Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-24

4 OF CERTAIN NUMBER On Dul8 Oh Lu1k DdIlk, anu
certain number on that, of certificate of s., ,O0t
on one bank, and of 81, 500 on another, or o
similar or other amounts Of checks and draft
ON still other banks; but it was all aggregated
in one great item of cash. Neither did realizI
the possibility, that after the amount had beeI
paid, under circumstances that seemed to pre-
clude the possibility of any mistake, the fact 0
whether it had been paid or not could ever b'
called in question Nor did dream that any
human being had, or ever had doubt on the
subject, till after the appointment OF this com
mission. Very soon after that appointment il
came to my ears that it was rumored, that Of
the amount I ought to have paid Mr.. Breslir
$3.50, 600 or $4,000 had never been paid
These rumors spread They came to me from
different parts of this State and from other
States They were whispered confdentially
from one TO another They were kept aloat
everywhere, and as far as have been able to
learn, these rumors are all traceable directly
back to this commission. But, as said before,
the committee have furnished me some aid
they have published the schedule of items that
go to mako up the S2Ol, ,47s 80 that it is admit
ted was paid Now if it appears that any sums
of money were paid him that are not embraced
in that schedule, such sums are of course in ad-
dition to the sums there specified have dis
tinet recollection of many Of the items embraced
in that schedule, and many of them do not re-
collect l have also a distinct recollection OF
other items paid him, while presume among
my additional payments there are many items
of which have no particular recollection.
can remember nearly enough to make up the
S37, S62 So my impression is that paid him
more than this sum, in addition to the S2Ol,-
47s 80. fl did, it was because there was more
due.
l will name few of the items that 1 am
certain were paid him after the S201, ,47s 30,
and which are not embraced in that schedule
have no access to books or papers, and only
state from memory The sums put in round
numbers. The exact amounts can be aseer-
tanned.
lst, paid Mr.. Breslin an Auditors draft for
turnpike dividends, drawn, think, on Mr..
Drake of Xenia, for something near s., 500.
Al the facts about it can probably be ascer-
tanned.
ID / paid him a check of the Commercial
Bank of Toledo, on the Merchants Bank of
Cleveland, for $4,000. This check had Ibeen
mislaid and was found fled away among vouch-
ers of another character.
several of the Independent Banks, for circulat-
ing notes. These bills had been paid by me
and had not been presented to the banks They
amounted, I think, to about $4,000. The
amount can be ascertained.
4th, paid him a State bond Of $1,000
This is the bond about which the Commission
ers seem to be somewhat confused. have not
very clear recollection of the facts, but think
they will be found to be something like the fol-
lowing: 1t was a bond belonging to the Sene-
ca County Bank, deposited for circulation. 1t
was one of class of bonds which fell due in
1850, and as there was money in the hands of
the Fund Commissioners to pay it, interest was
stopped Some time in the course of the season,
Mr. Arnold, the Cashier of that bank, purchas-
ed other bonds to take its place, and instead of
taking up the bond himself, he requested me to
see to its redemption, and at once charged it
over to me. I omitted to have it redeemed, and
at the close of my term, finding had paid for
it and that it was still unredeemed, turned it
over to Mr. Breslin as so much cash.
9TH, 1 recoIlect distinctly of paying to Mr..
Breslin currency, more than once, after the
named in the Committees schedule.
At one time paid him $4,000 in bills on the
Woodbury. Bank A
domestic interest, on which was entitled to
and received from Mr. Breslin credit of $1,000
or $4,000. Precisely what this was do not
remember, but the facts can be ascertained at
the Treasury Office.
7th Another sum of about $1,000 was cred
tied to me on the following account When 1
first took the Office, Mr. Whitehill, my prede-
cessor, handed over to me balance of about
$4,000, in the hands of Messrs. Espy & Co., of
Toledo. They were bankers and the regular
depositaries Of the tolls at that point. They
had failed with this balance in their hands, Mr.,
Espy desired to settle the matter, and as the
claim was considered worthless as it doubtless
was, with the advice of the Auditor, I acceded
to his proposition to pay one halt, and give his
note, endorsed by Mr. Whitehill, for the balance.
That note was never paid, and as 1 understand,
the note cannot be found. When 1 left the
office the note gas looked for where it ought to
have been, but was not there. I supposed it
would be found, but have been informed since
that it could not be. It was half of the $4,000
received by me of Mr.. Whitehill, and charged
to me, and was of oourse received of me by l.r.
Breslin, who should also be credited with it,
These amounts foot up $34, 900.
feel entirely confident as to other payments
made by me to Mr. Breslin, but 1 prefer not to
enumerate them without further examination.
But it must be apparent that the conclusions of
the Commissioners as to an existing deficit of
S37, 1862 50, are wholly erroneous,
When all Of the money had been paid over,
and there was still balance againstme of $685.
900, my official sureties, whom had advised
of the whole matter, took into consideration
how that balance should be paid, After full
deliberation they concluded to assume it, and
Immediately paid it to Mr. Breslin by giving
their sight checks on two of the Columbus
banks for the amount.
Mr.. Breslin viii bear me witness that al
ways insisted that he ought not to run any risk
whatever in the matter. l never asked him to
take my obligations or my assets and never de-
sired or expected him to settle with me by re-
ceiying anything else than cash, or something
equivalent thereto, and convertible into cash
whenever it became necessary for him to have
it. But this act of his has been represented as
great public fraud He concealed, it is claim
ed q great defalcation, and screened the defaul-
ter CANNOT so regard it. The whole object of
the arrangement was to prevent defalcation to
the State, so that, if defalcation existed, it
should be alone between myself and my sure
ties. For any fault by which Mr. Breslin fail
ed to get the money on the checks as early as
vas expected, he viii not hold me responsible
BE wei knew my snxieties and desires on the
subject | am willing to bear all the blame
deserve in connection with the settlement, but
do not think Mr.. Breslin should be censured for
it. BE did the best foF the State that could have
been done. Ny sureties had been advised that
they were not liable on their bond, but they
nevertheless assumed the deficiency. Had a
settlement not been made, it would have graft
fed the lovers of scandal, and furnished feast
for the malicious and the mean: but the certain
result would have been that the State and all
others concerned would have been the IOsers
The settlement being made, it was a natural
sequel that Mr.. Breslin should give me a receipt
The peculiarly of the receipt given is dwelt
upon by the Commissioners In their minds
there Is some great mystery, some dark design