The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-09-26
TT4E sTEEuTFF,s DEFENsE.

/
Hynes, Esqr., in a speech of an hour aad a
quarter, presented the charges against Mr..
Gavitt in clear and forcible manner, deal
ing in the facts, the records of the Courts
: and offices, and the law relating to the
Sheriff s fees and duties, and avoid abuse
and epithets All must concede that the
charges were preferred in Il candid and gem
tlemanly manner, and that they stood out
in marked contrast with the low abuse per
sonalities, epithets, and vulgarity Of Mr..
Gavitt
THE SPIRIT OF THE MEETING.
It was plain to every one that Gavitt and
his tools had been busy during the day in
drumming up the - Guards and in get
ting his hirelings out in full force. 1t was
Revident that they had received their d" t,s-
-structions' and it was we'll understood that
fthey should make all possible dcmonstra-
! tions. E7ery one of his personal epithets
and low phrases was applauded with gus
to, and while the Court House resounded in
honor of the champion of the rowdies,
f" Whisky Row" and such places were quiet
as a Sabbath morn. The Sheriff was heard
with applause and,attention, but when his
! personalities forced Mayor Baker to his feet,
the tongues and feet of the hirelings were
busy to drown his words not even one of
the most worthy of our citizens was per-
mitted in peace to make a personal expla-
nation. After Gayitt had concluded his
harangue about irrelevant matter and per-
sonal abuse, and Mr.. Hynes arose to reply,
ashout Of dsapproval went up from the
throats of hundred 'rowdics" and hire
hngs, which drowned out the few words he
did utter, and he had to sit down, unable to
reply, while Gavitt stood up with hypocrst-
icaJ seriousness and asked that Hynes should
be heard. No one in the audience who saw
the men who were making the disturbance,
could doubt that Gavitt could, If he desired
Il, have quelled the disturbance. 1t was
well understood before hand-the "instruc~
tions" had been given out. While Mr..
Hynes could not reply, Mr.. Shanklin could
be heard in peace while ne attempted to
bolster up the falling fortunes of the man
who but few short months before was de-
nouncing him with all the bitterness of his
rancorous tongue. The meeting fairly il
lustrated the necessity of good citizens at
tending such meetings to put down all such
spirit as was displayed on Monday night.
IT is NOT A PERSONAL QUESTION.
Mr.. Gavitt opened his speech by talking
of his long residence in this county; he
told his audience that he had lived among
them from childhood and had risen to his
present position by his own unaided efforts
and! that these charges. were attacks upon his
character, aud their object was to injure his
reputation. We tell Mr.. Gavitt plainly that
his past life is neither an excuse nor a blame
for his present position, and that this is not
a question of personal reputation. He can
congratulate himself that we are not inquir-
ing into his past character and private acts.
1t is question solely about his c65ciaI re-
cord We copy from the records and papers
in the official county Offices, and say that
these records and papers show that he has
taken money from the county Treasury
without Laao and 1ojtAom right He denies,
not the records but our deductions from
those records There is AZ issue between
US. 1t does notinvolve his past personal and
private history Let us meet the issue
airly.
CERTIFICATES OF THE JUDGES.
He read the certificates of Judges Parrett