Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-24

report given Gov. Murray ID. Va
Wagner by Circuit Judge Home
Ferguson demanding custer of Eo
ward II. Williams AS a member z
the board If county auditors c
Wayne County.
The report is from Judge Fergu
son : findings as a One-man gran
Jury:
ITO the Hon. Murray ID. Van
Wagner. governor Of the State
of Michigan.
Findings Of Homer Ferguson,
circuit Judge. acting under the
laws OF Michigan regarding Ed
ward III. Williams, member Of
the board Of county auditors Of
Wayne County. Michigan.
LINKED TO MEAT DEAL
81 find from the sworn testi-
mOnY introduced before me that
there Is probably cause 10 be-
lleVe that Edward II. Williams,
one Of the members of the board
81 auditors Of Wayne County,
has been guilty Of misfeasaDce
and maifeasanCe in office, NiIfuI
neglect OF duty and Of official
misconduct.
II further find that In 1887
Williams. while n member Of the
board OF auditors of NaNne
County. did enter into certain
unlawful agree ents with
George \. Weiss, doing business
~ the Detroit Packing House
Market, for the furnishing Of
meats and butter To the County
81 Wayne, Ia EloiSe Hospital, To
the MaXne County, Training
school, 10 the Wayne County
Jail, 10 the WAYNE County Deten-
tion Home and 10 other Wayne
County institutions and agencies.
That the unlawful agree
ments provided for the payment
bv Weiss Ia Williams Of $500
month. for the vote. influence,
opinion. Judgment or decision Of
Williams In favor OF awarding
contracts 10 Weiss.
THAT In pursuance ~ said nm
lawful agreements, Weiss did
pay Ia Williams. while Williams
was member of the board Of
county auditors az Wayn
County, the sum of $500 a month
for the period on or about the
first day az January. 1897. until
or about the tWenty-second day
~ November. 1871. inclusive. and
that Williams did unlawfully and
corruptly accept payments from
Weiss
That In pursuance ~ said
unlawful agreements. Williams
did corruptlN vote a. agreed and
did corruptly use his vote influ-
cnec, opinion, Judgment and vote
in favor Of awarding contracts
Ia Weiss, and Williams did cor
ruptly use his influence, opinion.
Judgment and vote I'm favor OF
approving the vouchers. bills and
claims submitted ny Weiss.
INSURANCE SPLIT
81 further find that II was and
lS the agreement that each Of
the three members Of the board
~ county auditors for the { OuntN
of Wayne shall take onc-third of
the total county insurance and
bonds and place said insurance
and bonds with the agents and
companies of his own choosing.
That Williams did enter into
certain unlawful agreements
with I. Frank GaffneN. doing
business as the Gaffney Agency.
concerning writing of certain
insurance and bonds for the
County, Of Wayne. its agencies
and Institutions, and the con
tracts for which insurance and
bonds were then and there pend
ing or might nv Law he brought
before Williams.
That the unlawful agree
ments provided for the payment
nv GaffneN Ia Williams Of cor
tain percentages Of the total
commission PAYABLE on commits
sion and bonds. for the vote,
Judgment. opinion and Influence
of Williams in favor Of awarding
contracts for such insurance and
bonds n GaffncY.
That Williams did corruptll
u~c his vote. Judgment, opinion
md Influence in favor 81 award
ing said contracts for insurance
aud bonds Ia the said T. Frank
Ga0neN
II further find from the sworn
testimony that Gafney in the