Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-15

a shilling of this immense fortune at his dispo-
sal.
Here is subject for apology truly Here is
an outcast from his native land-a fugitive from
justice, seeking safety for his crimes under the
friendly protection of foreign flag; defying and
still continuing to defraud the people of Ohio,
and all done from pure and hghDiinded sense
of honor God save the mark God spare the
people of Ohio from being inflicted with any
more such honorable men. Sir, leave this dis
graced and acknowledged felon. in the land he
has chosen, to the scorn and contempt of every
honest man; but, sir, protest in the name Of
every principle of right and JUSTICE in the
name ofhOnor and every principle Of fair deal
ing, against the unprinciplcd endeavor, to make
the Republican party, or any of its officers, an
swerable for this mans confessed and dOubly
proven crimes.
But, Mr. Speaker, have already occupied
more time than intended, and will but glance
at one other Of the partizan characteristics of
this report, and leave the balance of it to be at
tended to by other and abler gentlemen
[ now allude to the report of the Canal
Bank Of Cleveland. Now, sir far be it from
me to attempt to defend the action or character
of that bank. The Commercial Branch Bank
of Toledo, and the Akron Bank, were of one and
the same brood. They were all more or less
controlled by Jo. Lake, and of course finally
failed, spreading ruin and disgrace.
After having given history of the bank, up
to January s, ls49, the report goes on to say:
January 8, 1919, Warren jenkins resigns as
cashier and day 7. G. Severance is elected in
his place, who occupies this position TO the last
After IL at date no elections of directors are record
ed, nor any examinations Of books made; I. G.. Sew
eranoe became sole and absolute manager of the
bauk, adroit in both entries, financial makeshifts
and paper metamorphosis Of every description, and
his talents in that line alone kept he bank afoet.
Probably there have been but few bank officers in
the United States who could make their bank ap-
pear so clean when at the same time it was so very
foul He appears to have TINS imposed upon his
very associates in business, the public examiners
aud, ultimately, Mathew johnson, Mcmillan and
Hewitt.
That Severance and Lake should have deceived
Mathew johnson, himself banker. an old business
and banking acquaintance, speaks volumes for their
expansive financial abilities. Ii reminds Us forci-
bly, of that interesting contest between the two
great painters in olden time, which was yielded by
the one on being presented by his rival picture
represented as covered by curtain, who, on being
asked to remove the curtain, replied, the curtain
is the picture" Severance deserves the palm of
distinction this fact gives him, and bank exami-
ners, who have been deceived by him, may well
plead this fact in eXtenlaton of their failure to see
what was SO well hidden"
The prominent character which Mr.. Sever
anee is made TO figure in, attests the ingenuity
of these Commissioners. Here is this little
Mr. Severance, who, to do him justice, 1ras q
promising pupil in the school in which he was
being educated, is made to appear az one of the
leading minds in cursing the State with rotten
banks; and Matthew johnson and Mcmillan,
and other prominent gentlemen, are but Sec
ond- rate figures in the back ground. Why,
bless the hearts Of these innocent Commis-
sioners, Mcmillan, Johnson, ]. Lake and Breslin
would start half dozen banks of issue, get
them under way, and have line of discounts
and deposits while Severance was going to
dinner.
Let it be remembered that this same Matthew
johnson was Cashier of that State renowned
institution, the Commercial Branch Bank at
Toledo, in which Brsslin sunk S25, 900 of the
peoples money, and having by this act entitled
himself to the gratitude of the Democratic
party, be was made U s. Marshal for the north
ern District of Ohio, by President Buchanan.
mention this not for the purpose Of injnring
Mr. johnson, who is / man of fine talents, gen
erous heart, and, SO far as know, perfectly
honest; but for the purpose of illustrating my
argument, that this is PartizGn report Here
was Mr.. johnson, a prominent Democrat, the
Cashier of the Commercial Bank at Toledo, a
stockholder in the Canal Bank to the amount
Of $4,000, and intimately connected with the
Akron Branch Bank, made to appear as the IN
n0ceRt tool of Severance and Lake, when, in re-
atty, he has brains enough to be the master mind
of all of them, and so regard him. lff.
But the commissioners seek still farther to
pile compliments upon him, while at the same
time they use every m, ans in their power to
damn and destroy the character of Isaac L. He
witt, who unfortunately for himself in this re-
gard, happens to be a Republican. l quote
again from their report:
Matthew Johnson claims to have paid S20,-
600 actual cash upon the $50, 900 Of stock be
took "to reconcile differences" between his old
eomrade Lake and the Bank, and we chronicle
the fact to his honor, as being the first and only
stakeholder the bank ever had that paid any
considerable amount on his stock, and what is
stranger still, the only one that received no
dividend, always excepting poor, Victimized
Woods''
Now, sir, do not deny that this Is true, but
/ do know that the Canal Bank Of Cleveland
failed Mr.. johnson was indebted to it. in the
sum of $4,000, or to parties who held the
Canal Bank drafts upon him, and which were
accepted by him.
But let US turn for moment to Mr.. Hewitt.
The commissioners say;
"Mr Hewitt is pleased to assume before the pub
lie the attitude Of very ignorant man; but the
testimony taken before u.s. and which Is attached
to this Report as Documents 3, as well as the facts
gathered from the books, exhibit him in q different
light. He is present at consultations, gets aud
makes explanations, buys and sells stocks, holds
il nominally, but receives dividends; in fact does
many things, and participates in many more, which
bring him benefits and profits, and known to him
to be illegitimate; and which taken ali in all not
forgetting his relationship to Lake and his being
his tool in stock operations, relieve Mr.. Hewitt
considerably Of the charge made by himself upon
himself, of being an ignoramus, and we doubt not
it viii behoye Mr.. Hewitt to prepare himself at
once to answer very different charge. He may
never have understood the fraudulent account Of
"stocks furnished by stockholders" nor how he
was the lucky recipient Of credit Of $4,000, to
which he was not entitled; but he knows these
things now and the question Is proper why does he
not correct these mistakes and errors by paying
moneys wrongfully received; and thereby clearing
himself of culpsbility2"
As Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Hewitt are both
my constituents, intend to do them that JUS
tice to which they are fairly entitled, without
fear or favor.
The reason why the Commissioners were di-
rected TO examine the Canal Bank of Cleveland,
was that by some means $ls,50 of its bills
had got into circulation without any deposit Of
stocks to enable the State To redeem them. The |
history of this excess of circulation was given |
by me once before upon this floor, but it was
based solety and entirely upon the testimony of |
Breslin himself Since the report of the Com |
lcas leriteH, and before It was deIiv-
cred, Mr.. Mcmillan forwarded his affidavit in |
regard to the matter, and have the affidavit of |
!. s. Hewitt in my pocket, which puts an en-
irely different face upon this whole transaction,
md entirely oontradiOts the statement of Bres-
lin. Mr.. Mcmillan swears that he placed in the |
hands of Breslin to secure the issue of these
notes S24, 500 worth Of Pittsburgh Railroad |
.tocks, which at that time was worth par.
That he did so, l have no doubt, for Breslin af-
erward placed in the hands Of Bartlett 4 Smith
his identical stock for sale. and for which be