Gunnison news-champion., 1923-02-02

The astounding report Of the Cunni.
son Grand Jury was presented 70 tn
public Monday, at two o'clock beinl
read to Judge Straud n. Logan b
Foreman Wilbur Curtis. The coufl
room was jammed with spectator
and the report aboundcd in sensation
after sensation. Thirty-four indict-
ments were brought in. "a Of them
against well known citizens for viola
tion Of the law governing intoxicating
liquors. Seven indictments were brot
against the county commissioner
w. H. Whaien, George Sullivan and
Ted Knowles, and County Clerk c. C.
McWilliams for malfeasance in Office
and against Whalen for illegal con-
tracing.
The liquor violation charges wer<
brought against Frank Stewart, John
Stokes, Stinson Riser, m. B. Herrick,
George Sullivan, o. J. Burns, Mrs. o.
J. Burns, A. L. Lashbaugh, Roger
Nelson, Max Chavez, and Joe David,
Of Gunnison; Mike Welch, Glenn Bazz,
Jake kochevar and John Heuchemer,
Of Crested Butte; George Phillips,
Harl Phillips, Karl Kalhamer, Bert
konoble. Ben Patterson and J. J. Kuy-
kendall, of Pitlkin; o. F. Werner and
Clifford Upton of Ohio City, and
against Pete Piloni and Mrs. Annie
Mann Of Baldwin, being quite impart-
tally distributed around this section of
the county. All Of them are well
known citizens. The Mike Welch and
Frank Stewart indictments were
known two weeks ago. The report
recommend extreme leniency in the
case Of Herrick, because of extenuat-
ing circumstances.
However, the dramatic part of the
report was thats dealing with County
Clerk McWilliams and Commissioners
Whalen, Of Crested Butte. Sullivan of
Gunnison and Knowles Of Doyleyille.
who are accused Of very many trans
actions alleged to be malfeasance in
office, and Mr.. Whalen Of illegal con-
tracing.
Readers Of the News-Champion
have been kept posted on how these
charges are the outgrowth Of attacks
made by the commissioners upon Nc
Williams in early December, shortly
after, his reelection as county clerk
and recorder by 500 majority, while
Whalen was defeated by 104. Shortly
after that the three commissioners
hired special auditors, who dug up
much incnminating matter against the
clerk and the latter retaliated by pub
lishtng charges galore against the
other officials. As q result, the grand
jury was called and has had before It
. complete report made by three ex-
perts from the Office Of State Auditor
Stcng, on matters which are detailed.
The offices Of the county Judge, county
treasurer, and county sheriff are said
to be in splendid condition, but Of the
county clerk and commissioners the
grand jury's report says: at is diff
ficult to imagine q worse condition
than has existed in these offices dur
ing the last two years. Practically all
the laws in reference to the conduct
Of said Offices have been disregarded,
and there appears wilful malfeasance
in the conduct Of these Offices" A
great many instances are enumerated,
among them keeping no inventory of
county property, failure to publish
proceedings, over-drawing funds to the
extent Of forty-one thousand dollars
in excess OF leyies and allowing them
selves milage, expenses and seven dol
lars day in addition to their salaries
when attending state and district road
meetings. OF 296 vouchers of the year
1922, brought to their attention, the
jury states that fully one-third were
not signed, and the rest not sworn to
property altho these particular war
rants eBfegafed over $4,000 Of the
eouutyy money paid out. They de-
clare TT the commissioners and clerk
paid by county Wnrrnnfs far an. ma.
AlgtH gte- Tor their private ears, a.
1Qn&;luch vouchers showed 9ll2.34
~ o!cl,s ear, 4S7e.1o 1or 0ulli-
v<S ~ J0e.5l far Knoulo4. with
m.y - auto expenses and uniteuais-
- h!!p 91 s6ees md eapsneoe~ for
IT, eSesk, 1he tuxy asfp that III
Feeoe 1emond rpt1tn q eE7o11 for
aneh Weon1 Mpenee1. Iayfik entsstain-
.eat vNs peuvi1ed n ~ nooeing a
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