Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-09-13
The Havcs Roorback.

COLUMBUS, o., Sept. GA sensa-
tional story was telegraphed from
Fremont, last Saturday, stating that
it had been discovered that Governor
Hayes had falsified his return of per-
sonal property made to the Assessor
of Sandusky county. Thinking there
might be two sides to the story, your
correspondent called on Governor
Hayes tonight and directed his at
tention to the matter. The Governor
said the tale was tissue of misrep-
reservations, but he did not submit to
formal interview, as he had already
communicated all the facts in the
case to General Comfy, of the State
Journal, who would furnish proof
slips Of the article he had prepared
for him on the question. From these
slips condense the following. The
charge is that Sardis Burchard, Gov.
Hayes uncle and benefactor, listed
$9,9S2 personally IN 1873, exclusive of
money and credits, and that Hayes
with the same personally in his pos
session, listed only 81, 900 in 1874. This
is not true. Orchards returns in
cluded all notes, credits and book
accounts. Hayes in 1874 made no re-
turn of notes, credits and book ac-
counts, because all the credits were
swallowed up in debts. The same is
true of the notes. The personally
bequeathed to Hayes was almost en-
tirely bank stocks, on which the tax
is paid by the bank. The one item of
all the personally returned by Birch
ard, $9,9S2, was more than swallowed
up by the obligations incurred by
Hayes in carrying out Orchards
projects for the benefit of the town of
Fremont. This very question was at
the time investigated by democratic
Board of Equalization, and reported
by them as all correct. 1t will be
seen that the debts more than offset
the credits under this item, and that
: the return of $1,000 in 1874 was for
; household goods, which were not
subject to this deduction. The in
crease in this item to $1,000 in 1875
was due to an increase in Hayes pri-
vatc library. AS to the second charge,
Hayes says he never had and never
returned watch worth $500. The
three watches returned were keep
sakes, and altogether not worth $50
One watch Mrs. Hayes had when a
school girl. 1t has not been running
for twenty years.
Thirdly, Hayes had never owned 4
piano at the time the return was
made, and only rented one last Octo-
: Der for the use of niece who was
, visiting him. This summer he traded
lot for one.
~, fInf
returned in 1875 and 1876 three hors
es at $500, when they were worth
$500. In answer Hayes says one Of
these horses is q years old, and no
worth anything, yet he is listed al
$50, and that the street valuation o.
the others is $50 and 500, yet he ha
listed them at $3.50. His best hors,
cost him $l25.
Filthy, it is charged that in 1871
! Hayes returned four carriages a
! $3.50, when it is known that he pait
$500 for one and $3.50 for another
!. In answer Hayes says the carriage
referred to was not bought till |
year after the alleged false return
was made, and then it was properl.
listed, as the returns of 1876 viii
show. Two of the carriages were il
!. fact a buggy and a wagon, one o
: which was soon after sold for SIC
Q and one would not sell at any price
Z but they were listed at $75. The 9th
g Ell was second hand phaton, whicl
/. cost 500.
Sixthly, it was charged that 1913, 10
! was left in Hayes hands in bequest
made by Birchard, which he was al
: lowed to hold for three years, AM
), that he did not return dollar o
this money for taxation. Hays say
! not one dollar was left him to pa
requests; that it was intended tina
: the requests should be paid from tn
sales of lands, and he was given tire
9 years so that the lands could be sol
: for this purpose. This real estate il
of course, taxed by the county with
out consultation or consent of il
IS owner or holder.
e Seventh, this property was all ves
= ed in Hayes by the terms of Birch
- ards will. 1t was therefore not nee
IS essary according to Ohio laws t
o make separate the property held a
d executor. 1t all belonged to Haye
= and was listed as his. Gov. Haye
, is authority for all the statement
e given above.