The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-09-30
Evans and Geary.

Nothing has ever occurred in the history
of any former State administration which
shows such bare>faced and premeditated
fraud as the embezz.ement If George O.
Evans. Geary's conduct in the whole his
tory OF the case, as well as that of uartranft,
the Auditor General, has been such as TO
justify and give color 20 the gra7est suspi>
cions of their own integrity. When Evans
came to Harrisburg and proclaimed that he
was prepared to make a full and complete
settlement of his business as the agent of the
State, both Geary and Hartranft knew per-
fectly well that he was defaulter to . large
amount-that he had utterly failed to dis
charge the trust reposed in him-that he
had swmdled the common wealth, or, in plain
language, that he was a thief. Why did
the Governor and his advisers not then take
the necessary steps for his immediate arrest
and Why was he permitted to remain at the
capital week or ten days. and then, like
the Arab, fold up his tent and silently steal
away 1t was most strange and suspi
clous cirrumstance-it was conduct unusual
totally inexplicabe, and the people who
have teen thus openly robbed and plunder>
ed will never believe anything else than
that his escape from Harrisburg was con-
nlved at by those in authority, for a purpose
well known and understood by them. This
conclusion is strengthened and enforced from
the fact that no bona ide, serious effort has
yet been made to arrest him and bring him
to the bar Of justice. No man who is famil-
lar with the facts iu the case viii! pretend
that Evans could not have been arrested in
New York, whittier he went after parting
with his kind and accommodating friends,
John w. Geary and John F. Hartranft.-
He made no effort at concealment, but took
his ease at his inn, while the papers day
after day publicly announced his where,
abouts. After Geary had given him ample
time to make the necessary arrangements for
bis flight. he wisely concluded to go. He
would have been more of fool than he has
proven himself TO be knave if he had not
done so.
1t was anything but desirable to certain
parties, for be doubtless had his confeder~
ates IN sharing the plunder,) that Evans
should be arrested and prosecuted for en-
bezzlement. That was a part Of the play
which was not to be performed. 1t would
be dangerous, because if Evans was arraign
ed before criminal court he might possibly
'SQuedl." or in other words, betray his ac-
completes in guilt. 1t is a sorry piece of
business, and is dsgraceful to the Auditor
General and State Treasurer, but especially
to John W. Geary.
1t is very rarely that the Radical press
has referred to or spoken of this huge swin-
die They are boisterous and exhibit a
vast amount Of virtuous indignation over
the New York city frauds, but they have
treated Evans and his robbery of the State
as though it was trifling affair, and indeed
az though it had never happened. With
Radical ofice-holders under the Gran t ad
ministrasion robbery of the public funds ha
become go generally the r,de. and bnnestvs
the exception, that a theft like that of Evans
e1cltes no special wonder in the Radical
breast.
Ii the next Legislature will do Its duty.
the reputation of some men that we know
OF. may possibly suffer and the assumed garb
Of honesty be torn from then.