The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1857-08-28

Olilp I.lIU IllSufalhc anu
Trust Co., New York, As claimed 47,5iO 90
The loreg1ing is correct TO the best or my
knowledge.
VII. GIBSON.
Treasurer Of State.
Tworn 10 before me, this 9th day of April,
1857.
X. HUME, Notary Public.
N. B.--The foregoing is the 7th. instead
OF the lst. as the account was not publish.
ed until the Sd Of April, and in my absence.
w. II. G.
There is no doubt but that the above
statemen. is a tolerably accurate exhi5it,w with
one exception, of the condition of the Treas.
ury at the time 1t was published. The last
item should have been S7,450 09.
IL will be observed that the last column
cligur S is not added. II amounts to l46,- =
l6o ". This sum subtIacted from S67S,
04i o., the amount of his dubits, leaves
1881 .e9l O2, winch is a close approximation
to the reel amount Of the defalcation.
The statement is carefully and skillully'
drawn. II is SO constructed as to enable
him to swear to it without subjecting him. q.
sci TO criminal charge, and yet leaves a
false impression.
The law required him TO "set forth the
at Columbus" as well as "the amount of
debts, bills ofexchange and other evidences
of debt" Yet, as before stated. he has not
added the column containing the amounts
of "drafts, evidences of debts, de-. nor rs
such an item as "money in the Treasury"
to be found in the statement, These omis-
sions were doubtless intentional. The
natural inference Of an honest mind, trus-
ting in the Official integrity ofthe Treasurer,
would.be that the credit column balances
the debit; or, IL lie took the trouble to add
Is, that the difference between them was
money" aud that money" safely lodge d
in the Treasury.
Mr.. Gibson publishes no statement Of the
condition of the Treasury for the months
of May and June.
Mr. Gibson has appeared before us and
submitted 20 and examination. IN his de.
position, which is hereto appended, he de-
Glars that all his official commun ications,
relative 10 payments alleged to have been
mace by Mr.. Breslin to him, were false, and
that he received but s 303, ,s66 "a from him.
1t is not unjust to say that his present de.
clsrations, however solemnly made, are not
entitled to any credit, unless sustained and
corobol ated by the records Of the'ofiice, the
testimony Of Others, or the declarations and
conduct Of Mr.. Breslin.
His (Mr. Gs.) motives in making sucl
official communications he states were two
fold.
lst He was one Of the sureties
on Breslin's official bond-and the
exposure OF the defalcation would
involve the pecuniary ruin OF him
self and co-sureties, who were his
friends and ncighbors.
I'd. He thought that, by conceal
ing the fact OF the defalcation, he
could secure the amount due til,
State
Whether these motives constitut,
a justification for breach ofasworr
official duty, We leave to another tri
bunal to decide.
In considering the evidence agains
Mr.. Breslin, in order to illustrate
the mode in which business had beef
transacted between successive treas
urers, it seems proper to 70 back
Ithe time he assumed the duties c
that Office.
/ Mr.. Breslin, in taking charge {
the treasury, in January, 1852, oper
ed new set Of books, transierrin
: to them the various balances whic
appeared to be due from his pred.
I cessor, Mr.. Bliss, and subsequent
executed to him receipt thereto
E of which the following is q copy:
0 Treasurers Office, Ohio,)
9 COLUMBUS, October 30, 1852, !
! Received Of Albert A. Bliss, Esq