The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-31
co NJ NJ U NICATI0 Ms.
For the Illinois Free Iio9cr.
TO the Electors Of La Sale county.

10 the ELECTORS Oh lIsl sane County,
FELLow-C CITIZENS: - 1t was not my
intention Of appearing before You as a
candidate for reelection, in more public
manner than the announcement of my
name in the "ILLlNoIs FREE TRADER. "
| had decided upon this course from the
fact, that nearly every voter ~ the county
was acquainted with me, and with many
of whom had transacted business !; and
believing as did, that you would exercise
the right of suffrage in favor of that can
didatc for Sheriff, whom you believed
most worthy of your support; but, hav-
ing received letters from different parts of
the county, informing me that emissaries
(t,co from Otla'co) were busily engaged
in circulating all manner of evil report
against me, and as it is impossible for me
to contradict those reports successfully,
in person, deem it expedient to address
you in this public manner.
In proof of the assertion that Emissa-
ries were abroad. | lay before YOU the
following letter from Troy Grove Pre-
cnct -
Troy GROVE, July 25, 1910.
HIM. Reddick, Esq.
Sir, we understand that some serious
charges are alledged against you, with re-
spcct to some of your official acts as
Sheriff, in the affair of w. II. s. Lavinia,
and also the manner in which you have
treated prisoners i'll the Jail. The last
charge you will find by examining the re-
port of the Grand Jurors, at the last Feb
ruary term of court. The first charge in
case of Lavinia is, that after the order for
his committal to Jail, that you neglected
to put him in jail, until you was requested
by citizens of Ottawa to do so, and some
signs of tar and feathering manifested.
We had also understood that when ques-
toned why you dealt with Lavinia as you
did, that you stated in effect, that YOU was
in Lavinia's power, and that Lavinia could
ruin you. We thought you would con-
slider it favor to have notice of the char
ges that you might be able to satisfy the
public Of the facts in the case.
Yours respectfully,
II. THORNTON,
J. II. KINYON,
J. JOHNSON,
r. X. SWIFT,
JAMES N. REEDER.
In relation TO the charge of il-treatment
OF prisoners, referred to in that letter,
call your attention to the following affida.
Wit of Morris ". Martin, Deputy Sher.
if, who was perfectly we'll acquainted
with the manner in which said prisoners
were treated.
State Of Illinois, cor
La Sale County. '''
Morris W. Martin, first being sworn
deposes and says, that he was Deputy
Sheriff of said county during the year ont
thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine
and the month of February, one Thousand
eight hundred and forty; that having per
sonally attended to the prisoners confined
in the Jail of said county, was well &C
quainted with the manner in which the,
were treated, during his time of service
And he further deposeth and saith, tina
they were invariably furnished with goot
and wholesome provisions, such as wer'
used in the Sheriff's family; and with on
exception, the prisoners confined in salt
Jail, have spoken in terms of well treat
ment. And he further says, that Eli A
Butte, complaining of ill-treatment to thu
committee of Grand Jurors, was in al
respects treated in the same manner a
other prisoners; and after he (Butler) hat
complained to the Grand Jury, Samuel ]
Parks, prisoner during the time of But
ler's confinement, stated 10 him, at tn,
time of said confinement, and repeatedly
since his PARKS acquittal, that the pro
vision and treatment while in Jail, wa
much better.than he ever expected To re
tceive in any Jail; and that he felt CRATE
full to Mr.. Reddick and his family, an,