American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-05-03
our Reception.

Il will be remembered that tbe Auditor
politely invited Us TO examine the books
and papers in his Office. and satisfy our
selves in regard to county corruption, and
also kindly pro6eFed us his assistance in
overhauling the documents. Well, we ac-
Ieepled bis invitation aud proceeded 70 an
examination, but the reception we met
with at his hands we must confess was
any thing but encouraging. Our firstex-
animation was to look over Gil Of bills,
done up in package, for 1852, We also
called for apackage ofbills for 1888,
which we found, we had not time oexam-
ine at that time, as il was already getting
late in the evening. The previous expert
ience we had Of the character Of those we
were about to deal with, induced MS to
place several "private marks" on this lat
ter bundle, so as TO detect any attempt on
the part Of the Auditor or others to make
way with any bills that might be contain
ed in this package. With this precauion
we left the office, and returned the next
morning TO pursue our investigation, call
ed for the package we had marked the pre-
ceding evening and proceeded to ascertain
whether it had been opened during the
night. Our marks furnished us undoubt-
ed evidence that the package had been
opened, and after little farther inyesiiga-
ton TO ascertain that we were no. mistaken,
we turned to Mr. Towson and asked him
whether the package we held in our hand
had been opened since the evening before.
He replied that it had not. We then re-
i;erated our question by asking whether he
was CERTAIN it had not been opened. He
said he vas. We then remarked to him
that WE were CERTAIN it had, as we had
placed private marks on the package which
gave undoubted evidence that the package
had been opened He looked confused,
and finally told us that he believed he had
opened it. We asked him what he opened
it for. He replied that he was hunting a
bill which he did not find. We then
asked him what bill he was hunting He
replied that he was huntinga bill Of DR..
Kreider'S for oils and paints. We asked
him whether it was for bill Of oils and
paints used in "reftting the Public Build
ings." He replied that it was. Then we
asked him when it was that the public
buildings were reGtted. He replied that
it was in 1849 or 1885, We asked him
whether he was "certain" that it was in
the time above specified He replied "yes.''
Then we asked him why it was that he
looked over package Of bills for 1852 3
to find bill for 1849-50. He replied that
the bills were frequently scattered, SO that
it was difficult to tell where to find them
that they became disarranged in overhaul
ing Ellis accounts for printing. Here The
conversation ended.
Questions. Why was it that Mr. Tow
son first denied having opened that pack
age, and would he acknowledged having
opened it had we not had proof of TIE
fact? Why did Mr.. Towson start out in
search Of that bill on the "suppo ilion''
ll,at at had been mislaid?" Is it not nat
ural to suppose that he would first look FOR
the bill in the package it properly belong
ed? Yet Mr.. Towson told us that he
couldn't find this bill and that he had noI
looked in ANY OTHER PACKAGE, aud was
unable to say where it could be foundl
This, reader, is the encouragement and
assistance we received at the hands Of this
self.styled honest Auditor, which, per
haps, is only another evidence of his "du-
plicity!" Perhaps Mr.. Towson can ex-
plain how Mr.. TutLill managed to draw
nearly three hundred dollars out of the
Treasury without bills!"