-
GERS, including Senator Lightscv.