The Lincoln County herald., 1870-01-06

REPLY TO NR. KNOX.
Troy, Mo j January 3, 1870.


cially to you. After you had made an
offer to publish "osudsused' statement
free Of cost to the county, how could
do otherwise than 20 furnish the state
ment on the same terms you proposed
But it seems as though my former good
friend, Mr.. John r. Knox, thought l was
addressing myselfto him, and iu his lengthy
COMMUNICATION Of the 21st inst says, ,ha,
in addressing myself to you "bccame an
interloper." I cannot exactly see how
this is. but knowing him to be- man Of
good Judgment, Of course l must submit
and ava rd to him his opinion.
In addressing you this note wish it
distinctly understood that I make one Of
my pelitest bows to MIR. Knox and, as
he considers me ian iuterloper," I would
most respectfully ask him if be is not a
cats paw in the hands Of another person
In order that you, and the public gen
orally, may understand how all this has
been brought about, suppose it will be
necessary for me to give statement Of
things as they hsve transpired within a
short time past. Every taxpayer knows
that for the year 1853 there was a rail.
road tax collected, to meet the interest
on railroad bonds, which, it was supposed,
would shortly issue for tho building Of
the road. This tax, when collected,
amounted to 81, 7,42987. 1t is also known
that Mr.. Knox is the acting Treasurer Of
the county, and banker, also, and that
he keeps the Office Of County Treasurer
in his bank. OF course all the money
belonging 70 the different funds of the
county is kept there. Every body knew.
ing MIR Knox to be a shrewd 6nancier,
we may readily conclude that he anticipa.
ted having cosy little time sitting be
hind this s7,427 67 and Shaving upon
it, while the railroad hung fire. No
doubt his dreams were pleasant ever it.
Al the last October adjourned term Of
our County Court, the question of traus-
fering this railroad fund to the court
house fund came up. There we're three
attorneys present, and every one of them,
advised the Court to make the transfer,
and gave most excellent reasons why it
should be dono. The Court did it, and
made an order to pay Mess. Edwards l.
Griffith $4,000 for work done on the court
house. Of course Mr. Knox objects to
this, and the great moral question comes
up in his mind, as to whether it is right,
in the eye Of the law, to make tn. trans
fer.
Here was the great sin committed by
the County Court-the transfer and pay
n,ent Of this money. Up to this time
there was no cry Of corruption, or plum
dcring of the peoples money; everything
was lovely. AS soon as the warrant was
presented at the Treasurer's Office, which
is kept 10 his bank, and the money paid
upon it, the threat went out that not one
who now holds Office in the court house
should ever be elected again, and in the
paper Of the next week he makes an
assault upon the County Court, calls for
the receipts and expenditures, and the
removal of some of tho "old sand banks"
about the court house, under the sigma.
ture of "Truxton," and he has kept il up
ever since.
MIR. Knox asks the question If I ad-
viscd the transfer and payment Of this
railroad fund, and if now approve the
action Of the Court I said very little
about it. Judge Ingram asked me if 1
knew any law for making the transfer. l
told him | did not, nor did I know any
law against it. I thought itventirely dis
cretionery with The County Court.
The question is simply this, whether it
we're better and to the peoples best iuter.
ests to use the money lying idle in the
Treasury, which is kept in his bank, or
levy an additional assessment to meet the
wants of tho Treasury. Iapprove Of the
action of the Court.
l am also challenged to answer Mr..
Knox article signed "Liucolu," and
''clear up the bounty mystery Of s15,.
O00." Mr.. Mcclellan, in bis article signed
Troy" Knocked the wind out Of bis
sails for S33, 900, and it only remains for
~a to clear up the $500 mystery. Ihave
the butts Of every warrant issued amount.
ing to $4,000, showing the date, and to
whom paid. Il this satisfsctorys ri
not, If the Court will 30 o<dcr, I will |
publish it. & .
y