Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-07-22
For the Courier

IoI TIC SOuIlCI'
EDS. -Gentlemen:-In some
portions of this county there is u report
in circulation that J. G. Tolman, former
ly of this county, and when resident,
at one time Commissioners Clerk, is
defaulter to this county 20 the amount of
81 900 or 1900 (which by being pass.
ed from one to another has grown from
hundreds to thousands Rumour has il
that this report should have originated
through some investigation that Judge
Osborne should have made since he came
into office. Such reports as these as
well as great many others equally
false and malignant in their character,
are manufactured, no doubt, by the
clique Of Locofoco office-holders and
office-seekers in the county-seat, and
put in circulation in remote parts of the
county, TO blind the eyes of the people
to the true state Of the facts as they ex-
ist. Like drowning men they catch at
s,raws. They know that the people are
determined to have some satisfactory ex-
panation in regard to the affairs of this
county, as to what has been done with
the money that has been paid in The shape
of taxes for the last five or six years,
and they are afraid to have matters in
vestigaied.
They know very well that they can
not show the first improvement, or tina,
they have laid out one dollar of the
taxes that have been collected from the
people annually, in the way of building
or improvement, either in bridges, pub.
lie buildings or anything else. The Jail
was built out of the proceeds of the sale
of Town lots; the Court House was Civ.
Ell to the county for specified time by
the original Town Company, and at the
end of that time the county bought i.
for about $500 in lot fund orders and
the proceeds of the sale of town lots IN
this place: SO that not one dollar of the
enormous and burdensome taxes annual
ly collected in this county, has ever been
used for any other purpose than to fill
the pockets of the Office holders; and
they certainly could no. have used the
whole amount in paying their salaries,
but must have found out some other way
10 get rid of the money. Perhaps they
divided il among themselves.
Now any one that has resided in this
county any great length of time, will
recollect that Charles Overman, the
predecessor of Mr.. Tolman, was de-
fauller TO this county for considerable
amount, and his securities Abner Over.
man and Joseph Hayne, were lef, to
foot the bill, he leaving the State at the
time. If airy man, wing or democrat.
doubts This, we refer him TO the records
of the Dist. Court of this county, where
he will find a judgment rendered against
Joseph Hayne and Abner Overman, and
a part of il unpaid. as proof of the fact
The truth IS. the report is perfectly
ridiculous, and without. any foundation
in truth. Mr.. Tolman. unlike many
other men who have held office in this
county, went into Office poor man and
came out poor. He went to California
to better his condition, came back rich,
settled in our midst, ard invested large
amount Of his money in this county
Would he have done so had be been a
defaulter! Certainly not. His securi-
ties are amply able to meet anything
that may be against him, and he has
perhaps hot less than $4,000 invested
in this county, and is able meet anything
brought against him.
But the wire-pullers have no idea of
seriously investigating such matter, or
trying to substaniiate it, for the very rea-
son that they would fail in doing so, and
would impllcate more or less of their
own number.
AN OLD CITIZEN.