Evening star., 1932-03-26
Berry E. Clark, Montgomery
Clerk, Arrested and Re-
leased on Bond.
LATlMER AND KORBLY
NAMED TO CLERKSHIPS
Audit Followed Charges of Corrup.
tion-Examination of Books
Covered 16-Year Period.
BY HOWARD M. BAGGETT,

ASOOA> " ALLIE, hdu., MdICn ZO,-beIIy
E. Clark, clerk Of the Board of County
Commissioners of Montgomery County,
was arrested shortly after noon today
on warrant charging him with en-
bezzlement of $24,26O.85 of funds re-
ceived by him in the name of the
county. This action followed the sub
mission to the Board of Commissioners
at special meeting today of a report
by auditors, who, for several months,
have been engaged in examining the
books of the county, and the subse-
quent dismissal of Mr. Clark as clerk
to the board The auditors statement
is declared to have reported a shortage
in Mr.. Clark's accounts of S2415I.
The warrant was sworn out by Alvie
A Moxley, chief Of the Montgomery
County Police Department, and was
issued by Frank l. Davis, clerk of the
Police Court. Chief Moxley served the
warrant. Clark was later released on
$4,000 bond for appearance at the
present term of Circuit Court now in
session at Rockville
check was rendered to the county
commissioners today by Mr. Clark to
settle an open account. The amount
OF the check was $2896.27
The commissioners adopted a reso-
luton dismiSSing Mr. Clark. effective
Immediately, and issued a statement
saying that the results of the audit
would be turned over to the grand jury
OF the Circuit Court, when the jury
reconvenes Tuesday morning.
The resolution odopfad hxr fLa boorS
stated that, believing that the report
shows irregularities, ineficiencies and
malfeasance in Office on the part of
Berry E. Clark, he is removed
and called upon for a full and
complete explanation respecting the
errors, discrepancies and shortages
charged in the auditors report. It was
further resolved that in the light of
the findings that the report be re-
ferred to States Attorney Stedman
Prescott for a presentation to the
grand jury. -
Bonds Cover Shortage.
According to Lacy Shaw, president
Of the Board of County Commission
ers, the county is amply protected by
surety bonds on Mr.. Clark He was
bonded for $780, 900 annually while serv-
ing as treasurer and $4,000 annually
while serving as clerk. The resolu-
tions adopted by the commissioners
ordered the bonding companies to be
notified Immediately Of the reported
shortage.
Charles Y. Latimer of Takoma Park,
one of the deputy clerks to the COM
missioners, was appointed clerk to the
board effective at once at the salary
Of $4,000 annually, which was the
amount paid Mr.. Clark. Charles A.
Korbly of Mohican Hills, former men,
Der Of Congress, was appointed deputy
clerk to replace Mr.. Latimer, and will
receive an annual salary of $2,l00
The commissioners also adopted a
resolution to pay r. G. Rankin & Co,
the auditing firm, the sum of $4,000
for their work. The original cost of
the work was set at $4,000, but the
resolution stated that inasmuch as the
work had to be done in much more de-
tail than was at first anticipated and
much additional work was made neces-
sary by reason of the manner in which
some OF the accounts were kept the
original estimate was exceeded The
money was ordered paid from the con-
tingent fund.
Except for the shortages shown in
the accounts of the clerk of the COM
mlssloners, the county officials were
given clean bill in the handling of
more than S26,OOO,OOO in cash between
the periods from July /, 1915, to Sep
tember 80, 1881, which the audit COW
cred. Numerous instances of errors in
accounting were noted in the report,
however. due, it was stated, to the fact
that the accounts had not been bal
anced during the entire period and
were generally inadequate for the an
nual volume of business transacted in
the county.
Six Recommendations.
Six general recommendations for the
future handling of the county funds
were contained as part of the report.
The first of these was that the ac-
counts of the county should be main
tanned on basis Of double entry book
keeping and balanced at the end o.
each month. Secondly, the report read,
I'VE strongly urge the employment of
an accountant in the commissioners
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