The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-01-20
Geary and Evans.

The most remarkable feature in tue
message of Governor Geary is his elabor-
ate defense Of the Bwindle of the State
Treasury SO successfully perpetraied by
tlts notorious George O. Evans Our
readers are sufficiently familiar with the
facts connected with the case ard we will
not here repeat them. The Attorney
General of the State, L. G. brewster.
determined not TO be outdone by Geary in
his vindicatien Of outraged innocence, has
also prostitused his Office in a laborsd at
tempt in his annual report TO show that
Evans faithfully discharged bis duty as
the agent of the State, and that ha is net
debtor TO the commonwealth. The peo-
pie Of the State regard the transaction,
from lis inception TO its close, in very
different light, and look upon George ..
Evans, even upon his own showing of his
own case, as cool, calculating, irnpudent
embszzler Of the public funds This is
their deliberate Judgment, and all the
soplistry of Geary and all the special
pleading of his Attorney General cannot
alter or change 1t.
l! is humilialiDg spectacle TO see the
Executive of the State degrading his high
office, by appearing in an official docu>
meni as the advocate Of man who has
wilfully and corruptly betrayed public
trust, and condoning his otleuse. 1t pro-
sents the anomalous case Of the Attorney
for the Commonwealth appearing.as coun-
sci for the defendant iii criminal prose-
cutioa. Why does John w. Gcary man
iiest such an interest and such unbecom-
ing zeal in behalf of George o. Evans,
who, in the estimation of nine-tenths of
the balance of the community, is a scoun-
drel Why is Gov. Geary SO solicitous
TO make it appear that Evans has done
nothing wrong, and that he is more sinned
against than shining? His guilt or inno-
cenco is a question TO be determined by a
court and jury, and is not to be decided
by the mere 4lsc di:rjt of b!undering and
incompetent Executive.
1t has often been insinuated in certain
quarters that Geary himselr participated
in the plunder, but, be that as it may, it
is quite certain that his course in reference
to the whole disgraceful affair, and espe-
ciaIly bis volunteer defence of Evans in
his message, has naturally given rise to
the most grave suspicious. The question
Of the guilt or innocence of Evans has
bssn brought to the notice Of the Logislse
ture and joint committee has been ap-
pointed to investigate his conduct 1t is
rich niue, if it is only diligently and
thoroughly worked by the committee and
it remains to be seen whether they cannot
remove the wdjte1caSh with which Geary
and Brewster have attempted TO conceal
and cover up The fraud. That the large
portion of the S20l 900 withheld by Evans
from the Treasury, found its way INTO the
pockets Of other parties who aided and
abettsd hin, IN his fraudulent work, does
not admit of any doubt, beceuse Evans is
not now regarded as wealthy man in
Philadelphia, where he resides. 1t is
therefore to be hoped that his guilty ac-
completes will be unearlhed and exposed
to the public gaze. In connection with
this subject, we publish in another column
a scathng article from the Pittsburgh Ga
sette, tho leading organ Of radicalism in
Western Pennsylvania.