Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-04-14
December Grand Jury Recommends
That Civil Suits be Brought
Against County Contractors

49, 10 hANC
a list of questions submitted by him,
and making recommendations as a re-
suit of this inquiry. The list included
evidence against certain contractors
as a basis for civil suits for recovery
of monies alleged to have been IL
legally collected, and against the
Union Bank of Wildwood for interest
due on money deposited by the county
in that institution.
On Wednesday, March 20, 1922, the
Grand Jury was again called into ses-
sion by Foreman Clayton Haines
Brick, and on Tuesday of the following
week the following brief of the find
ings was filed as public record with
the County Clerk.
State of New Jersey
County of Cape May s.
This is to certify that the following
is a correct and true report of the
recommendation and findings of the
December, 1921, Grand Jury of Cape
May County, New Jersey, sitting at
Cape May Court House on Wednesday,
March 20, 1922, to ascertain certain
facts set forth as a duty of the Grand
Jury by Supreme Court Justice, Hon
orable Charles C. Black, to wit:
First: "In what banks are the funds
of Cape May County deposited, and
what interest is paid thereon" County
Treasurer Harry Headley, of Ocean
City, was examined and testified that
the money of the county is distributed
in all of the banks of Cape May
County, and that interest at the rate
of 3 per cent was paid on the Contract
Account (money held to meet pay
ments on contracts), the amount in
this account in the Ocean City Title &
Trust Company being on March rs,
1922, 1923 ,533.11. The amount col
lected in interest during the veal 1921
on this account was $3,270.41. All
other accounts of the County of Cape
May, Collector Headley testified, were
active accounts and at each meeting of
the Board of Freeholders a sum sufi-
cient to pay the current bills was bor-
rowed from the various county banks,
and only a very small balance left in
each'bank from month to month: The
Grand Jury makes no recommends
ton.
Second: "Are the bills calling for
money to be paid properly examined
and sworn to before payment in COM
pliance with the statute. 3 Comp.
Stats, p. 1866, Sec. 1926" Irving Fitch,
Clerk of the Board of Chosen Free
holders was examined and on oath
said that all bills were fully itemized
and properly sworn to as required by
law, and submitted in evidence several
hundred bills. The Grand Jury makes
no recommendation.
Third. What, if any, steps have
been taken to comply with the recon-
mendation of your predecessor in hav-
ing a permanent place provided at
Cape May Court House for the trans
action of the public business by the
Board of Chosen Freeholders, and de-
pository there of the public records
and accounts of such Board" The
Grand Jury recommends % That a
suitable fireproof depository be pro-
vided in the Court House building, at
Cape May Court House, for all records
of the Board of Chosen Freeholders,
and that all records of said Board,
when not actually in active use, be
properly filed in this fireproof con-
tainer. (2) That hereafter all meet
ings of the Board of Chosen Freehold
ers whether regular, adjourned or
special, be held in the Freeholders'
Meeting Room, Court House building,
Cape May Court House, and when
meetings are necessary in other parts
of the county, hat these meetings be
meetings of committees only, and no
official action taken at any meeting
other than those held as before stated.
Fourth: A memorandum of evidence
to serve as a basis for the commence
ment of civil suits against various con
tractors and others having been filed
with the Grand Jury by Honorable
Charles c. Black, and this evidence
having been carefully examined. it is
herewith submitted to the Board of
Chosen Freeholders, and it is recon-
mended that civil suits be commenced
by the Board of Chosen Freeholders
in each and every case where the evil
dence appears to warrant civil action,
these suits to be prosecuted by the
County Counsel.
Fifth: In the matter of a petition of
twenty-five Freeholders in the City of
North Wildwood, County of Cape May,
for a summary investigation into the
affairs of such city" Careful exami-
nation of the report of this investiga-
ton as submitted by Messrs. S. Rus
ling Leap and Lewis T. Stevens, Com
missioners of Investigation, appears to
fail to disclose any criminal violation
of the laws of New Jersey, but rather
shows a chaotic condition of the NUM-
cipality's accounts, and the Grand
Jury herewith appends a copy of the
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