The Evansville journal., 1868-03-16

At the meeting of the Democracy
of the Ninth Ward, last. week, Mr..
WILLIAM H. WALKER, the candidate
for Mayor, departing from the usual
custom of aspirants for that position,
made speech, in which he harangued
the meeting upon the subject of the
conduct of our County officials. In
the course of his remarks he charged
the newspapers with being dere-
lict in their duty in not Civ
ing the matter more attention,
and informing the public of what
had been done. Mr.. WALKER has
taken occasion in another method to
attack the JOURNAL and its manage
ment. While we do not recognize
him as our authorized censor. we are
willing to follow his advice in this
instance.
We are at loss to understand the
pertinenee of the connection between
his attacks dpon the County officers
and his candidacy for Mayor of the
city, as none Of the gentlemen whom
he asperses is his opponent in the
pending municipal canvass. There is,
however, an examination Of the
Court House records, which can
be made with particular appropri-
ateness to the candidacy for Mayor,
aud it is to the result Of this exam
ination OF the Court House records"
that we wish to direct the attention
of our readers. The name of Walk
Err" is no unfamiliar one in cOnneG
tion with Vanderburgh County Off
cials, and none is better known than
the present Democratic candidate for
Mayor. For eight years he held the
lucrative Office of County Auditor.
As he is now asking the sufrages of
the voters of Evansville for the high
est aud most responsible municipal
Office within their gift, it is peculiarly
pertinent to inquire how he discharged
the duties Of that position
AN ATTEMPTED ExToRTIoN.
It is accepted as an authentic fact
that WILLIAM II. WALKER has pre-
pared and privately circulated
throughout this County an auony-
nous pamphlet making a pretended
exposition of the management of
County affairs; and that he is one Of
the prime movers in the proceedings
against the present Auditor, Mr.,
BIsCH. 1t is alledged as the greatest
of Mr.. BIsCH's offenses, and for which
he was indicted before the Grand
Jury (more through the active efforts
Of Mr.. WALKER than any other per-
SOM that he had charged the County
with fees aud allowances for services
rendered, for which the Statute au-
thorized no compensation, and that he
was thereby guilty of extortion and
fraud.
1t appears by the record Of the
proceedings of the County Commits
sioners that at the September Term,
1861, WILLIAM III. WALKER present. I
ed bill before the County Commits
sioners for extra services, for which
no nocompensation was authorized by law
and that the claim was rejected by the
Board At the June Term, 1862, we
fnd that his bill, or account, is again
presented to the Commissioners. Gov
ering nearly three pages of legal
cap, and amounting to the nice little
sum Of 81 1888 80. He pushed his
claim before the Commissioners with
the persistence and shrewdness for
which he is noted, but only succeeded /
in obtaining an allowance for $75 90, /
rather a heavy discount upon his mod /
est claim of 81. .S38 80. But the gentle /
man, who had enjoyed the fat reve-
nues of the Auditors Office for eight
long years, and who had just relin-
quished his Office TO his successor,
was not to be appeased with such a
small sop" from the County dish.
So we find, by further examination
of the records, that be at once in /
stituted suit against the County in the !
Vanderburgh Circuit Court Blythe /
endorsement of LOUIS RICHTER, Clerk,
it appears that his account for 81, ,838 /
80 and appeal bond, were fled June
10th, 1852.