Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-09-16

Gates are carefully marked with the iden-
tical mark or full name of Mr.. Breslin.
Mr.. Gibson has kept his accounts and
made his reports in manner which i'm
piled that Mr.. Bres!in had paid in full
the balance due from him to the State.
He has been silent about any defalcation
of his predecessor. His silence raises
the presumption ofpayment. The legi'i-
mate inference, under ordinary circum-
stances would be, that the Indebtedness
had been fully discharged; but in the
financial transactions of the Ohio State
Treasury, this reasoning is altogether
illogical.
Mr.. Bliss transferred all The balance
due from his predecessor TO his books,
yet it is well known that Mr.. Whitehill,
without authority of law, retained S6,-
600 of these balances. 1t is true, and
but Justice to Mr.. Whitehill to say, that
upon close investigation of his accounts,
this sum has been found really due and
has been allowed to him.
By the same process of book keeping,
Mr.. Breslin concealed deficit of $685.
600 for his predecessor. He not only
concealed it but in response to a resolu-
ton of the Senate, averred that Mr.. Bliss
had paid over TO him the balance which
appeared on the books Of the department
1t has been the uniform practice of
successive Treasurers to carry forward
the balance due from their predecessors
without regard to the fact of payment
The manner in which the books of the
Office have been kept, does not therefore
prove that Mr.. Breslin furnished Mr..
Gibson with means with which to redeem
outstanding certificates, or paid him any
potion of the public funds in his bsnds
at the expiration of his official term.
The statements of Mr.. Gibson, made
on numerous occasions, in his official
character and over his official signature
make very strong case against him.
In letter of March 14ih, 1856, ad-
dressed TO Mr.. Kelley, chairman of the
Finance Committee of the Senate he
says, "My predecessor has provided
means from time to time to meet these
certificates, and but Si3, 900 are now
outstanding; when he fails to place me
in funds will refuse to receive these H.
legal certificates"
The certificates issued by Mr.. Breslin
in 1856. amounted TO S760,715 TO-
The foregoing statement is equivalent TO
an acknowledgment of the receipt of
$3.50, 6l5 20 at that date.
In an official statement of the condi-
ton ofthe Treasury (Which has not been
published, but which is in our posession)
furnished by him to the same comittce,
he Acknowledges that he had received
from his predecessor in Office up to the
10th of February, 1856, the sum of
$500, 8O5 10.
His letter of the 29th o. Mlrch, is
more explicit and unequivocal than Ell
ther of the preceding statements. II is
perhaps the sirangest item of evidence
against Mr.. Gibson which has been SUBJ
mitted 10 our consideration. 1t is SO
specific, minute and circumstantial in its
character, that we deem it proper to give
il in full, 1t is as follows:
STATE TREAsURER's OFFICE
Columbus, March 90, lS56. !
Hon. A KELLEY, Chairman, &c.
DEAR sIR:-Below find statement of the gross and
several sums of money paid me by John G. Bresln,
ESQ., late Treasurer, account of balance due from
Inn