Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-01-29
Communication.
ELLSWORTH, Jan. 81, 1869.

leave, l propose to notice in the columns OF
your paper. Aud that this ''interest
question" may be unerstood by all, wish
to state the case according to the
facts"
On Friday. Oct. 2sd, 1868, Abner
Morse called on me, and said he had
come by request of ]. L. Dale, to inform
me that he (DaIc,) was going to make
political speech at Trmbelle, Saturday
evening, Oct. "a, and then and there he
was "going for" rue, and if had any
defense, come to Trimbelle and meet the
charges that Dale was going to bring
against me. Saturday l saw Dale at
Ellsworth. and he repeated the invitation
he had sent the day before, by Morse,
and gave in addition list OF his ap-
pointments for the following week. |
told him would try and be at Trimbelle,
and perhaps would 60 to all Of bis meet
ing in the then coming week. Dale ex-
pressed desire that should no so, and
promised me seat with him, in his wa
gon. as be proposed to arraign me at all
his appointments. ! failed to find the
wagon with the spare seat in it. | was
at Trimbelle on Saturday evening. A
crowded house. Men there from River
Falls, Prescott. Oak Grove and Diamond
Bluff, as well as Trimbele; come to be
" in at the DEATH" Dale made his speech,
and then turning to me, said "Mr.
Williams is here; he is a candidate foe
reelection to the office of County Treas
urer. don: support Mr.. Williams. and
now propose to tell You why. In the
first place, he has. contrary to law,
bought six or seven hundred dollars worth
of tax sale certificates at the sale of lands
for delinquent taxes, May 18th, 1868.
wrongfully getting interest thereon;;" and
furthermore, had also received interest
on moneys deposited in the bank at Pres
colt. rs County Treasurer; and lastly. |
had stolen $4,000 of the money belong
ing to the county school fund. On this
last charge Dale waxcd warm, giving us
some of bis best out, gushing eloqucncc
and most profuse perspiration. When
be had somewhat cooled, he said =
4" These arc my reasons for opposing Mr..
Williams. If he has any defense to
make. we will now hear it. If he denies
any of these charges | will see if | can
prove them, which thi,.k | can do"
l was then called for, and forced to
make my defense without any time To
prepare or arrange my facts or argu
menis, which did rs follows
With regard to the charge Of buying
tax sale certificates, | deny having
bought any certificates at either sale of
lands for delinquent taxes since l have
been County Treasurer. But other indi
viduals have, and the certificates were
made to them as purchasers, amounting
TO five or six hundred dollars, and that
some OF said certificates still remained in
my hands, simply because the men had
faild to come for them as thew should.
and pay Cor them. If they did not call
for them, should have to pay the coun
ty for them, and hold them as my cleim
against the individuals, and when out of
office, | would be at perfect liberty to
take an assignment of said certificates,
and then, and not until then, would they
become my property. Morse claimed in
bis speech that evening, that these certifi
Gates were made to fictitious names, to
enable me to get the interest on them.
| replied, that one hundred and four dol
lars and some cents Of these certificates
were made to A. Morse, and that said
Morse did not call for them until the 9TH
day of October, 1868. / asked Mr.
Morse to state how much interest |
charged him on his certificates He an
swered, "not one cent" then called
attention to the facts in this case as
demonstration of this whole question, so
far as any interest rs an individual was
concerned; that A. Morse had bid off
these certificates, and should have paid
for Them five months lacking five days
before he did, and had himself drawn
25 Ler cent. interest on this $IO4 all this
time. and retained his money too-he
ate his bread and kept it for five months
less five days. When Mr.. Morse called
for his certificates complained to him
for delaying SO long after the sale before
be came with his money. Il dunned
him three times in the meantime). He
replied. he had always done so; said be
did so the year before, with me-which
| denied-and that both years Cairns