The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-29

total amount. 1t was happy omission,
which enabled the Treasurer to at once
defraud the people and avoid the guilt Of
perjury. He then entered into the legal
definition Of bribery, extortion and con-
spiracy. With this Mr.. Good closed his
remarks upon the law Of the case, and
the court took its noon recess.
AFTERNOON.
Manager Good resumed and took up
as he had announced at the close OF the
forenoon session, the consideration Of the
facts in the case. He commenced with
the transactions with the Merchants Bank
Of Charleston and going through the mi
nutia Of all the transactions with all the
banks, carefully noted their character
and the relation OF the various charges
preferred against the respondent in rela-
tion thereto. We are told, said he that in
these transactions the State has lost moth
ing. We have shown that this claim can
not be sustained. But admitting that
there had been no actual loss OF money
she has lost that which is Of more value
than money, the confidence OF the people
in the integrity OF their officers. The
case Of the transaction with the First
National Bank Of Parkersburg in which
Mr.. Camden directly asked John s. Bur-
dett If he did not think the proposed bar
gain wrong, we have ihdubitable evidence
that John s. Burdett entered. upon
his corrupt career with full apprecia-
tion OF It's illegality, for he boldly nc
knowlcdgcd it, and yet was willing TO en-
danger the character OF his son, whom
he said would make the arrangements and
stand between him and danger. So prone
are men 10 Judge others by themselves
that the Burdetts presumed that the Off
GERS Of the Parkersburg Bank would
eagerly accept their proposition, hence the
draft Of William 4. Burdett upon J..
n. Camden for the farm rent. Upon
the question Of interest, Mr.. Good
said the law provides that it shall
not be less than three nor more than six
per cent. What does this mean if it does
not mean that all interest that could be
obtained up to six per cent should accrue
to the benefit OF the State. It is some
what remarkable, too, thatthe banks with
which the Treasurer had an arrangement
were all paying the lowest rate Of inter-
est, and yet they had the largest amount
OF deposits. 1t is claimed that the
respondent had. no control, could not
regulate the deposits. Although it is true
that in accordance with law he could not
do 30, yet there remains the fact that he
did do so. Can it be that there was some
happy coincidence, entirely fortuitous, by
which theshcrifls andIall. .other depositors,
SO placed these deposits as to iill exactly
the contracts made with these banks by
the Treasurer. The Manager then took
up the quarterly reports OF these
banks, showing the vast discrcpan-
cy between the amounts in those banks
which paid the Burdetts bonus and
those which did not. lie showed that
John S. Burdett has never accounted TO
the State for anything but the minimum
OF interest claimed by the State. All the
rest has gone into his own pocket or that
of his son with his full knowledge and
approval.
In conclusion, we have (said the Man
ager) proven four distinct charges: bribe-
ry, corruption, misconduct and perjury.
To this high court the people look for
vindication.
Into your hands I commit their cause.