The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-05-18
COLONEL CONNELL's REPLY
TO JUDGE VAN Trump.

EDS. GAZETTE:-The last issue OF
the Eagle contains Judge Van Trump'S
elaborate. attempt to vindicate himself
against the charges preferred against
him by Charles Miller in his memorial
to the Legislature. 1t is chiefly an at
tack upon me, calling for a response
l Iam not surprised, that IN the M
happy and soured condition of Judge
Van Trump's mind, morbid for the
last few years, in tho opinion OF many
of his oldest friends almost TO mono
mania, he should have sought an op'
'portuuity to reply to grave charges
against him, by an unjustifable attack
upon some one whom in his distem-
pcred fancy, be supposed had been
Matching plots for his ruin. Noram |
much surprised thatmy own conduct
in tho matter, in abstaining from any
act tending to show hostility toward
him, should bc used by one not under.
standing what impartialityor magnau-
unity is, as showing malice and jim
eSSe. .artt B" ''i-.' sd9e-'" .
There is really but one matter, that
requires notice from me, in the lengthy
communication Of the Judge. That Isl
that in preparing tho memorial Of Mr.
Miller, l put into it charges which he
did not wish to be there, This charge
deserves notice. ~. ny,...
Before answering it, it is proper
that / should refer to conversation
between the Judge and myself in re.
gard to this very matter, 1as ,.
AGer the investigation had ended,
and tho report of the Committee had
been signed, | was informed by Mr.,
IIcnklo, who appeared as counsel for
Mr.. Miller before tho Committee, that
l.
Mr.. Miller had stated TO the Commit.
teo that tho memorial present was no,
the ono no had signed, and that he
had not authorized certain charge:
therein. was surprised at this, for
did not know ono word of tho tcstimo
ny given, (having scrupuously avoid
cd any act which would look like al
active Interference in tho matter, anC
hence had kept away from tho Com
mittco room, whilo tho matter wat
undor invOstigation), and | felt it due
to myself that l should SEQ tho Judg,
and tell him that acted only in tn,
, matter for q constituent who had tn,
right to demand that should if h,
desired it, put his memorial in shap
= for him, ard that hc had instructed
mo to put in tho memorial what did
that it was read to him in the prossnc
of brother Senator, and that express
ing himself satisfied with il, saying
shat is just what | want" he signet
it, and assuring tho Judge that l con
fined myself strictly to tho statement
and allegations OF tho mcmorialist.-
, Upon my doing so, the Judge replied
; not in anger with mo, but as though
, pleasantly and kindly, "You do no
: suppose after hearing what no ha
sworn against INC, that | would belicv
!, any thing he has said about the PREF
aration OF the momorial?'
l then supposed him satisfied. Sure
ly if ho was not, the only manly cours
g ho could havO pursued, was then an
u thoro to have said so and to have gi,
l. on vent TO his wrath, which it appeal
y no was thon nursing against me.
l. gave him then the opportunity to hay
met mo face to face with his accus,
!, tions, which after weeks of incubatio
y no has brought forth through his Il
= vorito channel tho columns Of III
= Eagle. a.s8 .I.. ... ,tt. 49,.
Was il want of frank, manly coul
5, ago that mado him thus evade o cot
d fossion of his malovolencc, or has h
n since morbidly conjurod up his imal
J. mary wrongs at my handsp s-
| Now as to all the facts conncctn
) mo with tho grave charges againl
J. Judge Van Trump: -..'. A.
o Mr., Miller met mo at my hotel
It Columbus the evening of the day h
n case against Shislcr was decide
o against him by Judge Van Trump.
d that case | was one Of his attorneys
s, record. | asked him tho result Of h
8. case no told. me, Immediately +
70 marking he had now something mo
j to talk about, that his lawyers dow
Y homo had advised him to come up al
Of SEQ me and the Governor at once abo
the impeachment of Judge Van Trun
H. for bad conduct in connection with h
~ SEQ case. Hc then related the circur
stances of his interview with V,
Trump and Lantz when the latter W
'o concealed in Columbus, and Vi
nt Trumps expression that "If We had
Ia few moro John Secs the reign Of al
al litionism would be over in Lancaster
oo and said hc was advised by his la
o yors and others to put Van Trur
oh through, and that was his business
Columbus then.
id | told him ! dill not feel at libcr
to advise him in tho matter, as | W
os Of counsel against See, but that l W,
as no wished go with him and let h
ty lay tho matter before tho Governor
next MOI ming. This was done, a
the Governor deemed it n proper IN
ter for investigation.
Nj. NJ. then requested mo to dr.
le' up q memorial in form. l converl
freely with him as to what charges