Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-08-28
That Fearfully ''Open' Letter !!

| IOh En-.
Dear Sir II thank you for show
ing me, upon the eve of my departure
from home for a few days, the "open
letter" addressed to you by Mr.. "P
0. Cassidy, District Attorney, Woo
County, Wis The letter is decided
ly "open," and being such, I suppose
you violate no confidence in showing te
me the manuscript. The writer has
chosen to make use of my name quite
frequently, in his truthful" story, anc
l ask you, in justice to him, and to the
readers of the Reporter, to publish il
the issue of your paper containing it
these remarks:
Let me promise by saying that 1 have
no personal controversy with Mr.. Cas-
sidy and if [ can prevent it, shall have
none. I had supposed until quite late
ly that we were friends 1t is very lit
tie over year ago that he sought me,
with others, and confded his extreme
anxiety to become lawyer. He then
said that he was poor; that he knew
he could accomplish nothing without
the active encouragement of the mem :
bcrs of the bar then residing here, par.
ticularly mentioning Mr.. Powers and
myself. The answer he received from
me he will doubtless remember. He
came into my Office, when relieved from
labors elsewhere, and availed himself
freely of such advantages as were there
afforded. He will doubtless also remem.
Der who encouraged him to strive for
admission to the bar in August, 1872,
and to become a candidate for District
Attorney in the fall. He will remem-
Der something as to his qualifications
to undergo that ordeal, and through
whose efforts it was accomplished. He
will remember that every lawyer then
here extended to him the hand of well
come and encouragement, and that with
their united approval and support he
was elected to the office he now holds
without opposition. He remained in
my Office until few weeks since, and
then left voluntarily -he will remember
whether he was treated we'll or ill--who
aided and advised him in his official
and other professional business when
not employed in behalf of an adverse
interest. [ repeat that | supposed we
were friends. [ am sure it is not my
fault that we are not friends now.
Under the circumstances of Mr..
Cassidy's election, he was under, if
possible, unusual obligations, to dis
charge the duties Of his office to the
best Of his ability. IF he could net
bring to his aid experience and learn
ing, he could at least be honest and
faithful. He was encouraged and aid
ed, S he we'll knew and now knows,
far beyond what his qualifications war.
ranted by the whole people of the
country, and if our community is sc
terribly afflicted with s'cliques" anc
rings" he was indebted to none O.
them as such, but was at perfect liberty
to eschew them all in the discharge o
his offcia trusts. If he has been hon
est and upright, even though he ma,
have erred, he should be and will bt
sustained. If he has been shameful,
and wilfully corrupt, he ought not t.
be sustained, and l think viii
not be. He says he has done
right. He seems to court noto
riety. He is not satisfied to have {
"round'' with you, Mr.. Editor, but he
is determined to "hurl'' something
Through you' at something or some
body else at whom his official mind i
apparently enraged. With this, how
ever, [ have nothing to do, and about
it | care not. [ have something to DO
however, with the pretended statement
of facts out Of which this discussion
has arisen, because it is matter in
which the public are directly concerned
and because Mr.. Cassidys statement,
deliberately false in every essential par
ticular. is put forth for the purpose o.
misleading the public, in advance of ar
authoritative investigation of the affair
which will probably soon take place.
[ may as we'll say here, that I have
asked an investigation. | did so, be
cause [ contributed fully as much as
any other one man to make Mr.. Cassi
dy District Attorney; because I know
that he has deliberately violated hi
official duty, in manner not only in
excusable under any and all circumstan
ces, but which no law-abiding peopl
can afford to tolerate, and because, hav
ing done SO, he persists in justifyine
his conduct, and bidding defiance to al
who do not approve of it. I SHOULD
have willingly postponed or avoided al
together any public discussion of tn
matter, until the truth could be takel
and put forth in an authoritative man
ner-but Mr.. Cassidy cannot wait. Thu
facts then, of the case, and which
expect to fully establish by an impair
tial examination before some Democra
of this county, in whose honesty tn
public have confidence, (if one can b
found who can be persuaded to act,
are substantially as follows
On the morning Of the 10th of July
Hon. }. 7. Kingston, Of Necedah, call
ed at my Office, and stated that he de
sired in behalf of himself and othe