Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-11-27
THE TRIAL OF EDWARD HEENAN, REGIsrE

THE TRIAL OF EDWARD HEENAN, REGIsrEl
Of DEEDS OF RAMSEY COUNTY, FOR MALFEAs
,xcE IN OFFIcE-BEFoRE HIS ExCELLENC,
| icting Gov. SIBLEY.-This case was com
menced in the Governors Room, Capitol, yes
terday morning at eleven o'clock. Mr.. Hee
nan appeared with his counsel, Messrs Smith
and Gilman, and the Board of Supervisors
prosecuting, were represented by l. '. d.
Heard Esq, District Attorney, and A. j.
Horne, City Attorney with NJ. f. Ames, Esq
Mr.. Heard opened the case, quoting the
provisions of the Statute authorizing the Gov
ernor to remove, &c He touched on the ma
ture of the charges, that it was not a criminal
prosecution, exactly. y public officer holds
his office not for his own aggrandisement, but
the public service He is supposed to possess
business and social qualifications for the post.
He is expected to be prompt faithful, indus
trious. And when it shall appear that he
has not proved faithful, competent, and hon
est, public interest demands his removal,
though it does not appear that he has been
criminal.
And, as to what is expected to be proven,
competent and satisfactory testimony, leaving
no doubt of guilt, should be introduced in
criminal cases. But in civil cases, if sufficient
evidence be introduced for the prosecution to
counterbalance the other testimony on behalf
Of accused, then the person arraigned becomes
amenable to the penalty resulting from mis-
conduct
The prosecution therefore, charge not only
incompetency and neglect, but wilfully doing
what he knee was wrong. Heenan stands
charged with embezzlement-with eXtortion,
with perjury, with Withholding books and pa
pears to shield his own mis-dceds, with re-
ceiving Illegal fees and pay, he stands charged
with ecery crime public officer can be ac-
cused of, and holding as he does, one of the
most important offices in the county, the pub
lie DEMAND his removal for their own safety,
that they may be no longer imposed upon by
this corrupt office-holder.
Mr.. Heard then dwelt at some length on
the various charges, showing their enormity
how it was proposed to prove them, and quo
ting the statutory provisions regarding the
duties IIeenan had neglected, or perverted to
his own use, if attended to. Mr. Heard's
argument was thorough expose Of the whole
unclean record of this officer, from first to
last,-a whitening searching invective, and
was mastery plea.
Mr.. Gilman on behalf of Mr. Heenan then
made brief statement Of the position to b
taken by the defence. In the course of which
ne said that they claimed that the prosecution
had been gone Unto by those who wished to
remove Heenan merely to give place to ia
vorite, and had trumped these charges merely
to carry out their ends He went over the
various charges named, endeavOring to show
hat they were unfounded and amounted to
nothing in reality.
He claimed that the Township Law is a
uuHiy! And Mr.. Heenan is not compelled
to hand over certain books and papers, That
law never passed the Legislature in a fair and
legal manner. twas invalid, because it con-
tanned three different subjects, not expressed
by the title. 1t never was read at length
but once but hurried through in about five
minutes, &c.
Here the case was adjourned until half-past
two o'clock.
THREE O'CLOCK.
His Excellcncy, Mr.. Sibley, said he should
rule out all irrelevant and unnecessary testi-
mony The testimony then began.
Nr Isaac i. Baaker, srora.-Am acquain-
ted with Mr. Heenan-hc entered his office in
January, 1S5S,-have been engaged in his
Office up to April, as clerk, and from that
time until Sept. as Deputy Register. Think
the return of the delinquent list was made on
or about March first, by the Sheriff and City
Treasurer. The sale took place on the 18th
of April, and continued until the 10Th. There
were collections made by the Register upon
the returns up to the 18th Of April, the re-
turns made by me was copy of the return
made by the Sheriff, except the sales made
up to April 13. The sales were marked up
on the City Treasurer returns, and the Sher
itf s returns, at the lime made. We arrived
at the amount due on this return by adding
this expense to the assessment. 1t was 81,
Is on each piece, - cts. for certificate of sale
% cts. for acknowledgment; 10 cts. for print
ing, and cts. for making list. The returns
were made to the County Treasurer for ia,
sales. The Register directed me to make i
out Don't kno,cI.~hya second return ,ca
male ont. 1t was made in the end of July
or the beginning Of August, by the direction
of the Register This second return contain
cd none Of the collections male Jet,ceen Apri
18Th and the date Of the return. The collec
| tionS were all made on the Sheriff'S and Git,