Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-07-01
The Otis Defalcation
DENIED BY GENERAL COBB
ms LrrrEa no ). ?. ArnERroN.


for four years, from 1854 to 1868. And
who it was generally understood was a
defaulter to the amount Of 81, 453.o2. has
been for the past year, editing paper at
| Austin, Mower Co., MINI. He has not
spared ink. type, or room, to savagely
and vinJictively abuse number OF men,
who are considered in that part OF the
world respectable and honest men, put
who contrary, to his wishes are permit.ea
to hold office, and have charge OF the
money of the county. Forbearance finally
ceased to be virture, and these men be-
gan to look around to see il. their maligner,
and traducer was as spotless and pure, as
his indignant denunciations would imply.
They finally got wind Of his conduct in
this country, and as far as they could as
certain-exposed him. He denied being a
defaultcr, and referred them to Gen.
Amasa Cobb his paid Attorney for vindi.
cation Of his transactions.
John F. Anterior, of Austin, wrote to
Gen. Cobb, asking for the facts for publi'
cation and received the following reply:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
Washington, D. c., June 9Th, 1870.
JouN F. ATnERroN, Esq,
Austin, Mimi, a
Sir II am just in receipt of yoar favor
of the 4th inst, anu hasten to reply, but
the thermometer being uncomtortably
near 80 in the shade, cannot write as
fully as I could wish. have known Col.
Geo. II. Otis since his childhood. He
was eighteen or nineteen years old when
the war commenced. He volunteered as
private in the first company raised in the
southwest part of the State Of Wisconsin.
| watched his subsequent career with
! great interest. as said company was raised
| in some part under my auspices,
/ Soon after the first battle OF Bull Run,
OTIS Regiment, the I'd Wisconsin, being
in some degree re organized, he was APP
pointed End Lieutenant, from which posi-
| ton he raridly advanced to that of Major
in which capacity he brought the Regi.
lment home in 1864 and was mustered out
of the service.
The next fall he was elected Clerk Of the
Board of Supervisors Of Iowa County
Just about.the time of Otis entering upon
the duties Of the Office to which he had
been elected, was invited by Major Gen
eral w. S. Hancock, then engaged in or.
ganizing an elite Corps, afterwards the
Veteran Corps, to name some discharged
officer Of our State for appointments in said
Corps l nominated Otis, because of all
the young men who had served three yeai S
as an officer in the war, | thought he had
done the best. He was accordingly COM
missioned and reentered the service. He
consequently was obliged to leave the
Office Clerk in the hands Of Deputy.
remained in the military service, necsssa.
rily paying no personal attention to the
Office at home, and within that time one
deputy quit and another was appointed,
and think for part of the time the
duties of the Office were attended to by
otherCounty officers.
When Hancock's command was muster.
cd out, Otis was mustered out
as Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, and
returned to Wisconsin and resumed the
duties of his office. In 1866 he was re
lected and in 1868 he was defeated.
Sometime after his successor entered upon
the discharge Of the duties of the office it
was claimed that the discovery had been
made that Otis was in default. After a
superficial examination of the matter, a
suit was directed to be commenced against
| him and his securitits. He answered in
the action. He has at two terms Of the
Court been ready for trial but the County
Attorney has never been ready or willing
to risk trial. Finally, last March while
Court was in session, the County Board
being also in session they passed an order
staying all proceedings against. Otis and
directing careful denomination of his
account. So the matter now stands.
No one believes that Otis ever applied a
dollar of the public money to bis private
,s-. but IT may DO possible that he will
have to pay something rs for the inef6ciency
or dishonesty of others. For my own
part firmly believe that careful re.
Examination Of the books will show that
there is no defalcation.
I will say in conclusion that among
loyal men Colonel Otis stands well, not
only at Dodgevile but wherever he is
known His securities have full conf.
dence that he will come out all right, and
| have by no means Withdrawn their conf
dence from him.
Respectfully yours,
AMASA COBB.
HpWe have nothing to say against Gen.
Cobb praising Maj. Otis military career.
We believe he was brave officer, and did
his duty. for which he deserves credit,
but when he writes that ne was not a de-.
faulter, and that mo one believes that Otis
ever applied dollar of the public money
to his private use" we have something to
say, and would respectfully refer Gen.
| Cobb to the facts in the case:
On the LIST Of January, 1869, Geo. II.
Otis was succeeded in the Office of Clerk of
The Board of Supervisors of Iowa County
by Oryille Strong. At that time Otis
made report, which he certified was cor
rect, which showed that S4453.02 was due
the county from him. He told Strong
that the money was in Mineral Point, and
that he would pay it over the next day.
He afterwards said he had lent it, and
could not get it for few days. He finally,
on being closely pressed owned up that he
had not the money and could not get ii.
be did not know where it was. After