The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-07-25
From the Ottawa Register, 10th.
The People VS.. John Roost.

W 'hip S"i' III piiHe, iOi Oho iNaoOu lboo
the result of the trial on the case has
completely exonorated tho Township
Board and the prosecuting witness from
the charges which have been falsely made
against them, and we could see no fur
ther necessity or good in washing dirty
linen in public.
The evil in making these matters pub
lie is this: The township of Holland
must inevitably share John Roost's dis
grace with him, as ho occupies an official
position which makes him to certain
extent our representative, and TO publish
TO the world the fact that he has been
found defaulter TO large amount, aud
has not attempted to account for the
moneys due from him, in his defence from
the court, can not but convey the inn
preston abroad that official integrity is
not valued or practiced in Holland.
For these reasons we did not wish TO
open this matter to the public print
But with II stupid insensibiity to their
own disgrace, Roost and his friends, not
satisfied with barely clearing him from the
penitentiary 10y a legal technicality, are
determined to have the disgraceful affair
made as public as possible. We see in
Roosts organ, the Grondt0et, an anony-
nous article which contains some
Of the most outrageous ISLANDERS and
falsehoods which could be devised by
corrupt heart and weak head, and
which can not be permitted TO 90 to the
public withou thaying the brand of wilful
falsehood placed upon them. The state
ment is published that preparations were
made to rejoice over RoosCs expected con-
viction, by firing cannon, &C., &c. This
is u most vile aud wicked slandcr, which
its authors have been called to account
for, here in Holland, and compelled to re-
tract. No ono made any such prepara-
tions, and we have yet TO see or hear an
expression from any one of rejoicing over
the downfall of Roost Tbere WAS. and
still is feeling that he ought 10 be lro't
TO justice for his misdeeds, and that eel
ing is more deeply seated in the minds Of
tho sober men Of the community tlrai. his
supporters would willingly beliefe.---
"Falsehood flies, and truth must Walk,
but truth ovcrtakes the lie Mt last" tEy-
cry one who listened to the trial of RtosL
was satisfied that he was wrong, entirely
and willfully wrong, and that The Ttwn-
ship Board were right and had goni no
farther than their oaths of office, and
their duty to protect the interests ofthe
town compelled them to do. The deIsnce
signally failed in the attempt to pcoye
illegal action, corrupt motives, or 4 win
dic.ive wish TO ruin Roost, upon Gem.
They also failed in the attempt u in-
4peaeA the tewpsl,is reeop -. ,;l..s 81. .sclers
will see elsewhere in our paper. They
failed in juslifying Roost's cause TO
the court, utterly and entirely, and
he finally escaped conviction for the
want Of positive proof of conversion of
the monies which were proved TO be in
his hands and unaccounted for. lie dar-
cd not go TO trial on the civil suit which
is still pending against him and his bail,
but dragged it through to next term with
corkscrew affidavit, worthy of the prin-
cipal defendant and his counsel. They
dare not try the issue before the Circuit
Court, and tho suit will be smothorcd
without trial, (mark this prophecy if
they can possibly avoid trial Of the issue.
If Roost's acquitial was such triumph,
why did ho not go TO trial on the civil
suit and get his bondsmcn clear of their
liability? After all this, these brazcn fol
lows came homo to Holland, f,,lsi6ed tho
facts of the trial so far as they could, and
had tho exquisite taste to fire salutes,
and appropriately wound up their re-
joicing with drunken debauch!
And finally, one of them, still unsatis.
fled in his own conscience, and feeling that
every demonstration must be made TO
keep the ground in public opinion which
they feel TO be slipping from under them,
gets up lying account, signs it with a
star, and prints it in the Grondwet. Arc
these men lost TO all sense of shame, and
will they violate justice, truth, aud de-
cency, with impunity! They are surely
reaping as they have sown, and public
opinion condemns them already. We
leave them to the punishment they de-
serve, tho scorn of every honest and up
right man.
& A CARD.-The Records of the Town
ship Board of Holland, as kept by Mr..
Schaddclee, were used in evidence upon
the trial of the case Of the People rs.
John Roost, at the Ottawa Circuit Court.
The only thing said against said records
in court was said by the counsel OF Mr..
Roost, but he made no proof against them:
The records wore held 10y the court and
jury, upon the trial, TO be true and cor
rect, and were received as evidence VI all
they contained.
+. j. LrrLEJoHN, Circuit Judge.
July 3, 1850.