The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1925-02-13
PASOUOTANK DRAINAGE
MUDDLED
No Books Kept on S60, 900 Project, Many Items
Unaccounted For, and $4,000 Needed For
Uncompleted Job Burdening Taxpayers

shown in the 80 page audit OF
Pasquotank Drainage System
Number in Ncwland, town
ship, which audit has just been
completed by G.. c. Pritchard
County Auditor. The audit,
reveals a disheartenlng abuse
of public confidence, and a
careless use Of public money
running into thousands OF dol
lars.
Mr.. Pritchard shows in the audit
now on file in the office OF the
Register of Deeds Of Pasquotank
County. that this big project start
Ing i'm 1922 involving the eXpendi-
lures of more than SCI 900 assessed
against over 100 landowners in New
land Township, that 10 books ut
all were kept by the Drainage Cont
missioners, who paid out money
right and left, and made loans,
without asking for receipts, or fill
ing statements of what the money
was paid for. Thousands of dollars
are unaccOunted for: the project,
which has been paid for in excess
of the contractors estimate is far
from complete and will require
$4,000 or more to complete ~.
A deficiency Of S15,I9409 is shown
i'm the assessment roll to derive
taxes TO pay interest and premium
on bonds. must he taken care Of,
making $25,000 or more extra that
will be needed from the the already
over-burdened taxpayers.
Cohoon's Fees S6,036.i2
The audit disclOses that $3.50 Is
owing to some unknown person, and
the Commission. has 10 means of
knowing to whom it is due. Six
thousand, thirty-siX dollars and
forty-two cents was paid over 10 w;
/. Cohoon. State Highway Com
mission attorney, who was likewise
attorney for the Drainage Commits
sion and lent unsparingly OF his ef-
forts to put the project thru. This
sum is listed as payment for fees
and expenses. the latter item total
ing exactly $145.51. Instead OF dc
posting the money derived from the
sale of the bonds with the County
Treasurer, the Drainage Commission
deposited it with the First Citizens
National Bank where they. had free
access to The funds, and put thru
debit slip for Il slinl running in
to thousands, Of dollars, without MAX
ing any notation whpterer, Of what
the Withdrawals were to he dis
burscd for. On January ). 1923,
before any bonds were sold, the
Commission borrowed $4,000, and
turned it over to G. w. Lacy, con
tractor. in excess of any estimate OF
money then due him and the con.
tractor had the use of this money at
the expense Of the taxpayers, who
were obliged to pay interest on the
loan to the tune of $703.09. this
amount never having been refunded
to the county. On July 81, 1923, ac-
cOrding to the audit, the sum Of
S10,15J. was paid to G. w. Lacy,
and no check or receipt is available;
to show that the money was rectiy.
cd by the contractor.
Never Complied With Law
The audit shows that j. y. VIII
liams, Il. G. Brite and Jordan Har-
ris, the then Commissioners, over
paid themselves to the respective
amount of $1G1. $23.9O. and $22.2O,
taking So day instead Of the $500
allowed by law. No bond was ever
filed by the commission and the
county has absolutely no redress ex-
cept TO bring criminal action against.
the Commissioners who are liable
for Il misdSmeaDor. punishable
upon conviction In the discrea-
q, ton of the court The Commits
siOncrs at 10 time complied with
the law requiring 6D-day audits Of
receipts and disbursements, rs he
filed with the Clerk of the Court,
and posted at the courthouse door,
and an annuak audit Of the same
nature to be disposed of likewise
Confined OH Page Tcn)