Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-09-03
TERMS OF ADvEartsfEc.

matter, be replied that "it would do no
good "that be could not make the dis.
closure without iu'Olvsing the character {
Others, and The happiness Of their hmili,s
and hat he would not d." He pro.
nounced the attacks oftbe press upon Mr.
Gibson unjust, and said that his (Mr. G.sl
statements 10 regard to the delalcation
were true'-that If Mr. Gibson was 70
blame one part in hundred 10 regard to
the matter am 10 blame ninety-nine parts
/ in hundred"
His conversation With Mr.. FoIlet though
evidently more guarded was Of similar in
port. The material part Of il is 50 well
narrated that We shall not attempt an at.
stract gift but give it in full. Mr.. Follet,
says: "Mr. B. affected to attach importance
to my opinions, and proceeded to test
the sincerity Of this profession by recon.
mending that there should be no loss
Of time on the part Of Mr.. Gibson and
himselfin meeting and writing out state
ment Of facts disclosing the whole pro-
cess Ofsppropriation, let the blow fal
where it might, regardless Of party or per.
sons. l enforced this recommendation by
such arguments and appeals as the subject
naturally suggested, alluding to bis fam
| lily relatives, his obligations to the state,
DC. l drew bis attention to the fact that
he could not hide from the world the full
amount of bis official delinquency, and it
depended on himself how low his offence
should sink him morally.
To an extended appeal in this direc-
ton he replied by stating case: suppose
(said Mr.. b. suppOse-(mind l do not
say it is so, )but suppose that individuals
may have been concerned with me in the
use ofLhis money, whose position in soci-
ETY. or whose business might be injured
or destroyed by the revelations you ad.
wise me to make, what then should do9
My reply in substance was, that he should
| place bis duty to his wife, his daughter.
his family, bis friends, bis obligations to
the State, bis official oath, in one side Of
the scale, and in the other his obligations
to these men; and If the latter outweighed
the former, his course was a plain one. -
To all this his answer was, II will think
yet" After few general remarks, our
interview ended, and l have not seen Mr..
B. since.
No one we think can read the testimo-
ny which is here appended, and Of which
we have given brief abstract in the fore
going pages, without being convinced that
the two late treasurers were wholly un-
worthy the position which they have Oc-
eupied. II Is our opinion that John g.
Breslin abstracted the money from the
Treasury and that VIM. H. Gibson, by
concealing the defalcation has disregarded
bis official duty and made himself an ac-
eessory to the crime.
"wHERR IS THE PEOPLES MONEY!"
We are not able to give full and sat
isfactory answer to this question. 1t is
unreasonable to expect that an investiga-
ton Of few weeks duration, should un-
ravel all the intricacies Of a complicated
fraud which was many years in its con-
summation and development. The de-
facation is not of a recent date. The au.
thor Of it has had time to cover over the
traces of bis guilt and Obstruct the sour
ces Of information. The parties to whom
the money may have been loaned, or with
whom it has been entrusted are interested
in Withholding the facts. Some of the
witnesses have testified with great reluc-
tance. The answers of one Of them, not
being very full and satisfactory, we address
sed him letter making more specific in-
quiry; our letter and interrogatories remain
unanswered.
Had time permitted, the law had not
conferred upon US the power necessary Cor
the complete solution of this problem.---
Without authority to send for persons and
papers, to enforce the attendance of wit
nesses, and to punish for contempt, no
commission will ever be able to tell where
the money is to be found, or how it is in-
vested. It is doubtful whether even
their ample powers will bring to light all
the secrets of this fraud. all the facts
are known to one only, and he, though
importuned to do so, has refused to disclose
them. Enough has been elected to rem
der it probable that the money has been
scattered with free hand, and that the
parties who now hold it are numerous
aud many of them beyond the bounda-
ries Of this State.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS SPARROW, Com'r.
F. Al. WRIGHT, Auditor Of State