Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-10-23
MR.. EDMUNDs' REPLY
BrRLlxc1ox, Oct. 10, ISL


fi.,or o., tae t4.,lauliu. ST. Jahasnury -.
s.s-l have just been shown q cops of
YOUR article, in the last Caled9nian, t'uch-
ing the case Of Crane, late Collector u T.
tarnal Revenue and making certain state
monts. and asking from me certain czr'ana-
tious.
Pablic men who are absolutely innocent
of matter, charged or in-iuua,cd against
them, generally refrain from publishing
denials. les; in some other similar instance
the failure to notice them may be taken a.
confession Of their truth. Perhaps ought
now, 50 to act but as it nas been my good
fortune never before, 50 far o. / reco..ect, 70
have had my personal conduct drawn in
question, in my ofisial career, by any re
spectacle journal, have no hesitation at
this time. in answering your request.
The statements upon which You found
your desire for explanation, so far a they
concern me, are absolutely untrue.
I.-Mr. Crane was originally appointed
in. think. March 1867, upon the petition
and recommendation of very large number
of the most respectable citizens Of tho Dis
trict.
| did all | honorably could to have the
petition granted believing. as they believed.
that his character and reputation were
above reproach. Since that tins have had
nothing whatever to Do with his eontinu-
ance in Office, or his re appointment, IN
less when before the abolition Of the Office Of
assessor, it was in contemplation to reduce
the number both Of assessors and collectors
under the act of June. 1872, (Which was re-
pealed in Dec, lS72,) may have been
addressed on the subject and may have
expressed my views thereon. If had been
referred to at that time doubtless should
have spoken well Of Mr.. Crane, for then.
and until the last of Oct, 1873, had per
feet confidence in his integrity as well as
in that Of Mr.. Jewett, and no suspicion OF
any irregularity in the office.
He was. as am informed .re-appointed to
the enlarged district, in the spring or sum
mer Of 1873, while was in Europe, but |
believe he was never commissioned, and /
am informed to-day that he never gave
bonds or acted under that appointment,and
that be stated that be was waiting FOR my
return before giving the new bond, in order
that might be asked to sign with the
others
left the country On the 18th OF March,
1873, and did not return until October 10Th
of that year.
neither wrote. said, or did any thing
whatever on the subject of his re-appoint-
ment. either before or alter left the
country, and the department did not
| believe. change the district until after
lei;.
had no knowledge or information Of any
kind. that it was either thought of,coa!em-
plated or done. until saw it in some Amer
lean newspaper. shortly before my return,
nor had any information whatever
on the subject of his new bail, which am
to-day informed, was not in respect Of his
new appointment, but baesusc the law bad
imposed upon collectors Of the various dis
tricts the old duties of the assessors, and
with that subjectI never had the slightest
connection, and. until my return, did not
know that be had been called upon for, or
had given bail ofauy kind, except the origi-
nal bail, of which was one
al never had, until alter my return FROM
Europe, any knowledge, information or sus-
picion, that he was deiaultsr, or that his
official conduct, or that Of his deputy, Mr..
Jewett. had been in any way incorrect ;
nor, Is am informed and believe, had the
department until sometime during my
absence.
3.-My first information Ok any thing
wrong in Mr.. Cranes office. was after InY
return. and long after his appointment,
and long after his giving whatever new or
additional bail he did, which am now IN
formed was in May, 1873.
Soon after my return, Mr.. Crane inform
ed me of the deficiency in his accounts, and
asserted that he was entirely innocent, and
hat Mr.. Jewett was guilty, and that the
depart,. ,ent had so found, on investigation.
reached Burlington about the first of
November, and vs. Immediately taken
severely i'll, and so continL ~ o'ii"s my
stay, and was unable to take any 5 'os !"
investigate the subject, or to protect myself
and fellow bondsmeu
As soon as had sufficiently recovered
from Ey illness to be able to travel, in the
last of Noye@ber. l went to Washington.
l called at the treasury to learn what the
department knew or thought of Cranes
asserted innocence, and was told by the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue that the
matter had been investigated, and that he
was satisfied Of Cranes innocence, and that
be was the victim of the fault Of another.
This Was the 6rst communication of any