$20,917 Deficit Discovered by Ohio Examiner

Article taken from The Lima News, April 13, 1932


Misappropriation of Township Funds Charged To Former Clerk

BONDSMEN HELD LIABLE

Hundred of Vouchers, Checks Made Out To Fictitious Persons

Columbus, Oh., April 13.--(AP)-- Misappropriation of $20,917.10 in township funds was charged to Thomas D. O' Neal, former clerk-treasurer of Clay-tp (New Boston), Scioto-co, in a report filed with the state bureau of accounting today by Examiner C. E. Wagner.

O' Neal died while in office and his estate and bondsmen are held liable for return of the money, the report holds.  Dan W. Conroy and C. E. Nodler, Portsmouth, were surety on O' Neal's bonds when he is charged with having obtained $11,203.73 illegally, while J. W. Snyder and Edward J. Deahler, Portsmouth, were his surety during the time $9,713.37 was alleged to have been illegally taken.

The report states that hundreds of checks and vouchers were made out to fictitious persons and others were made payable to grocers, for poor relief supplies, who had been out of business for years.  In many instances the names of the township trustees had been forged to the warrants.  Checks and warrants totaling thousands of dollars were not even found.  Many persons whose names were signed to checks testified they had not endorsed them.  The report covers the period from Jan. 1, 1928, to Feb. 16, 1932.

Down in Vinton-co all was not found well among the township officials and Examiner C. E. Tilton reported findings for recovery totaling $5,776.98.  Most of this was returned against road machinery to Wilesville-tp illegally.
$828 Shortage

Clerk C. C. Jones, of Seneca-tp, Noble-co, was found to be short $828.54 in his accounts by Examiner J. E. Patterson.  In addition the examiner charged him with forging a check for $13.20, and held him liable for interest  on public funds totaling $31.55, making the total findings for recovery against Jones of $884.39, Jones resigned.

Justice of the Peace Frank O. Crouse, deceased of Lemon-tp, Butler-co, was held to owe various litigants $269.93 in a report filed by Examiner R. H. Smith.  The examiner said the money had been recovered by the justice and no record kept to show payments to persons entitled to it.  As Crouse had died, the finding is made against his estate and bondsmen.