The Nespelem tribune. [volume] (Nespelem, Wash.) 1934-1936, 1934-10-24
LAYCOCK RECORD UPHELD
AT SPECIAL INVESTIGATION
County Commissioner Absolved
Of Alleged Fund Misuse At Pub
lie Inquiry In Okanogan
Attacks Are Aired
Trip To East, Auto Wreck And
Road Building Program Get
Thorough Investigation

Subjected to searching inquiry
made by representatives of several
Okanogan county communities, j.
r. Laycock, Democratic nominee for
county commissioner of the First
district, was cleared of charges
limiting at misuse OF county funds,
when "vindication' motion was
unanimously carried at an investi-
cation meeting held Monday at the
courthouse in O1anogan.
The meeting was held at the de-
mand of Mr.. Laycock that charges
made against him be thoroughly
investigated.
Spiking the charge that Mr.. Lay
cock had last summer been absent
from his commissioners duties for
two months on visits to the World
Fair while drawing $3.50 of county
pay, it was explained by Mr.. Lay
cock and other members of the
county board that the trip actual
ly took slightly more than a month s
time, from May 20 to July 4.
Tell Details OF Trip
It was brought out that the trip
had made it possible to look into
some important business for the
county, and that it had been made
also to visit his aged father who
was in i'll health at the time. It
also was explained by D. S. Gamble,
chairman of the board, and L. S
Farver, board member, that Mr..
Laycock had paid his own expenses
while on the trip.
The open investigation was made
by representatives of Commercial
clubs in the county, and was presid-
ed over by B. A. Cast, vice president
of the Omak Commercial club. 1t
was held, according to John E.
Maley, Omak Commercial club pres
ident who opened the meeting, to
analyze thoroughly charges which
have been made in recent commun-
ications and editorials of a news
paper opposing Mr.. Laycock's cam
didacy for the commissionership.
Mr.. Laycock, explaining the trip
East, said that it had been learned
10y the board that a poor farm in
mate, j. M McNally, had an in
terest in ali estate said to have been
worth $4,000, and that an attempt
had been made by others interested
in the estate to persuade Mentally
to deed over his interest to them.
Since the property of persons in the
poor farm rightfully belongs 10 the
county, the commissioners agreed
that some effort should be made to
investigate the matter and protect
the county'S interest, it was explain
ed,
Offered To Investigate
Mr.. Laycock said that he was
anxious to see his father in Ken
lucky, and that he Offered to make
an investigation of the Mentally
property, located near Boulder,
Colorado, on his way back This he
did, also making an effort to see
McNalley's brother in Chicago for
some more information. A letter
from a law firm at Boulder sub
stantiated Mr.. Laycocks statement
that he had worked on the matter
at Boulder.
John Larrabee, prominent Pateros
eorchardist, declared that had he
been a. member of the board he
would have favored making the trip
as Mr.. Laycock did, rather than
handle the matter by correspond
ence.
II also was brought out that Mr..
Farver had taken over Mr.. Lay
cocks commissioner duties in The
First district during his absence.
Active in the cross examination
to which Mr.. Laycock submitted
were Chas. Rumbolz, Malott, and
Martin Wick, Monse, who went into
detail concerning Mr.. Laycock's
trip and other charges which have
been made against him.
Cast Hits LaycOck Critics
The charge itself was described as
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