News: Crookedness in Loyal
Contact: Vickie

----Source: The Clark Republican and Press Date: 4-22-1881

CROOKEDNESS IN LOYAL

It is reported from the village of Loyal that the store of Mr. Hartford was broken open on Thursday night of last week, and a few articles of merchandise taken away. Mr. Hartford is the town clerk of that town, and the records and papers belonging in his office were kept in his store. The book of records, in which has been kept the proceedings of all town meetings, settlements with officers, the organization of school and road districts, record of chattel mortgages, and in fact, all matters of record since the organization of the town of Loyal was taken away. Some papers valuable to the town are also missing. At the late town meeting, an investigation of the affairs of the town treasurer, dating back five years, was ordered, and $200 appropriated for the purpose of securing the services of a competent accountant to examine the records of the town, relating to its financial, management, and the loss of the records is particularly embarrassing at this time, especially as the treasurer’s books were all destroyed by fire at the time Mr. Gwinn’s store was burned last year, he being treasurer at that time, and up to the first of this month. The disappearance of the records of the town clerk plainly indicate that some one was interested in keeping them out of the way.