Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-03-25
Letter from Hon C. Deiano.


an opinion that when the Central Bank
Indiana was organized, Bresiin was stool
holder in fact; because he was to have pa
OF the stock taken by Judge Bowen and {
I. Sherman, and that | kn'o of such in
terest at the time, and also kner he weuI
use the funds of the State to obtain sue
interest.
Now, this opinion is erroneous in ever,
part and particular | have very little ac
quaintance with Mr.. BresIin, nothing NOR
than casual aud speaking acquaintance ce
never had a word OF conversation with hin
In regard to business, directly or indirectly
personally or by an agent; and if Mr. Brrs
lin had an understanding with any stock
holder in the Central Bank at the time o
its organization, that he was TO own auy
part of it's stock. did not know it.
The bank was organized by Judge Bowen
c. I. Sherman, William Sturgess- and N.Y.
self 10 the fall of 1858, in the city of New
York, where was then doing business for
Mr.. Sturgess. / obtained from William
Sturgess Gas his letter herewith published
will show the money to pay for my share
of the cash capital. In the spring of 1854,
. in May, think, ] sold my interest to Mr..
Sturgess, and transferred the same 20 him.
This transfer was forwarded immediately TO
Indianapolis, with orders 10 have it made
upon the books of the Bank. and in The pub
! lie Offices. II was for sometime Withheld, but
against my orders, ard without my consent.
, A. that time lived in New York and never
had any part in the management of the
bank.
I Inever knew of any transfer of stock to
, aiir1s
) formed OF such transfer. II any of the
stockholders received money from Breslin,
it was without any knowledge or privty of
mine. nor had any more power to prevent it
than any member OF the Committee of In
vestigation.
venture to assert that am as free from
any business connection with Breslin in
any way, and all ways, as either member of
the committee, and no one doubts their pur-
hy, presume.
| cannot see what basis the committee
have for the opinion they have expressed in
regard TO me. / understand that the evil
dence of Judge Bowen and Mr.. Sherman
shows that Mr.. Breslin not interested
when the bank was organized, and | pub
lish herewith a letter from Mr.. Stnrgess,
showing that neither he nor myself had any
knowledge of such interest, il any such in
fact existed.
| | have never been requested by the Conn
mttee to appear before them. and until their
report appeared felt warranted in believing
that they would not venture to charge any
one in so important a matter without giving
notice. All the original partes in the or
ganization of the Central Bank except my
self, were called upon and examined before
the commtte!
Several weeks ago, received letter
from friend in Columbus, informing me
that Mr.. Phelps, Democrat in the Senate. !
had stated that the report of the committee
would destroy the prospec:s Of two OF the
Republican candidates for Governor, and
that, being asked who1 he replied By NAM
ing myself and another, whose name omit
to mention. did not heed this, because
supposed it bit of electOneering diplomacy.
Afterwards, and about the oath of February
while was in an adjoining county. attending
Court, | learned through leading member
of the Democratic party; that the report
would probably introduce my name; but that
the committee had, through some influence,
concluded to drop the name of the other
person mentioned by MIR. Phelps: and this
gentle man advised that should give the sub. :
ject attention. Being unable to leave my
business, ! addressed the committee a letter. (
of which the following is copy
MT. VERNON, O., February 26, 1859.
MEssERs. EbeEKT0N, REEMEL1N AND MoReAN.
= Gen ke1,sen:-I am in formed that, as a com |
mittee appointed by the Legislature. you arc in /
vcstigating the State Treasury elefalcation. (
A number of my friends at Columbus. and
elewhere. have informed me that qnite recent {
ly current rumor says your report will be shap-
ed so to connect my namo unfavorably wi h |
the Su bcct in some form gro wing ont of INV
ership of stock in the Central Bank Indiana.
Mover having heard from your committee or
any of it's members, | place no depcn lcnce
this rumor, because feel confident thar such
committee yours will make neither charge
nor insnuation in such report without giving
the party implicated due notice. and copy of
the evideace in regard himself, in time for
explanation and vindcation. l think the char
acter of your committee warrants me in belie1-
ing that you will be governed by the rul"s of
justice and fairness to which have alluded.
beg to assure you that every effort to connect
me unfavorably with the subject of } our inve4-
legations win be unjust and erroneous, aud I
believe it is in my power, when time and op-
portunity occur, to demonstrate what say.
To satisfy You that this opinion is an earnest
one, shall send herewith for your perusal
letter which have recently received from VIM.
Sturgess, who knows fully overy circumstance
in regard to my ownership of stock in, and of
my connection with the Central Bank, Indiana
Mr.. C. T. Sherman indorsts this letter, and you
are at Liberty to copy tiff you desire.
trust the circumstances will Justify this
communication, and that may expect, before
being implicated by your report, directly or in
directly, that you will not only notify me that
am assaiied, but that you will furnish me lie
evidence thereof, and afford rue tImo to reply.
Very respectfully,
c. DELANO.
here give Mr.. Sturgess' letter to me,
alluded to in my letter to the committee,
containing also the endorsement OF DR. {
Sherman
CHICAGO, Feb. 81, 1889,
c. DELANo, ESQ. - Dedr SIR have received
your letter of the 1Ith inst There certainly
can be nothing in the report of the inveStigat .
ing commit ee that be tortured into any !
in plication of you.
1t is true you were a stockholder in the Cen r
trail Bank. but furnished the stock for you :
or rather paid in the money, and know that you {
had not dollar from the State of Ohio, or its G
Treasurer, or from any other person wha tso- q
ever.
At the time we agreed to go into the Bank, I c
certainly had not the slightest knowledge that il
Mr.. Breslin to be Interested in the Bank, or 4
that any funds of his or the State Of Ohio were
to be used. and most solemnly believe y0H had I
not Indeed am morally certain you could p
not have had. LkRoV that the Banb a Our 3
zoe did not. But if any of the other stockhold-
ers did, it without our knowledge or con "a
SENT directly or indirectly, and that we had no 6,
power TO prevent it even had we known of it.
1t is my conscientious belief that no man, be u
he your personal political enemy, can make h
any charge against you in relation to the late n
defalcation in tho Treasury OF the State of Ohio.
You were assisting me in my business fro July v
1858, to about January /, 1885, and do not be 1
lievc that during that time you had single h
business transaction that did not know all
about. Repeetfully, v
W. STURGESS. h
The above statement is correct, SO far aO my
belief aud information extends.
q. SHERMAN. O
February al, 1889.
Tine foreo,,ino letiers I forwarded to Co n