The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1929-01-11

,;cIo>c> 4 shortage of $4,000 TO STU
.r,. exact amount of the short
. .a,, not be determined at once.
3 ,.,,irr from the Attorney General
,va,rcd to clear up one Item
.,r,, Ernest Sawyer took over the
Vic, of Clerk six years ago to sue
nod C. R. Little who resigned to
II, m office with the Carolina
,rkirc & Trust Co. there were
,nd> aggregating $4,000 or more
old in the office in trust for orphan
lDldrcn and others for whom the
Ie~k acted as guardian.
Trc law allows the Clerk OF the
,,,r, q commission Of five per cent
1 al such funds received and dis
Irsed by him. But when Mr.. Little
Irncd over the office to Mr.. Sawyer
Icv calculated the funds in hand
II Mr.. Little took TWO per cent for
msc2f and NIr. sawyer took four
p ccu. II this action was legal
hi they we're entitled to thus split
SIX per cen; commission on funds
READY subject to a five per cent
bmml,sion. then the shortage OF
[crk Sawyer will actually amount
| little more than $4,000.
Shortage May Shrink
Par. Of the shortage will be taken
~ o. Dr a note and mortgage on
hich Clerk Sawyer had properly
i9ncd money in his hands. The
,.VaI shortage may finally simmer
,wn 70 a matter of $4,000 or more.
n the other hand, there may be
alters which the auditors have
u vet uncovered that may run the
.or,age up to a higher figure than
N now be anticipated.
Ernest l.. Sawyer was bonded IN
no American Surety Co. in the
I'm of $4,000. Pasquotank County
nm recover from his bondsmen.
lne bondsmcu will in turn look TO
\ SAWYER estate. About all the
bad man left was a mortgaged
|bmc. his household and kitchen
|a.tclS. an automobile and the gun
fith which he was killed. 1t is said
G carried no insurance. The at
,chment of the estate by the bond
lg company will have the effect
leaving his widow and five minor
llldrcn practically destitute.
Ernest L. Sawyer came TO his
ra.h By a bullet from a 80 calibre
mch g. Wesson revolver in his
Dmc on Friday. Dec. 7. 1928 after
heated quarrel with his wife. The
lso has testified that her husband
,ciarcd he would kill himself and
.n her her freedom if he had a
Ia And she said she went and
!, Tic gun and placed it in his
fnd>. But there were no powder
larks no burns on the face or hair
! Ernest Sawyer where the bullet
I'rrcd his head. A Coroner'S jury
t-cr viewing the remains declined
close the case by returning a
Dyd,c- Of suicide; the jury said he
-am- 70 his death from a shot fir
4. ...m d pistol in the hands of a
ar." unknown 70 the jury" and let
70 q. that.
OutgO in Excess of Income
The Office Of Clerk of the Superior
'pIrt pays a salary of $1,000 a year;
Judge Of the Juvenile Court the
Jerk also receives a salary of S35
month. or S42O a year. making a
f'a. ot 1920 a year. In addition
this The Clerk acts as guardian
MINOR orphans and frequently
a.. receiver in actions from
..@ .o receives a five per cent
QmmNso0. His commissions net
m tidy sum and the total emolu-
rn' Of the office are popularity
posed 10 be in the neighborhood
5000 a year.
The hOrtagc in Ernest Sawyer's
..a.. IS supposed to represent
"..."cnCC between his earnings
'.r .,DkCep OF his family over
'..'1 %. six year. 1t would ap-
4 ."a' nc was going behind at
Ea'" o., about $1,000 a year. Many
/aD.'. CITY families have been
..- ."a' ..Uco the advent of hard
\ w. .'0rs breakfast rooms and
Y "mao.,,..
"..' Sawyer himself was
4 "" Of few personal wants
1"ao"cd to have applied all of
"'.1" 70 his home. His wife
''h""oy never seemed to lack
anything and his eldest child,
.' .-H."r was in college.
a'~" close TO the affairs of the
and those who knew Ernest
80. "'lmately do not believe for
'"'4'l. that ne ever misappro-
90 collar with criminal in
II" audit disclosed some
. grrscn4l friends that may
".'n mJudlCious. He was
.. ~ MS friends and any one