Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-11-30
REFORM.
La Fayette County's $9OOO-J. ID. Campbell,
Reformer-A Dishonest Treasurer
BADGER.

La Fayette County's s9OOO-J. ID. Campbell,
Reformer-A Dishonest Treasurer
The La Fayette County Republican
gives the following particulars of the
exposure and arrest of their Demo
cratic County Treasurer, who it
seems is cool thief:
sour village was thrown into
state of intense excitement Tuesday
evening, by the announcement that
Thos. B. Campbell Reform County
Treasurer for the past two terms,
and late candidate for recollection on
the Reform county ticket, was de-
faulter to the tune of $4,000. Dur
ing his residence in this village Mr..
Campbell has succeeded in gaining
the confidence of our people to a
great extent, and although there
were circumstances which led to sus~
pect that all was not right, the an
nouncement was a profound sur
prise to nearly every one. Tuesday
afternoon Mr.. Campbell, prompted no
doubt by the fact that the present
session of the County Board would
call for the payment of considerable
money from the Treasury. which
money he knew would not be forth
coming, informed Hon. p. A. Orton
that the Treasury was empty, and
that the balance of about $4,000
which should be on hand, he had ap-
propriated to his own use. Judge
Orion as chairman of the County
Board, and believing that the inter-
ests of the county demanded it, i'm
mediately made complaint against
Mr.. Campbell, and warrant issued
for his arrest. He was arrested the
same evening and has since remained
in custody.
Mr.. Cam pbell claims that he now
has no part of the stolen money in
possession, but has applied all of the
same in payment of his debts. This
statement, however, from its unrea.
sonable nature, and in view of the
light thrown on the case by subse.
quent development, receives little
credence."
The Republican says that Camp
BELLS bondsmen are good for the
loss and will give ample security i'm
mediately.
Campbell also states that he was a
defaulter to one shalt Of that amount
at the expiration of his first term,
and the Republican intimates that
several of the leading men in the
Democratic party of La Fayette
county knew of this fact, but the
promise of Campbell to mako good |
the amount detailed if given an
other term, they secured his nomin-
alton aud reelected him under the
promise of a "Reform ~ which in
this case was certainly needed.
The Republican is constrained to |
remark that
"FTom the circumstances this is |
one of the meanest, most dishonest,
aud altogether most contemplate |
trick any man or party has been
guilty OF tor many years, for it is
perfectly evident that the defalcation |
has been known to him for many
months, and the action of some of the
leaders of the party would indicate
that they were not altogether ignor-
ant of the fact that the peoples
money was being stolen. TO show
the utter baseness of this manCamy-
bell, this pet reformer, it is necessary
to mention further evidences of his
dishonesty. 1t has further been dis-
covered, since the unblushing an
nonncement of his defaloation, that
within the last month, be has bor-
rowed $4,000 and now after taking
every dollar in the Treasury, says
that he has 20 money. A few days
before election, be went to Edward
Melony, of Shullsburg, and asked
him, as a personal favor, to sign a
note with him to borrow $1,000.
Abner Rock, one of Campbell's bonds
men, is in for $500 on q note he was
induced to sign. Frank Craig, an
other bondsman, has to foot another
note Of $1,000. These NJ en- naturally
feel quite severe, and now consider
the man Campbell, who they have
trusted, befriended and aided in
every possible manner, worse than
a common thief, and the most un-
grateful wretch on earth. They ex-
press it as their opinion that be has
"salted" every dollar stolen from the
County, and, with the 50 500 borrow.
ed, has enough to pay for term in
the Penitentiary, which be most
richly deserves"