Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-08-28
WHO is THE DEFAULTER 7

The evidence against Mr.. Gibson consists
of Acknowledgements made by him to pub
lie officers and committees of the legislature
in his official character and under the solem-
nifty of his official oath. There is nothing
in the testimony Of the witness indica-
ting that he had embezzlcd the public funds.
Though We have made diligent inquiry, we
found no traces of any investments made
by him beyond what his private pecuniary
RESOURCES would justify.
The books of the Office do not show that
any portion of the balance due the State from
Mr.. Breslin has ever been paid to Mr.. Glib
son, or that any funds were ever placed in
his hands to redeem outstanding certificates
to county Treasures.
La his settlement with county Treasurers
in 1856, Mr. Gibson received the certif-
Gates of deposit or receipts issued by Mr.
Breslin, and charged himself with them as
cash in his account with the several class
es Of revenue. The act of 1S46, required the
county Treasurcrs to make their deposits to
tho State Treasurer, and prescribed the time
and manner of making tLem
They had beeen made in exact conformi-
iy with the provisions of the statute. II
was not, therefore, competent for him to
pronounce them illegal, OF refuse to credit
them on account of the several parties to
whom they had been issued.
In tho Settlement Book" these certif-
Gates are carefully marked with the identi-
cal mark or full name of Mr.. Breslin.
Mr.. Gibson has kept his accounts and
mado his reports in a manner which i'm
piled that Mr.. Breslin had paid in full the
balance due from him to the State. He
had been silent about any defalcation of his
predecessor His silence raises the pre-
sumption of payment. The legitimate in
ference, under ordinary circumstances would
be, that the indebtedness had been fully dis
charged but in the financial transactions o
tho Ohio State Treasury, this reasoning is al
together illogical
Mr.. Bliss transferred all tho balance du
from his predecessor to his books, yet it i
we'll known that Mr.. Whitehill, without au
thority Of law, retained $4,000 of these bal
ances. II Is true, and but justice to Mr.
Whitehill to say, that upon close scrutin,
of his accounts, this sum has been found re
ally due and has been allowed to him.
~ aAc Sat2ic P'OSoOo Va OoOA AScf1bS3 III
Breslin concealed a deficit of $65,0O0 70
his predecessor. He not only concealed il
but in response to resolution Of the Sen
ate, ayerred that Mr. Bliss had paid over u
him the balance which appeared on th
books Of the department.
II has been the uniform practice of sue
cessiye Troasurers 10 carry forward the bal
apce due from their predecessors without re
gard to the fact of payment The name
n which the books of the Office have beel
Kept, does not therefore prove that Mr. Bres
lin furnished Mr.. Gibson with means witl
which 70 redeem outstanding certificates, 0
paid him any portion Of the public fluid
~ hls hands u The expiration Of his oficia
term.
The statements Of Mr.. Gibson. made Of
nuinerous occasions, in his official characte
and over his official signature makes yer,
strong ease against him.
Ia 4 letter Of March 14th, 1856, ad
dressed % Nh. Kelley, chairman Of the III
tauee conamittee of tho Senate he sayl
my predecessor has provided means froi