The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-05-27
ONE !. q. POWELL.

Inc ABOVE named individual Is cnn-
didate for recollection to the Office of
Prosecuting Attorney in this District.
II the people think that Powell is fit
to be Continued in Office, then we very
much mistake their discrimination and
honesty of purpose. They want n
competent and an honest person for
District Attorney, and, with full
knowledge of the responsibility that
attaches to the statement, we-say that
j. G. Powell is neither. His conduct
in the Heiss murder trial in Yamhill
county was unsatisfactory to the
people of that county, and gave rise
to the impression that Powell did not
discharge his full duty.
Another notable instance is on rec
ord. The people Of Linn County
were SO unfortunate as to have this
man, Powell, acting Mt one time in the
capacity of County Judge. During
that time the estate of Elmer Keys, of
which Morgan Keys was administra-
tor, came up for settlement, and Pow
ell, either wilfully or ignorantly, COM
mitted fatal errors while discharging
the duties of his Office therein. After
the expiration of his term of Office, he
went TO interested pan ties and offered
to become the Attorney in an action
based upon the errors committed by
himself, in his own record, VIII le
County Judge, and was employed, but,
lacking the capacity. he failed. where
upon Judge Chenoweth of Corvallis,
r. Williams of Salem and T.. +. Rus
sci of Albany took the case and pushed
it through to judgment. In The mean
time Morgan Keys, administrator,
died and this judgement, amounting
to eight thousand dollars, was recov-
cred from his estate. Nor has it stop
ped here. A second suit is brought
by the same parties TO recover an ad-
ditional sum of some twelve thousand
dollars against Dir. Jacob Keys, ad-
ministrator of the estate Of Morgan
Keys. Thus the rich estate of Nor
gan Keys has been bankrupt and the
widow and children robbed of their
inheritance and beggared by the folly
or criminality of this man, j. G. Pow
ell. The presumption is almost con-
slusiye. If not wholly go. that Powell
purposely committed these blunders
in order to get an opportunity 10 OBJ
tain large fee and which he would
have obtained had his incapacity not
been an insurmountable barrier to sue
cess. There is one other matter which
will be remembered b: the tax payers Of
Linn with distrust and chagrin. The
valuable property upon which Mr.
Powell's private residence now stands
once belonged to the county. The
county iras dirested Of The tic Of h,is
property and The same tcGs rested an Potc-
ell, ,rLiic that deiccfaLlc hon,Jre trds
County Judge and had control Of The
property in behalf The people. The
whole transaction was manipulated
quietly and carefully, and the dishon-
est ex-Judge and present unworthy
candidate enjoys to-day the property
which of right should belong to the
tax payers of the county.
This record may seem long enough
and black enough, but there is more
of it, 1t is made the duty of the
Prosecuting Attorney to appear in be-
half of the State in all suits for disso-
luton of the marriage contract, the
State being made, by statute, party
defendant in all such cases. Now,
how does Powell manage this bust
ness? In this way /: Finn, Powelfs
partner, appears for the plaintiff and
Powell, Films partner, appears for
the defendant, State, and the fees up
on both sides are thus ingeniously and
happily kept within the firm of Powell
& Finn. 1t is hardly necessary to add
that in all such cases Mr.. Finn, il
there is no other attorney with Pow.
ell, succeeds with small effort In win.
ming the divorce. A case of this very
character transpired at the last
(March) term of the Circuit Court in
this city. OF course the people are
not going to tolerate such disreputa-
bic and contemplate practices. A
large number of Republicans in this
county have avowed determination
not to support him further and to use
their best efforts to elect his compel.
itor.
So Mr.. Powell, good bye. We an
ticipate and cheerfully welcome your
swift, certain and inevitable defeat.
The State Journal Radical candi-