Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-03-19
WEEKLY TELEGRAPH.
By JAMES REED.
Ashtabula, Chic, March, 10. 1859.
The Ohio Fraud.

This fraud began with Albert a. Bliss, who
was treasurer from March, 1s47, to January,
1852. lie came into Office poor, and his sure
ties were certain citizens Of Columbus, who as
sumed this responsibility as a mutter of specu-
la,iou, with the understanding that they should
have the joint custody OF certain portions Of
the public money. This custody aud use of the
public money was a source of profit to various
banks and bankers.
Bliss himself, also received interest on ac-
count Of the deposit Of State funds, for which
he never accounted, and also that be invested
$4,000 of the public money in the purchase of
the stock Of bank, on which he received the
dividends. He also commenced and carried on,
while in Office, purchases aud speculatioas in
real estate in and around Counbas The re-
suit was. when Bliss left Office, there was de-
fciency in bis accounts, which lie attributed, in
his testimony, to wrong entries in the books, or
losses oceHrTiDg he could not tell how. The
laws had made no provision for the adjustment
Of the accoaats either Of the Treasurer or Audi
tor at the close Of each official term of Office.
The Auditor, therefore, had nothing to do with
and no oversight over the settlement of one
Treasurer with his successor in Office. Hence
there are no official means Of sscertaining what
the amount of Mr.. Bliss losses and deficiencies
may have been. This defect in tie law afforded
an opportunity to cover up and conceal those
deficiencies by means of private arrangement
with BresD, his successor.
The precise nature of this arrangement does
not appear; for Mr.. Bliss, though residing in
the State, paid no attention to the summons of
the Commissioners, and refused to appear be-
fore them. So they went to him; but even then
he refused to produce any papers or memoranda,
1t appears however, from other sources that
the sum which he ought TO have paid over to
Breslin was S3O4435. Breslin, in report which
he aade, states that he received from him S246,-
$40, the balance being covered by checks given
by the sureties. payable in two years without
interest. But the sum Of S246,5T9, acknowl-
edged as paid in cash, included certificate of
deposit, which, BreSlin agreed to receive as
money. lie made an agreement that this deposit
should not be called for in six mouths The
consequence Of the delay was that three-quar-
tcrs Of The amount was lost to the State, leav-
ing Bliss defaulter, even without further i'm.
peacling bis settlement with Breslin, to the a.
me1Ds Of some $4,000. for which, as the Com
mssioneTs think, he bis sureties are still liable
Breslin, who entered upon Office in January
1852, having commenced his career with the
doubt he was paid at least 10 promises to cover
up the DEFICIENCIES and miscondue: of his prede.
cessor, be entered at once on similaY ceBrse Of
speculation with the public money which be
pushed to q much more audacious extent Hav-
ing fed to Canada of course he was not within
the reach Of the Commissioners. He is, how
ever, as it seems, very anxious, or pretends to
be, TO get back. lie made. or caused to be
male, some oyertures 10 the Commissioners
agreeing on certain terms to come to Ohio and
TO appeas before them as O witness. With the
same show Of anxiety, to get at all the facts,
which the Commissioners exhibited by waiting
Ot DAorg tuC1 cSbb ohC VI tuCli 10 OIuu-
da 10 perfect an arrangement with BresIin, into
which, on the advice Of the Attorney General
they had agreed TO enter with him But by
that time he had altered his mind, aud on pre-
sentatiOu Of the papers for signature, he deelin-
ed to go back on any such terms. However
he gave some Information, especially in relation
to tke certificate received as cash. Finding w
u. Chittenden had failed, be agreed to accept
from him what he said was the best he could
olleF, eight notes Of hand Of different persons
the note ef Robert J. Walker for S5,3O2, and
of +. Peck Of New York for $4,000 standing
at the bead Of the list None Of these notes
were paid ct maturity. Suits were commenced
but ali that ever came Of them appears to have
been a compromise Wi,h Walker to give up bis
note for $1,000 stock Of the Chicago Land Co.
aud with Peek to give mp his il exchange fol
sixty-one shares Of the Chicago, ST. Paul aUt
Fond du Lac Railroad Company, both whicl
Mr. Brealin graciousy proposes to baud over
the stock in the Land CompaAy wien be ca
lay bis hands upon ito the State.
AZ vas. perhaps the loss lnus reah1eu' "hici
helped ts pAscipitate BresIin into the course o
wild speculatioas with the States money npoI
which be euters& Among these were connec
tiOns with various nariias among which weTs
ths Commercial Bank % Tslede. aBd tbe Cit,
Bank Of QiaeinnatL by shieh, 10 bic last report
BseslIn acknowledges. through, fte failure o.
ihs depoaisosiss, 10 haSe snAkrsda hess Of s2O4.-
Gas. which 10 ihis report he attempted 70 shift
Oh on Che State. lie Was also connected viLh
The Akron Branch Railroad Loan. the Kanaybs
Dank Of ybgiuia. and the Elkhart Comfy
Blat Il Goshen. 10 Indiana 100000, ipivt
rloHf einle Stocks, VEN obtained aud deposited
asletufli|es sar the iasae. Whoa BpaslI1. in
1855 laana \ nepessnry to surBoFeI the public
npaas q Wm. y Gibson his snseeaAag, though