The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-03-27
1'reaSurer'S Defalcation.
ADDRESS TO THE CITIZENS OF MONROE
COUNTY.

FELLOW CITIzENs:-We the undersign.
ed citizens of Salem township have looked
with no inconsiderate degree of anxiety,
since the defaleation of our late Treasur.
er, Mr.. VIM. Myers, for some statement
from him. or the Probate Judge, or the
County Commissioners, ia relation to the
missing funds.
We can not see hew it is possible for
near TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS of the
peoples money to get out of the hands
of Mr.. Myers since the collection of
taxes commenced in the fall Of 1860,
without Mr. Myers having some knowl-
edge of where it went to. 1t being prob
ably near one third of the amount collect
ed by him in that time
Ii the defaleation did not take place
since the collection commenced in the fall
of 1850, but occurred before that timo,
we would like to know from our County
Commissioners why we, the people were
not informed ef the fact?
We woull like to know from our Com
missioners whether Mr.. Myers, our de,
faulting Treasurer--was in the habit of
borrowing money to have it on hands
against the day of settlement during the
time he had served as Treasurer? Had
you any knowledge of this fact, if fact it
is, or information in relation thereto,
either direct or indirect?
Again, while we would express our
full confidence in the integrity and ability
of the present incumbent John B. Noll,
we would ask your honors if it would not
have been better, much better to have ap.
pointed some other man, equally honest
and capable, who had not been SO inti-
mately mixed up with the defaultlng
Treasurer's business, as has Mr.. Noll;
would not one who was an entire stranger
to the Office, and had not been assisting
the late Treasurer, be more likely to dis
cover mistakes or peculations, than~one
who might feel bound by feelings Of grst-
itude for place assigned, or favors confer
red, to look with greater degree of al
Iowance upon the errors that be might dis.
cover than would be satisfactory to the
peoples
A great majority Of US have fully sup.
ported Mr.. Noll for Office heretofore, and
would willingly do SO again under prop
er circumstances, but we earnestly and
sincerely protest against his appointment
at this time and under present circum-
stance.
We would also, in all kindness call the
attention of our Probate Judge to the
laws of Ohio for 1858, page 4S and 9s,
and ask him for full and candid state
ment Of the discharge of his duties as en-.
joined therein.
Was Mr.. Myers informed either direct
ly or indirectly to your knowledge of the
time when an inspector would be, or was
appointed? We also desire to know how
long time elapsed after the inspector
was appointed before he proceeded to
discharge his duties; or if this is unknowp
to you, what was the length of time be-
tween the appointment and the report Of
the inspector.
We propeund these enquiries in all
kindness and under the full conviction
that it is our right to ask them, and to
have them ans,cered And we now cali
upon our fellow taxpayers in the varioas
townships in the county. if they approve
of oar course, to get list of bona ide
names, and send them for publication.
We cannot see, fellow tax payers, how
it is possible for our defalcating treasur-
er to "pull the wooP' over the eyes oi
oar commissioners, through the various
settlements that the law requires them to
make with him, ard at four other times
throw sand in the eyes of the inspectors
appointed by the Probate Judge, without
there being something rotten in Denmark.
If the defaication existed before last fall
there is culpability in some other quarter
besides with Myers, and we want to know
where 10 saddle it, IT it has all occurred
since last fall Mr.. Myers can certainly tell
as achers. at least, some portion Of the mon
ey has gone. Many are now blamed who
are no doubt guiltless of any completely
in this defalcation. Let US have the
guilty ones, and let them alone receive
the odium, if nothing more, at least o
public indignation.
Shall we see q goodly number of th'
ltax.payers' names from every township il
fold Monroe, sent up to the Esprit" fo
publication, endorsing the foregoing re-
quest?
The foregoing is signed by the follow
ing names:
NJ. Pollock, Charles Lobeustein, Hor
toa Forrest, John Echols. w. T. Hurd
Jacob T. Morril, James Marshall, Eben
ezsr L. Boughper, Elisha Tracy, VIM. j
Brown, James Collins, 3. Bornbornit
E. Smith, j. w. Jackson, John Scott
Thos. Pollock, T. s. Thomas, Oliver At
kinsoE, John Yoho, P. D. Dufield, r
Chase, William M. Bonar, James G
Stetson, JOAN w. Farrier, Daniel How
ard. Jeremiah Steenrod, Henry Schutty
Peter Dillon, Joel Case, Andrew Mat
thews, John Hurley, Jr-, John OlIem
. w GonhvaD Ehop