Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-05-05
On motion adjourned.

long ago Alderman Henry Ramming, Of the
Second Ward, formerly notorious in Pella,
Marion county, Iowa, where he.perpetrated
a series Of financial transactions" which
plain people call by very hard name
reported to the city council that Henry W
Mitchell, Esq, late city Marshal as de-
fauIter to the amount Of twelve hundred
collars. This report he made during the
absence Of Mr.. Mitchell from the city, and
without giving that gentleman sny oppor-
tunity to explain his accounts, or any no.
tiee that an investigation was contempla-
ted.
The accounts of Mr.. Mitchell had long
before been audited. allowed and passed,
by the city council he had accounted for
every dollar he had received, and Alderman
Raniming knee It, as a full investigation
showed.
| We presume there was not man in Da-
venport who was acquainted with Mr..
Mitchell, that had not the fullest confidence
in his integrity as public officer, and it is
universally conceded that there has never
been elected to the office of Maj shal, . man
30 entirely competent to discharge its dn-
ties, as he
About the time of our city election, Mr.
Mitchell left Davenport On business intend
ing to return in the course of two or three
weeks-but Ramming and his confederates
in this miserable conspiracy, supposed that
he had gone to Pixies Peak never in all
probability 10 return. In order to CRAFTY
bis own black heart, and a little old grudge
against Mr. Mitchell, as we'll as to make u
little political capital for his party, by pla-
cing Democratic .offcers in the attitude Of
defaulters, Ramming deliberately and Of
pure malace ifor We cannot believe him to
be 40 stupid bungler As he must be, if be
acted honestly) concocted report which
| he presented to the council-charging Mr.
Mitchell with filching more than 81 .2o4 90
from the public treasury. The whole town
was shocked the best informed were in
creduleus. but the report circulated as
widely as possible. for political effect and
backed toy the positive assertions Of some
notoriously corrupt Black Republican poll
ticisns-gained credence with many Of
friends protested that they could not be
mistaken in the man, and that he could. and
would exonerate himself from the sus
picion.
The personal malignity Of these scoun
dres. may be inferred from the fact that
they mailed papers containing these charges
! friends and relatives abroad Fortunately
fer Mr.. Mitchell, but unfortunately for this
vile libeller, Henry Rammng-the report
reached Kansas, where Mr. Mitchell had
gone on business Although he had not
concluded his negotiations in that territory,
he hastened home 10 meet the charge and
confront his accusers. He arrived in Da-
venport and demanded an investigation );
the city council referred the matter to
committee Of which this came Banning
was made chairman Yesterday that com.
mittee reported to the council. and Ram
ming, the wretch, was compelled to eat his
own words, and acknowledge his first re
port to be either a mass of inexcusable stu.
pidity-or a wilful Justification Of Mr..
Mitchells accounts. If Ramming had made
tho, Grsk rorort in palla h.
village would have attributed his course 10
the latter, but We, in charity, will say that
we believe it to be compound of rascality
| and blundering-for We believe him cana
bic of anything dishonest and stupid. He
10 at best muddle-headed feol, who would
he knave if he knew how. The last re-
port which We presume the other other
members Of the committee wrung from
Ramming-not only entirely sxonerates
Mr.. Mitchell from any suspicion Of dsfalca-
tion, but declares that the city il actually
in debt to him in the sum of eight dollars
So far il he from being defaulter that he
has orerpaid the city eight dollars, and
that Ramming is compelled to admit.
But the Black Republican sympathizers
with Ramming were determined 1t all
events, to make Mr.. Mitchell dsfaulter.
and after accepting the committees repsrt.
one Of the confererates moved that he be
deprived Of his commission for collecting
the Road Pole Tax. That tax never had
been collected before Mr.. Mitchell came in.
to office-and it was no part of his duty to
collect it-though, at the urgent request of
many members Of the city council. in 1857.
he concluded 70 undertake the task, and by
20 doing. saved the city over twenty -one
hundred dollars. On the amount 20 col
!ectsd, he charged the city the pitiful com.
mission Of one per cent, - he had an un-
doubted legal right 70 d. That esmmis-
sion-amsunting in al 70 tal 90. the city
council meanly. nisgsrdly. and illegally
refuses to pay him. They deduct the sum
Of t9l .00-give him credit for the 90. 90.
admitted - b his dus-Aod thus bring hin
In debt to The city in Ne SAN Of ols,O0-
We advise NJ. Mitshsll = sss ths sity ~
Ais o1l 90 eeomiesions.
DoS sva tAeena hs WseU - eaaiA11a =
~ ssanln1tss-sAs u, \ iin = 1Gbt y