Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-09-24
4u Extraordinary Development.
A Dark Picture.

surprise by citizens of Ohio, who are asked
by great party to support and vote for Mr.
, Payne, the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor of Ohio. We had satisfied ourselves
as TO Mr. Payne's political integrity, by an
examination of his record. In matters re-
lating to political principles We become con-
vlnced that he is unreliable. He would
sacrifice the dearest and most vital princi-
pies for Office. We also learned that he
had, for purposes of private gain, decoyed
negroes from Buffalo to Cleveland, with a
view to sending them back 10 slavery
This act would have placed him outside the
pale of respectable society in almost every
State in the South. There are no men
more despised at the South, except slave
traders, than those who hunt runaway ne
groes. Why man guilty of such an act
should be respected at the North, we can
not understand. But still we were not pre-
pared for the evidence furnished below, as
to Mr.. Payne's reputation for veracity.-
There is not, that we are aware of, a lower
depth than that to which Mr.. Payne's char
acter has been reduced. The question now
arises: Will Mr.. Payne withdraw? or, will
the State Executive Committee remove his
name from the ticket?
In the winter of 1889 and 40, Cuyahoga
county was represented in the Ohio Legis-
lature by Wns B. Lloyd. This Mr.. Lloyd
was charged by the Statesman with forge
ry, and one of the witnesses relied upon to
prove the charge was H. B. Payne. Mr..
Lloyd demanded an investigation, and the
matter was thoroughly sifted. 1t seems to
have occurred to some of the members of
the Investigating Committee that Mr..
Payne's word might not be good, and in
order TO test this matter, number of
friends and acquaintance of Mr.. Payne
were called upon to testify as to whether
they would believe him under oath. The
first witness called was Mr.. Ambrose Spen-
Ger, son of Judge Spencer of New York,
in whose Office Payne studied law. The
following report of the testimony of this
and other witnesses, which we lip from the
Athens Messenger, that paper informs US;
appears upon the record and the facts can
not be denied Cincinnati Gazette.
To Mr.. Spencer:
Question. Are you acquainted with Mr..
Payne and if so, how long have you known
him, and what is bis general character for
truth, and from your knowledge of his gen.
eral character, would you believe him on
oath?
Answer. do know Mr. Payne. I think
it was in the year 1888 first became ac-
quainted with him: his general character
for truth believe is not of the first order,
and for my own part, whenever his person
al feelings and interests were concerned, I
would not believe him under oath.
Question. Do you mean by Mr.. Payne,
H. B. Payne, Esq, the witness heretofore
examined by the Committee. And if so,
have you at any time had personal mis-
understanding with him?
Answer. mean H. B. Payne, oi iCleve-
land, partner of Hiram V. Wilson. So
far from having had any misunderstanding
with Mr.. Payne, have been on the usual
terms with him, which exist between gen.
tlemen. since the time he studied law with
my father, John G. Spencer's office, in Can
andaigua, in the State of New York; and
it is with regret that 1 have made the state
ment have.
Question. How long have you resided in
the city of Cleveland, and how long has
Mr.. Payne resided there?
Answer. 1 have resided in the city of
Cleveland two years next March. think
Mr.. Payne has been in Cleveland more
than four years.
Question. What is his general character
for truth in the City of Cleveland?
Answer. HIS reputation IS badin Cleve-
land as far as nay knowledge extends.
Question. In what particular sense, if
any, have yon known Mr.. Payne to depart
from the truth?
Answer. In a case pending before the
Court of Common Pleas, at Cleveland, an
agreement was entered into between Thom-
as Bolton and Mr.. Payne to postpone the
trial till the next term. During that term,
and during Mr.. Bottoms absence from the
Court House, Mr. Payne drew the atten-
ton of the Judge (Humphrey, 1 think it
was, to the number of his case, and re-
luested that it might be taken up, which
was done, and Mr.. Bolton stated to me,
hat afterwards, he was obliged to obtain /,
written agreements from Mr.. Payne to
,blige him to fulfill his agreements. The i
lbove information l obtained solely from I
Mr.. Bolton. II
Mr.. James M. Hoyt is next called and {
le testifes as. follows: &
Question. How long have you known H. s
;. Payne?
Answer. have known Mr.. Payne form l
rly, about two years, and after an interval G
# about five years, have known him in G
cleveland, between four and five years last G
'ast. C
Question. Are you acquainted with the e
.eneral character of H. B. Payne, in the t
where he resides, for truth? p
Answer. / am. v
Question. What is his general character t,
4 that respect? O
Answer. From my knowledge of his gen. il
raj character for truth and veracity, think G
doubtful. j
The evidence of Mr.. Woolsey Welles is Il
the same nature. He is not willing to j
o so far as to say he would not believe Mr..
). under oath, yet his evidence damages
[r. P.'s character, as man of truth, quite
5 effectually. He testities:
Question. Are you acquainted with H. B
!. Paynes
Answer. am.
Question by the same. How lono have