The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-10-07
Judge Packer and his Taxes.

name heads this article, the publica-
ton of the following facts is most dis
tasteful, but they are forced into the
light by the constant, malignant and
willful falsehoods of unscrupulous Rad
ical newspapers and irresponsible Rad
ical speakers. Failing to find any as
sailable point in Judge Packers pri-
vate character, and conceding that his
wealth is the result of industry, they
now resort to a most unjustifiable and
malicious attack upon his integrity as
taxpayer. They do not stop to ask
if the assertion is true, but upon the
| reckless charges of small sheet, pub
lished in the borough of Mauch Chunk,
and one individual ofas little authority,
they base this disgraceful and fragrant
violation oftruth. We will see, chow
plain tale shall put them down."
1t is alleged that Judge Packer sought
to evade the payment of taxes, legally
assessed against him, and that he only
paid them on compulsion. We will
now show that this allegation was con-
ceived in falsehood, presented to the
public in spirit of partisan maligni-
ty, and adhered to with persistency
that finds no parallel save in the low
est depths of defamation.
In the winter of 1S66-67 Judge Pack
er, being then Vice President and the
largest stakeholder of the Lehigh Val
ley Railroad Company, determined to
make the city of Philadelphia his resi-
dence as the duties of his position in the
company ,theill-health ofthe President,
and his own private affairs made his
presence necessity-almost continu-
ously-in this city. This fact was well
known at the time to many of his per-
sonal friends and business acquainten
ces. He made efforts to purchase suit.
able house during that winter and
spring, but finding none to suit him,
he made his,residence at the Merchants
Hotel, where he had during the past
ten years, spent much more than half
his time.
In the spring of 1867, the assessor of
Mauch Chunk called on Judge Pack
er for a statement of his property for
the purpose of assessment, and was
then informed of his change of resi-
idence, remarking that the taxes on
his personal estate would be paid in
Philadelphia, but that his real estate
in Mauch Chunk would be assessed
there as usual. The assessor very
properly, made his return, assessing
only his real estate; but the county
commissioners, without notice to
Judge Packer added his stock in the
the Lehigh Valley Railroad to the as
sessor's return.
When the collector called for the
payment of taxes thus assessed, he was
informed of Judge Packers entire will
lingness to pay the amount due on his
real estate, but objection was made to
the payment ofany tax assessed by the
county commissioners on his personal
estate, as he was a resident of Philadel-
phia, and was assessed there.
AT this point, the Commissioners of
CarbonCounty consulted counsel, as did
also Judge Packer. The latter con-
suited Hon. w. A. Porter, lately one
of the Judges of the Supreme Court,
and Furman Sheppard, now District
Attorney Of this city. Both these gen.
tlemen advised Judge Packer that he
was not legally bound to pay the tax
es asSesse l in Mauch Chunk on his
personal property; that he had the
same right to chose his place of resi-
dence as all other citizens had, and
Philadelphia being his residence, he
could be assessed for taxes only on his
real estate in Mauch Chunk.
| After receiving this opinion, Judge
Packer stated to the counsel of the
Commissioners and of the borough that
he proposed to pay the taxes rather
than endure the annoyance of a law
suit, ecen although his counsel advised
him that he could not be compelled TO
pay. He proposed that if he could6 as
sured that no difficulty aoould arise IN the
future from this cause, that he t0ould pay
the tdres for 1867. The counsel for the
Commissioners advised them that they
could not assess Judge Packer for an.
other year, and that any attempt on
their part to do Sc would be fruitless,
and they then received the taxes with
that understanding and upon that a.
greement,
1t is, indeed, strange that Judge
Packer, rich as the Radical papers rep
resent him to be- should not have the
same right that the poorest man in