The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1857-09-04


county treasurers were liberal in their
deposits. In 1855 he refunded to them
SCI, ,82L39, which they had paid above
the amount Of taxes due from their coun-
ties TO the State. At the annual state
ment in 1856, Mr.. Gibson refunded to
them an excess OF S44.i8492. which
had been deposited with Mr.. Brsslin pre-
vious TO his retiring from office.
WHO Is THE DEFAuLrER
The evidence against Mr.. Gibson con-
sists Of Acknowledgements made by him
to public officers and committees Of the
Legislature in his official character and
under the solemnity of his official oath.
There is nothing in the testimony Of the
witnesses indicating that he had embez-
zled the public funds. Though we have
made diligent inquiry, we have found no
trace Of any investments made by him
beyond what his private pecuniary re-
sources would justify.
The books Of the office do not show
that any portion Of the balance due to the
State from Mr.. Breslin has ever been paid
to Mr. Gibson, or that any funds we're
ever placed in his hands to redeem out
standing certificates b county treasurers.
In his settlement with county treasu.
rers in 1856, Mr. Gibson received the
certificates of deposit or receipts issued
by Mr. Bresin, aud charged himself with
them as cash in his account with the
several classes Of revenue. The act of
1896 required the county treasurers to
make their deposits to the State treasu-
rer, and prescribed the time and manner
Of making them.
They had been made in exact conform
ity with the provisions Of the statute. 1t
was not, therefore, competent for him to
pronounce them illegal, OF refuse to cred %
il them on the account Of the several par.
ties to whom they had been issued.
In the Settlement Book" these GER
tifcates are marked with the identical
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.. 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
presumption Of payment. The legitimate
inference, under ordinary circumstances,
would be, that the indebtedness had
been fully discharged but in the fnan-
cial transactions OF the Ohio State treas
.ury, such reasoning would be illogical.
Mr. Bliss transferred all the balance due
from his predecessor to his books, yet II
is well known that Mr.. Whitehouse with
out authority OF law, retained 5000 Of
these balances. 1t is true, and but JUS
tice to Mr. Whitehouse to say, that upon
close scrutiny of his accounts, this sum
has been found really due, aud has been
allowed TO him.
BY the same process Of bookkeeping,
Mr.. Breslin concealed deficit Of S65, 900
for his predecessor. He not only con-
cealed It, but, in response to a resolution
of the Senate, averred that Mr.. Bliss had
paid over to him the balance which ap-
peared on the book Of the department. II
has been the uniform practice of success.
sive treasurers TO carry forward the bal
ance due from their predecessors without
regard to the fact of payment. The man
ner in which the books of the Office have
been kept, does not prove, therefore, that
Mr. Breslin furnished Mr.. Gibson with
means with which to redeem outstanding
certificates, or paid him any portion OF
the public funds in bis hands at the expi-
ration 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 18th, 1856, al-
dressed to Mr.. Kelly. chairman of the
Finance Committee of the Senate, he SAYS:
my predecessor has provided means
from time to time to meet these certifi-
Gates. and but $4,000 are now out
standing when he fails to place me in
funds, | will refuse TO receive these ille-
gal certificates"
The certificates issued by Mr. Bresln
in 1855, amounted to S760,7l6.8O. The
foregoing statement is equivalent to an
acknowledgement Of the receipt of $780,
6l5.70 at that date.
In an official statement Of the condition
Of the treasury, (Which has not been pub
lished, but which is in our possession, J
furnished by him to the same COMMITTEES,
he acknowledges that he had received
from his predecessor in Office, up to the
10th of February, 1856. the sum Of
$500. 8O5.1O
His letter of the 39th Of March, is
more explicit and unequiyocal than either
of the preceding statements. 1t is per-
haPs the strongest item of evidence
against Mr.. Gibson which has been sub
mtted to our consideration. IL is so spe-
cifio, minute and circumstantial in its
character, that we deem il proper 10 give
it in full. Il is as follows
| STATE TaEAsURER's OFFICE,l
Columbus, March 29th, 1885,
HoN. A. KELLY, Chairman, DO.
DEAR SIR-Below find statement Of the
gross and several sums Of money paid me
by JnO G. Breslin. ESQ. late Treasurer
on account Of balance due from him:
jan. ia, 1856 .'....,..., S223 69l -
| Is, sssss-....-. 24,7Oa SO
l6, .-....-..... 75.2OO IS
/ l8, s.....s...., 1877 O8 e383 ,672 q
! Feb. 6, " .....s...... 29, ,345 %
8. " deprecated l,52O 90
% 3, ..-.s..ss-.. 5O.737 So