The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-21
A CALUMNY EXPLODED.
GOV. Tilden's Income Tax Return
/. in the Year 1862.
CHARGES OF FRAUD DlSpROvED.
An Accurate Statement from the
Governors Law Clerk.
THE SWORN RETURN A JUST ONE.
A Complete Refutation Of the Charges
of the Times.

TO .uK PUBLIC: The Nsr York Times, which,
for years prior to 1875. had been the euloeist cf
Gov. Tlden, Immediately after he became
formidable candidate for the Presidency pegah
Q series OF assaults upon his private character
A. length these assaults eliminated III the
charge of making q false statement OF MS in-
come Of 1869. By dint Of reiteration ana faOri-
Dated specific ations OF items and details, having
The semblance Of actual accounts. some we'll
meaning persons were disturbed. ttherefore oc-
surred to me to appy to the Secretary Of Trea-
sury for certified copies OF the income returns OF
Gov TiIden and Of Gov. Hayes, and on the I'd
dsy OF September I made such an application.
The copies applied for have not been furnished,
nor indeed has my letter received tho poor
courtesy OF an acknowledgement. Meanwhile,
the nd dyersaries Of Gov. Tiden have apparently
had free access TO these returns, and have even
been permitted to photo-litbograph so much OF
them as suited their purposes. lsuout this fact
TO the American people without comment Re
peiving no reply from the public authorities,
Who seem to regard the documents In their
custody as held In trust for the Republican
party. and not for the whole people, addressed
aoote to Judge James =. sinnott, who was the
confidential law clerk Of Gov. Tilden during the
whole period IN which the law imposing an in-
come tax was In force, asking him to examine
during the year 1862, published by the Times, and
furnish me with such explanations IN regard
thereto as his necessary familiarity with the de-
tails would enable him to supply. have this
day received bis reply, presenting fun and en-
ttreiy satisfactory refutation OF the charges oi
the Times
His answer herewith submitted to the public
shows that out of thirteen pretended items o
income amounting to $4,000, eleven item;
amounting to ss4,O0o are wholly fictitious, white
Of tho other two, only one OF 1900 is entirely
true, and the second OF $4,000 is only partially
lrue.
There is, therefore, no ground for the assertion
that the sworn return was not Just and accu
rate statement Of the net income oiiGoy. Tilden
after making such deductions for losses, inieres
paid and other charges, as the law authorized
him to make.
IL nexception be taken TO Judge sinnott's lette
on the ground that 1t does not contain detailed
statement OF the several items upon which thu
return Of 1852 was made, IL Is proper to STATE
that the re equations OF the Department did mo-
require such detailed statements, and very few
professional men made such statements, o
could now recall the items or have kept th'
memoranda upon which their returns wer,
made.
IL Gov. Iilden were not In nomination for tn
Presidency, 1 do not know OF any man Ia thi
community whose mere statement Of fac
would have been more generally accepted a
the truth, and l fail to why the eminen
position In which he has been placed by larg
body Of his fellow citizens should DO held to de
Iaot from the sanctty Of his oath.
ADRIAN :. HEWITT,
Chairman National Democratic Committee.
nav YoRK, Sept. 20 1879.