Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-10-21
MR.. EDMUNDS' REPLY.
BURLINGTON, Oct. Is, IA.

]
Editor of the Caledonan St. Johnsbury, Vt.
SIR.-i have Just been shown copy o
your article, in the last Caledonian, touch
ing the case Of Crane, late Collector oil
internal Revenue, and making ce rtair
staten ents, and asking from me certain
explanations.
Public men who are absolutely Innocent
Of matters charged or insDuated against
them, generally refrain from publishing
deDlals, lest in some other similar instance
the failure to notice them may be taken as
concession of their truth. Perhaps
ought now, so to act; but as it has been
my good fortune never before, so far as |
recolcct. to have had my personal conduct
drawn in question, III my official career,
by any respectable journal, have no hes
itaticn, at this time, in answering your
request.
The statements upon which you found
your desire for explanation, so far as they
concern me, are absolutely up,rue.
l.-Mr. Crane was originally appointed
in, think, March 1867, upon the reti-
ton and recommendation of very large
number of the most respectable citizens of
the district.
| did all honorabjy could to have the
petition granted believing, as they be-
Iieved, that his character and reputation
were above reproach. Stree that time |
have had nothing whatever to do with his
continuance in Office, or his re.appoint-
ment, unless when, before the abolition of
the office Of assessor, it was 10 contcmpla.
ton to reduce the number both of assessors
and collectors under the act of June, 1872,
(which was repealed in Dec, 1927 !
may have been addressed on the subject
and may have expressed my views there
on. If | had been referred to at that
time doubtless should have spoken wei.
of MIR. Crane, for then, and until the
last of Oct, 1878, bad perfect confidence
IN his integrity as well as that Of Mr.. jew
ett' aud no suspicion ofany irregularity in
the Office.
lie was, as | am Informed, re-appoint.
ed the enlarged district, in the spring or
Summer OF 1873, while | was 10 Europe
but believe he was never commissioned,
and am Informed to-day tina. he never
gave bonds or acted under that appoint.
nent,. and that he stated that he was
waiting for my return before giving the
new bond, in order that | might be asked
70 sign with the others.
/ left the country on the 18Th of March
1913, ard did not return until October
10th of that year.
L neither wrote, said. or did any thing
whatever on the subject of his reappoint.
nent, either before or after left the
country. and the department did not II
believe, change the district until after
eft.
had no knowledge or information of
my Kind That 1t was either thought Of,
contemplated, or done, until | saw it 10
ONE American newspaper, shortly before
ny return nor had l any information
whatever on the subject of his new ibail,
which am to-day informed, was not in
aspect OF his new appointment, but be.
ause the law had imposed upon collectors
= the various districts the old duties of
he assessors, and with that subject new.
r had the slightest connection, and, until
ny return, did not know that he had been
allied upon for, or had given bail of any
md except the original bail, Of which l
7as one. I;
Il never had, until after my return
rom Europe, any knowledge. information
suspicion, that he was a defaulter, or
nat his Official conduct or that of his
equity, MIR. Jewett, had been in any wav
'correct; nor, as | am informed and be.
eve, had the department until sometime
urng my absence.
3'-My first information of any thing I
'rong IN Mr., Cranes office, was after nv
e'urn' aud long after his re-appoin,ment,
nd long after his giving whatever new or
ddItlonal bail he did. which | am now
Iformed was in May, 1873.
soon after my return, Mr.. Crane in. l
'rmed me of the deficiency in his &C. :
'unts, and asserted that be was entirely I
'nocen'' and that Mr.. Jewett was guilty. !
I'd that the department had go found. on
lvestigation. s
reached Burlington about the first of t
ovcmber, and was Immediately taken /
'Verely i'll, and so continued during nv ,
ay' and was unable to take any steps to /,
'vestieate the subject. or to protect nv.
III and fellow bopdsmen. '
As soon as had sufficiently recovered t
ON my illness TO be able to travel, IN the r
>. OF November. l went to Washington. E
1 called ct the treasury to learn what !,
&c department knew or thought of Crane S
serted innocence. and was told by the :
Internal Revenue that il
e matter had been investigated, and that t
was satisfied OF Crane innocence, and !,
at ne was the victim Of the fault of an
her. :"
This was the first communication of an,
TT | ever had with the department on the n
tJect OF Mr.. Cranes conduct, appoint r
ent or re'aprointment, or keeping the !.
hce or anything connected with it, since :
hrst appointment in 1867. g
Immediately invited all my colea aues CT
meet me, aud told them all / had heard. Of