The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-07-20
Correspondence.
Figures Won't Lie. If Legislators Will.
LEGISLATIVE HEADQUARTERS, }
a

Damon was euIious TO die Tor Pithias. An
English nobleman, when he could not help his
drunken friend out of the gutter, laid down
with him.
The Hon. Joseph Hart insists on sitting IN the
pillory beside his friend Signor. In the FREE
TRADER of the 1st inst. duplicated in the lie.
PUBLICAN by Mr.. Signor's son Charles, MI. Hart
has published letter in reply to my letter in
The FREE TRADER of May 4th, in which he says
my letter is malignant" false, and the product
of disordered BRAIN lie. us see whose a" brain
is disordered," whose " Statements are false" I
stated that Mr.. Signor was a defiulter in $3.50,
which the Trustees allowed Mr.. S. to secure on
his homestead. Mr.. Hart says the Trustees
loaned out of the loanable funds this $3.50.
Loaned, indeed! Mr.. Signor owed the town, as
he claimed, $4,000. He could raise only s., $50,
and his friend Hart settled with him BY taking
mortgage to secure the $3.50 balance which he
ould not pay. This mortgage was taken ON
little wooden homestead of Mr.. S. standing on q
village lot, and otherwise mortgsged, as think
the record will show. If this was loan, then
Mr.. Hart. violated the school law and all safe
business principles. The mortgage could not be
collected without first making tender to Mr..
8. of $1,000 homestead exemption and buying
other mortgages on the same, which I presume
he would gladly accept, as the feelings of this
community are warming toward him at present.
The law provides, in case of default by q
Treasurer, that suit shall be brought on his
bonds, and does not provide for compulsory
q nd -hov
other incumbrances. But there's nothing like q
Treasurer having friend ON the Board of Trus.
tees in such Casa friend who two years ago
said that he was satisfied that Mr.. s. "kept q
fraudulent set of books, and was not sure but he
had perjured himself" This is another case,
hereafter considered.
But. Joseph, how about the $1,000? Did you
not remark to your friend Siguor, in presence of
the new Treasurer, that, as his."books were hon.
estly kept, it was useless to look them over ?"
The balance which he could not pay was $780,
secured as above stated This was the settle
iment made by the Hon. Joseph Hart to which
he refers with emphasis.
But mark! When Mr. Signor found that the
public suspicious were aroused and his books
were to be overhauled, a eeek more or less after
the settlement by jumping the account, he goer
to the new Treasurer and voluntarily, from re.
collection, reports that he owes the school fund
$1,000-which had not been paid, secured or
otherwise arranged when the FREE TRADER ar.
ticle was written and published. Mr.. Hart saws,
1.-THE Trustees looked over Mr.. SIS sccounts
every ELK mouths" If this is true, and there
was final settlement, and only $50 balance
found 10 be due, how does it happen that Mr.. s.,
from recollection, without any books, suddenly
discovered discrepancy of $1,000? What sort
of looking over, according to this did the astute
Mr.. Hart give Mr.. SIS accounts? II he did look
over the accounts, by Signor's confession, they
Ouerlooked $1,000 error in Signors favor: and
the school districts of the town are not satisfied
with this smaN correction of $1,000, but will
soon appoint committee to investigate the said
l0Oked.OrGr bOOks!
Mr. Hart says, "Signor has clear receipt
from his successor in office" Clear. indeed
Clear of what2 Mr.. Pool has given Signor re.
ceipts for all the money he has paid, Of course
nothing more. Mr.. s. has too of those " clear re.
csipts"-oue for moneys paid on Mr.. Harris looked
Ocer account, another for the 900 conscience()
money. There will doubtless be an opportunity
for third "clear receipt" before long.
Joseph don't you remember that this same
Mr.. S., with his oath and books, tried to convince
you that $4,000 placed to the credit of an honest
man should be entered as 5000? Don't you re.
member that in years business deal with
that man his books showed forty.two separate
and distinct mistakes, varying in amount from
$500 to 4Oc. and in every case in his favor
Have you, indeed, always found his books cor
reotY" You Sdjudged that he should pay $500,
when his BOOKS showed $500 MS due B.! Are you
keeping before your mind Cor two years, you
have no suspicion Of dishonesty
Joseph, when you are "not sure but what he
had perjured himself" don't attempt to convince
people who know him better than you that hos
honest Your standing in this community il not
of that impressive kind. You will succeed bet.
ter where neighbors cenfde in you the keeping
Of free church, coRfscated by your converts,
or in n convention whe re you labor tor prayer.
Sunday laws and God in the constitution. aud
afterward sign remons'ranc- ,y.in.' III. yen
eral government ennctiny su,h a c',u.e. ~. Il"
Joseph you're too .h.llo. Won iont seq III,
beginning from the end van strike nnt we'll.
but don't stick to your gals. Waite you're o.
the first quarter in sight ~ the crowd vnu'r.
good Lord and good devil tier ~, y"r .ll~