Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-10-19
IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE.
The Demands of Public Senti-
ment to be Acceded to.
The Attorney General to Commence
Suit Against Corrupt Official
Money stolen nom TIE People to be
Recovered


WHEN YoU CATCH BLACK CAT, SKIN IT"
From the Terre Haute Gazette.
Since wiring the leading article for our
paper this morning We have beer handed
By Attorney General Hanna the following
correspondence between him and Gov. La
ker This correspondence will be read
with great interest by the people of the
late as it is the starting point of what is
so much desired by them, viz: bringing
corrupt officials to the bar of our courts.
and compelling them to account for all the
money they have unlawfully and dishon
eslly appropriated to their own use:
ATTokNEY GENERALS OFFICE,
October ?, 1871.
IT, HIS Ercelency, Conr,sd Baker, Goser-
nor Of Indiana:
SiR: After much examination and re-
flection, l have come to the conclusion
that my official duty and the public inter
ests demand that Judicial investigation
be had of The transactions and conduct of
several gentlemen while in office. having
charge OF and controlling public money,
and of those who have had the use of the
trust funds of the State
Though had the discreet N to act alone
IN this matter, it would still be proper and
decorous in me to have your advice as
the Chief Magistrate of the state; but b.
! the terms of the joint resolution of the last
session of the General Assembly, it seems
to be contempla ed that | should act with
your advice and consent, iii ali suits for
the recovery ofwhat is properly belonging
to the State. In complying with the pro-
visions OF this joint resolution, therefore,
l have the honor to lay before your Excel
iency the following facts, with regard to
matters which seem to fall within the
icontemplation of said joint resolutions
/. The late Auditor of State, John D.
Evans, Esq. deposited on his private ac-
count large amount OF the sinking fund,
with certain banks and bankers of the
State, receiving a large amo mt of inter
est iof such depo-its, which he converted
to his own use, as believe against law
and the public interest His immediate
predecessor, Mr.. McCarty, did the SAME
thing, though to a less extent.
Y. Tne irst National Bank at Indian
apolis has had the use in its business OF
large sums of said sinAiag fund, knowing
the trust character of ,he same, and has
rea lied large interest thereon alter pay
ing liberal interest to the officers afore-
said FOR their own use and profit in addi-
ton &c their salary as liked by law.
3. lac banking house of A. & j. c. S.
| Harrison, of Indianapolis, has also us ed
by the agency and consent of the Audi
tors aforesaid, large sums of said trust
fund, realizing large profits thereupon,
with the knowledge that it was trust
money, belonging to the public schvols of
the State
/ 4.EJohn ". Burson, of Muncie, Ind,
With The consent of the officers aforesaid
has also used large sums of these trust
funds, paying interest on the sums deposi-
] ted with his banking estab ishment, which
SetAi OhiSSiS ICuNeTlcu 10 ID61l
private use in addition to the salaries paid
by law for their compensation
5. Inmy judgment, each of these per.
J sons and corporations are, under the law
responsible to the State to the amount O;
the income of the funds by them severally
received. This incomeis, by statute, made
part of the principal of the fund, which il
by the act of the last General Assembly
directed to he distributed among the sew,
eral counties. (Sec. 8, of act of March 6
1919 .
6. State printers, previously, and now
in Office, viz: VIM. R. Holloway, SamueI
NJ. Douglass, A. Fl. Conner and Richard
; j. Bright, are charged publicly and pri
vately, in the newspapers and by private
words with having improperly and illegally
} drawn from the Treasury. and that they
yet hold money belonging to the State.
T. Former State Treasurers, John
Morrison and Nathan kimball, have re-
!; ceived and converted to their own use
large SUMS az interest, for the deposits