Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-03-24
BRESLIN'S STATEMENT.
Statement of John G. Breslin, made
to Alfred P. Edgerton, one Of
the Treasury Investigating Com
mission, at Hamilton, Canada
West, January "a, 1859.

bonds were inte nded, | sold them sumo time
thereafter, incurring loss OF some SIX or
seven thousand dollars. | also borrowed
$50. 900, al another time, from Mr.. Sturges'
" hich needed for the disbursements oi The
Treasury. do not now recoliect the mar
ner of payment for these loans, but they
were paid.
In reference to my accounts and business
with the firm Of w. w. Cones & Co, or
with w. w. Cones, it is but just should
say that was urgently solicited BY many
persons, whose only protection irvm censure
is my silence, to open an account with hIm
and transact my Cincinnati business through
his bank. The transactions, however, ith
Mr. COLes, emanaliEg from Iqe, were few.
| was sJlicitedto allow the Butler County
Treasurer to make deposit with him to
which | consented. Dir. Cones. on ie"
occasions furnished me with exchange. The
deposit with Mr. Cones, which was the oc
cusion of loss 10 the State, do not consider
myself wholly responsible :or. An amount
greater than that specified in the certificate
received, had been deposited with Sir.
Cones by Mr.. Bowman, withou; my kuOwl-
edge or direction, and upon which he was
drawing, and was actually paid, interest.
OF this amount $40 600 was transferred
TO me by certificate, leaving sill balance
on deposit in Mr. Bowman's favor, as sub
sequent Developments proved. Mr.. Bow
man, with a perfect kno 9ledge of these
facts, and with further know ledge that
never directed him to make = deposit for
me with Mr.. Cones, does ne the creates:
injustice. am willing to take upon my
self every responsibility that attaches TO Ey
action, but can not submit, without pro-
testing against lis injustice, TO being made
responsible for the errors and losses OF
others. If, hereafter. the opportunity is pre-
sented, and the occasion requires it.. and The
evidence is all within my reach, may en-
deavor to fix the responsibility Of this loss
whore it properly belongs.
Ny connection with the Kanawha Bank
il is proper for me to say, arose from visit
made 10 me by VIM. S!urges, w. w. Cones
and a gentleman whose name for the rre,en;
decline to mention. for The purpose of in
ducing me to take one-fourth interest in that
institution.
declined TO comply with the proposed ar
rangement. The same parties visited me
again, and urgently insisted should join
them in the purchase of the bank. ! again
declined, but agreed to meet the parties lex
! ce9t Mr.. Siurges) in Cincinnati, in shor
time, 10 inquire more fully into the matter,
| visited Cincinnati; and after an interview
with the parties, (except Mr.. Surges, >,
agreed to take the interest assigned mt
one-fourth of one hundred thousand dollars
but with this positive agreement, that thu
purchase money advanced by me should be
returned in not over thirty days, aud my
notes be substituted therefor. Ny 'suSpic
| ions that Mr.. Cone intended to transfer the
doubtful assets of his Cincinnati banking
office into the kanawha Bank, and therefore
render the institution comparatively valuirss
at once induced me 20 insist that the speedy
repayment Of my interest in money, was tht
orly condition upon which would cohsen
to become interested in the purchase. ! ex
pressed determination "t1 get my moae,
tacf." Accordingly. $4,000 was repaid II
me in due !ime. which was the only money
| ever advanced in any transaction in the
Kanawha Bank
| After some delay, caused by the grsa
| hestancy on my part as 10 the safety o! any
| further association in this connection,
gave my notes TO Mr.. Cones, who insisted
that without them he would be unable tt
make a satisfactory exhibit TO the director:
during his approaching visit TO Kanawha
Some time after Mr. Cones forwarded IN,
notes 10 me, with the request that woull
procure an indorser, in accordance with the
rules of the bank. Having, in the mean
time, had satisfactory reasons 10 impress INF
with belief that it would be best to uvai
myself OF the first opportunity to dissolve al
connection with that bunk, retained my
notes, and announced to the parties (excep
M. Sturgesl my withdrawal as stockhold
er. With this step ended my interest il
that bank.
| sustained no loss through Mr Cones
except the balance OF the $4,000 deposited
with him by Mr. Bowman, which was trans
ferred to me, remained unpaid. had II
investments OF speculatiors of any natur,
with Cones except as herein stated.
! Hgving accounted thus far for portion 0
the deficiency charged to me, it is due t.
others, as believe it viii be promotive o
tie security of The State, to decline: for lh,
present, to make any additional disclosure.
concerning the 5000 600 of the allege,
H., I in tb,,, DO, -,
subject myself to censure. But if there
: be any in whose experience there have beer
occasions when 4 disclosure OF private trans
actions would have to be based upon viola
tion of the most solemn obligations Of honor
| appeal TO them, who can appreciate reIa
ton, the honorable privacy of which il
!, sacred TO every high minded man, for a sus
pension of opinion for the present in this re
gard. 1t may be said my first duty is to tIj
State. do not deny this. But when fee
and know that can work no WRONG TO th,
F., State by delay, and that the fulfilmcnt O
my duty to il will be better in nv puwe
hereafter than now, trust 10 bc indulge,
for the present ia this respect.
In reference to the amount about which
prefer at present to make no statement,
7 intend that everything in relation there,,
shall be communicated to the public, an,
, the evidences of the amounts of the ass {
delivered over. This | will do the frs
moment can without needlessy and niu.
tifiably connecting parties with the Treas
4 ury, whose names should in no manner b,
connected Herewith, and who are in No wa,
, responsible for any portion of the defalca