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

ffNNA Vs. NNleu - cEIlse au
proximaiian 10 the real amount Of tie de.
faleatiou.
The statement is carefully and skilfuIly
drawn. 1t Is 80 constructed as 10 ensbie
him to swear 10 il withoutsubiectinp him.
self to criminal charge, and yet leaves a
false impression.
The law required him 10 "set forth the
amount OF money actually in the Treasury
at Columbus" as well a. @the amount Of
the drafts, bills Of exchange and other ev.
licences Of debit" yet as before stated he
has Dot added the column containing The
amounts Of the drafts, evidences Of debt,
&c" Nor is such item as "money in the
Treasury" TO be found in the statemeBt.-
The mature inference an honest mind,
trusting to the official integrity Of the
Treasurer, would be that the credit column
balanced the deht;-or il he took the
trouble to add It, that the difference be.
tween them was "money," and that
@money" safely lodged IN the Trevsury.-
Mr.. Gibson published no statements Of the
condition ofthe Treasury for the months
of May and Jane.
Mr. Gbscn has appeared before us, and
submitted to an examination. In his dep
osiiion which is hereto appended, be de-
clares that all his official communication
relative to the payments alleged to have
been made by Mr. Breslin to him were
false-and that he received but 303, s65
81 from him.
1t is not unjust to say that his present
declarations however solemnly made, are
not entitled to any credit, unless sustained |
and eorroborated by the records of the
office, the testimony of others, or the de-
claratlons and conduct Of Mr.. Breslin.
His [ Mr.. Gibson's) motives in making |
such official communications be states were |
two.fold:
lst, He was one of the sureties on |
Breslin's official bond aud the exposure
OF the defalcatiou would involve the pecu-
mary ruin Of himself and co-sureties, who |
were bis friends and neighbon.
9d. He thought that by concealirg the
fact Of the defalcation, he could secure the
amount due the State.
Whether bis motives constitute Jus.
tification for breach of official duty we
leave to another tribunal to decide.
In considering the evidence against Mr.. |
Breslin, in order to illustrate the mode in |
which business has been transacted be-
tween successive Treasurers It seems prop
sr to go back to the time he assumed the
duties of that Office.
Mr.. Breslin in taking charge Of the
Treasury in January, 1859, opened new
set of books transferring to them the va
rious balances which appeared to Be due
from bis predecessor, Mr.. Bliss, and sub
executed to him a receipt there
for of which the following is copy:
TREASURY OFFICE, ONO.
Columbus, Oct. 20, '52.
Received of Albert 4. Bliss, Esq, late |
Treasurer Of State, payment in full of all
balances charged against him as said |
Treasurer on the books of this Office, Jan
uary -, 1852, and all Indebtedness
which has appeared against him up to
This date.
J. G. BRESLIN, TT. OF State,
ANY one on reading this receipt would |
have supposed that Mr.. Bliss had paid
over all the money due the State. Such
was not the fact. The Receipt was false.
There was a balance of $4,000 due
from Mr.. Bliss, which was not paid until
more than three years after this date,
In response to a resolution ofthe Senate
Of December, 1859, Mr.. Breslin addressed
an official communication to that body
which is equivalent to positive assertion
hat Mr.. Bliss had paid over to him all
he public funds belonging to the Treas
Try,
The motives which induced Mr.. Bres-
in to execute this receipt and make his
,ficial statement, the undersigned will
lot attempt to divine. His acts were
learly calculated, and it is fair to presume,
Intended to mislead and deceive. 1t was
10 unfortunate commencement of an Off
ial career. Truth is quality which the
,eople have right to expect in official
tatements of its sworn servants.
The report of Mr.. Breslin for the fiscal
'ear ending Nov, is, 1855, shows bal
.nce of 6sS, ,574,90 at that date in the
Treasury. In the same report he stated
hat the Commercial Bank of Toledo, the
Jity bank of Cincinnati, and W. W. Cones
Z Co., had failed with an aggregate of
583,5I,lS of the public money in their
ands. The substraction of this sum
rom the amount in the Treasury, leaves
clear balance Of 559,723,72. Upon
his balance there was no extraordinary
emand. except for the payment of inter-
st on the foreign debt due Jan. 1, 1856,
m ounted with the expenses as charged
y him to 491, ,S2o,75. Deducting this
rom the clear balance in the Treasury. as
hown by his report, there is still balance {
13S,402, 81; a sum sufficient with $
le regular daily income of the State, to |
leet all its liabilities until the settlement