The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-02-13
But this is not the only swindle they perpe.

But this is not the only swindie they perpe-
trated just as they werc going out OF ofice.-
About the month Of November this same board
paid to one Job Brookfcld the sum of eleven
hundred dollars for his expenses 10 prosecuting
fictitions claim against the State, and on the
18th of December following, fifteen days bc-
fore going out of Office, they allowed him the
claim itself, TO the even sum of (orr thousand
dollars. making all told $500. This job
Brookfeld, II seems squatted on the "Niles
Reservation" which was subsequently selected
by tho Agent Of tho State. under an act of
Congress granting certain lands to tho State
for public buildings. Tho right was given
Brookfeld to live on tho land upon which no
had squatted, which no did. but assigned bis
purchase to third party. He pretends that
thrown over his title. by which he sold II for
several thousand dollars less than he could
have sold il before that time. His claim was
for this depreciation in the valuo OF the land,
and on exparte evidence and the affidayits OF
parties interested, and which there are strong
reasons to believe are totally false In them.
selves, this claim Of five thousand one hundred
dollars was allowed by the late Board two
weeks before thcy were to end their political
livesi Will not these facts justify us in the
charge also that this was gross and premed.
itated fraud? There was not shadow OF
Justice in tho claim, more than thero was in
that of the Phoenix Bank.
There arc still other claims allowed by the
Board a few days before their retirement from
Office amounting in all to @l6,637 90, which
have very suspicious air about them, TO say
the least. These were claims arising in 1888,
for an alleged fraud Of the State Commission
or towards certain contractors on the Clinton
and Kalamazoo Canal in that year. 1t is stat
cd that the Commissioner promised 10 pay
them in New York funds, instead Of which be
paid them in Michigan money, which was ten
per cent below par. On the 18th of Soptem'
Der lest, the Board allowed to John F. Hamlin
one Of said contractors, the sum vt S5 098 40;
on the % of December, to Niles. Gilbert &
Loveland, o.. .204 27; add on the 30,h of De.
ccmber, tho day before they went out of Office
they allowed TO Bronson. Knight & ingalls,
S0, ,234 70, making ia all tho sum of Sl6,637
col Why were these claims permitted to &C
unpaid seventeen years. If they were just and
legal! The Same includes principle aud in
terest. But have not time to pursue these
State plumbers further tonight When
have time will give your readers more OF the
same sort. In the mean time will Suggest
to the falso affidavit ma ker, his mon Fox AMI
Rankin. the State Journal and othor advo
Gates and defenders Of tho late Locofoco Ad'
ministration. if they had not better clear up
those robbores before they indulge any further
in the infamous ISLANDERS against the present
Republican Administration, and any moro oi
these vulgar personal attacks upon myself
But am perfectly will ng thcy should indulge
their malignant, propensitl, 8 to their heirt's con
tent. Tho people will knew what crodit &c
give tho statements Of such fellows, and the
apologsts aud defenders of such ra. cali,ios o.
l have exposed.