The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-03
Report or the Investigating Conl-
nlltlec Ms 10 BuPdctt, Bennett d

tAAANNNS ~ - NT-rT
(FrOm The Charleston Courier Of last ThurSIay)
On yesterday large crowd assembled
in tho Hall Of the Delegates to hear the
report Of the Committee Of seven read.
The report with accompanying docu-
ments was handed tho clerk. who read it,
Itstarts Of with saying that they have,
from the testimony before them, found
John s. Burdett, Treasurer Of the State,
guilty Of certain crimes and misdemean.
ors as follows; -+'
lst, That no made fraudulent and
corrupt contract with ono N, Is, Cabell,
President Of the Merchants Bank Of
Charleston, whereby unjust distributiOn
and deposits Of State moneys and dis
ordinations wore made against other de.
positories for which DO was paid by said
Cabell and did demand and received
$1,000 for the year 1872,
2nd That he was Cognilant OF and
priyy to corrupt bargain and agreement
made by William I. Burdett, his son,
and clerk In hls office rs Treasurer,
whereby In the years 1929, after the
4th day Of March, the said w. 4. Bur
dett did sell the Information the Treas.
urer and himself as clerk thereof possess
cd by virtue Of his office Of the condition
Of tile State funds and did corrnptly bar:
gain and sell tho power and influence Ot
the Treasures office so that tho Mer-
chants Bank Of Charleston for the con-
sidcration Of three per cent on State de-
pOsits for the year 1873 to january ],
1874, Of two per cent from that time to
October /, 1874, was permitted to retain
larger amount Of State deposit than II
would otherwise have been entitled to,
and we further find that tho said j. s.
Burdett connlvel at said corrupt prae-
tees, &c, r,
We therefore recommend that John s
Burdett, Treasurer OF this State, &C., bG
impeached Of high crimes and INSIDE
meanors, mal.administratiOn and cOrrup'
ton in Office.
We further recommend TINT commit
tee Of five DO appointed 10 go to tho SEN
ate and al It's bar In tho name oil TIC
House OF Delegates and people Of West
Virginia, impeach John :. Burdett Of
hiR6 crimes and miSdemennorS, and o.
mal.administration and corruption W o.
fec, and acluaint tho Senate that the
House Of Delegates viii, in due time, OK
hibit particular articles Of Impeachment
against him and make good the same
ard that the committee do demand tina
they make order for tho appearance o
Jnin s. Burlott. Treasurer Of this State
to answer said impeachment
Ard we further find that Edward 4
Bennett, Auditor OF this State, was, i
tho yeaf 1873, paid by N. b. Caboll So Ot
as q bonus ior The influence Of said Ben
nett as Auditor to make partial aIl'
unjust deposit and distribution Of tn
State funds In favor OF the Merchants
Bank Of Charlpston, and was thereb.
guilty q mal.administration and corrnp
lion In Office. ~
Ard We further find that the said Den
matt aid make proposition to Isaac n
Smith, President Of the First Natlon1gI
Bank, Whereby he proposed to Use N
official influence to secure the SAID pan
n larger depoSit than 1t could otherwls
have. II the bank woul d pay him for 1t
certain COmWlbblOll VI HVA SSht
which was mal.ConduCt and corrupti9
in Office, The COMMITTEES recommend th
same steps toward his impeachment q
IN Tie case Of The Treasurer. .,.,
And we further, find that William I
Burdett Is guilty Of the grave ottetsc az
misdemeanorS above mentioned, whereof
he received $4,000 from the Merchant
Rank nnd also $500 from the bank
Charleston for keeping $4,000 m
ayeragodeposit, t41 all, I'll
Tbe report closes by resolutions whic
instruct the Attorney General to Q!
anime the testimony, and take such leg,
steps as may DO necessary 70 recover EGG, I, :.
the State the money 80 illegally obtaine
by said W, +. Burdett, and all other Pc
S3ns who may be implicated; and th
lhe action Of this House In relation
ihis report DO communicated 10 tho Sena
in order that that body may take sue
action In regard to w. 3. Burdett,
member oithSt body, rs they may dec
proper, The concluding Of the rePo
Intiinates the shorLness OF time that IN;
lad to make The inveStigation, and u
dificulty Of bringing witnesses bciore,
and that they are satisfied there ia
de6ciency Of sB05 81 in the treS !i,!
from Oct, /, 1868, to Oct. ], 1874. In
recommend the same proceedings
above stated DO taken by the Attorh
General 10 recover said sum.