The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-09-07

property devised to him by will at once.
Burchard returned his personal property
exclusive Of moneys, credits, notes, book
accounts, &c, as S99S2, to the assessor,
April, 1873. Governor Hayes, after hav-
ing all Burchard returned, added to what
he owned previously returned to the as
SCISSOR of taxation, April. 1874, all his per-
sonal property not included in the sew
enteen enumerated items, 81, 900. Was
this perjury
In March, 1874, previous to making his
return to to the assessor, r. B. Hayes
held mortgage and notes against j. +.
Amsden for $4,000, interest at per cent,
payable ANNUALLY, due in 1878, also notes
againJt Edwin Van Dorm, Martin Morair-
ty, VIM, H. Andrews and A. j. and Eli2.
abeth Hale, amounting to $780, bearing
6 per cent interest. He did not list this
$3.50 for taxation, although he had
held notes since 1874, previous to making
his return that year, r. B. Hayes re.
turned gold watch, $500, in 1874, and in
lS75.76 returned three watches, inclu-
ding one returned in 1874, at 5000. Was
this perjury? r. B. Hayes did not re-
turn piano in any one of the three years
though he had one in his parlor all the
time, and it is the boast of his admiring
neighbors that the one now in his parlor
cost $500, Was this perjury? r. B. Hayes
returned in 1876 three horses, $500
when his neighbors knew that he values
one of his horses, at $500. Was this per-
jury? r. B. Hayes returned in 1875 four
carriages, $3.50 when it was well known
to many of the citizens of Fremont that
he paid Mr.. Moore, manufacturer of
that city, $500 for one Of them and had a
phaeton that cost $500 Was this perjury?
Thirty three thousand seven hundred
dollars were left IN his hands in bequests
in the will Of Sardis Burchard, which
Governor Hayes was not required to pay
over for three years, and upon which he
paid no interest for two years, and he did
not return a single dollar of this money
for taxation. At least he only returned
$500 in hand in 1876. Was this perjury =?
In order to make this matter plain, that
there can be no question about it, we give
from the will of Burchard the names of
devisees to whom the $685., 900 was given
and the amount bequeathed to each
81 give and beQueath each ofmy nieces,
Mary Birchard, Of Fayetteville, and Char
lotte Dewitt, of Elyria, the sum Of S., 900
each. | give 9nd bequeath Sarah Jane
Grant, of Fremont, Ohio, the sum Of S5,-
600. ! give and bequeath each o the four
children OF W. A. and F. A. Platt, viz,
Laura, Fanny, Emily and Rutherford the
sum Of $1,000 each, | give and bequeath
to each Of the six children of Austin b.
Tayler, deceased, late of Fremont, o., So
0J0 Igive and bequeath to Charles BircL =
ard, son of my brother, Austin Brichard,
of Vernon. jhe sum Of $500 per annum
during his natural life. 1t is my will, and
| hereby direct that my executors shall
not be compelled to pay any Of the sum
of money given and bequeathed by this
will until the expiration of three years
after my decease, but interest shall be
Eaid on the same two years after my de-
dease."
1t will be observed that in the oath
which r. B. Hayes subscribed he swore
that he listed all property which by law
he was required to return as owner or
holder, or as husband, parent guardian,
trustee, executor, administrator, receiver
accounting officer agent attorney, or fac
tor. He held amounts we have given
from the will devised by Birchard in his
possession as executor, and made no re-
turn Of any portion Of the money or per-
sonal property for taxation, Was this
perjury
The excuse cannot be made that he
owed debts to this amount which deduc-
ted, for be could not deduct debts from
money or credits which he had in execu-
tive capacity, 1t was not his money. He
SIMPLIFY had possession of it as executor,
and was bound by law to return for tax.
alton. He did not do it, but swore all the
same that he returned all that was requi-
red by law to list. Our reporter carefully
searched records in the Offices of Auditor,
Recorder and Probate Judge, and ascer-
tanned that no return was made by Gov
ernor Hayes or his co-executor, The fact
that Governor Hayes received into pos.
session large amounts of personal proper
ty ofSardis BurChard, consisting of house
hold goods, valuable paintins, plate,
watches, ETC., all of which by law was
taxable, and did notreturn it fortaxation
at more than one tenth its value, and did
not return it all in 1874, either as executor
or as his own property, which undoubt-
edly it was, is too clear to admit of an
escape from the charge of evading pay
ment of taxes. In attempting to explain
the failure of Governor Haye. to return
money for the payment Of bequests in
the will for taxation, it will no doubt be
claimed that he had not yet realized mon
ey from the sale of the property. 1t is
all to be paid this year, and if he has not
all the money to pay over, he undoubted-
ly realized some Of it Or has failed TO ex-
ecute the will Two years and half
elapsed, and no report to Probate Judge,
as required by law, has been made either
by Rutherford B. Hayes, or his co.eXecu-
tor indicating the payment of any of the
bequests, so that the presumption is that
they are not yet paid.