The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-10-09
DID HAYES GET THE MONEY!

Baltimore Gazette.
If it were not well understood by the
people, and virtually conceded by the
leaders Of the Republican party that in
this campaign Mr.. Hayes is cipher
raised TO value merely by the prefix of
the Republican nomination, there would
be a good deal to say about his personal
character. We have already given the
facts about his fraudulent tax returns.
which he has never dared 10 deny, and
although the government officials guard
the records with great vigilance, 1t
IS now well understood that he made no
income tax returns. In fact
what impresses one most particularly in
the charges against Hayes integrity,
which have been made by Western jour
nsls. is that they disclose acts character
lstIc of small and mean nature. When
early IN the campaign the Rev. Mr..
Harper told how Hay es took possession of
four hundred dollars in greenbacks and
other personal effects belonging to a
poor wretch who was shot for deserton,
and refused to return the valuables
over to the mans family, the original
charge did not excite half so much
comment rs the character OF Hayes
reply to 1t. He admitted that he re-
fused to give up the property on the
ground that the man had forfeited his
life to the military code, and that it was
only lair to take his money for the use
of the government in supplying his
place. He asserted that he did not con-
vert the money to his own use, but turned
it over to the government. We do not
know whether Mr.. Hayes can produce
voucher or not, but looked at from any
point of view the act could only have
proceeded from manhood built upon
very small scale. Surely it was enough
to shoot the poor wretch, without con.
fiscating his property. and Hayes ex-
cuse would have been no defense against
q SUIT IN court OF law.
Mr.. HAYES seems to have had singu-
lar facility for getting hold OF the money
of his soldiers. The st. Louis Times
has recently published some correspond
ence between Hayes and Mr.. james Le-
Roy, an attorney, living in Monroe
county, Wisconsin, which places the for
mer in rather an awkward position. Mr..
LeRov's son, Nelson j. Leroy, was a
member OF the rweuty-thIrd Ohio regi-
ment, under Hayes command. Nelson
was of saving disposition, and what
with bounty money and his pay, found
himself in possession OF nearly $1,000
just before the battle of Winchester,
and he deposited it with Hayes for
safe-keeping, IN the presence of two
witnesses. He was killed in the battle,
and his father knew nothing about the
money until 1869, when he accidentally
met a comrsde of Nelson 5, who told him
OF the matter. Mr.. LeRoy then investi-
gated the subject, and obtained the stti
davits of number of Nelson's comrades
as 10 the facts of the case. The dlsposi-
ti6n which Nelson Leroy had made of
his money was matter of general knowl-
edge IN his company, and there was no
lack of testimony corroberating the state
ments of the witnesses to the transaction.
Mr.. Leroy wrote to Hayes il regard to
the matter, and received the following
answer:
COLUMBUS, o., Octobor q, lS69.-Nr.
James LeRoy-Sir:-I hare no recot!ec
ton Of any such person, and consequently
could not have had his money. You must
be mistaken or some one is trying TO I'M
pose upon you. K b. HAYES.
Mr.. LeRoy again wrote, giving q
sketch OF the proof in the case, and de-
manding an explicit reply. To this let
ter Mr.. Hayes replied:
COLUMBUS, o., November %, 1862
Mr.. James LeRoy-Sir: In reply to
yours of October %. say that r, member
the person you spoke of, but nerer had
ang money belonging to him. You have
been deceived, or are trying to blackmsil
me. Yours, ETC., r. b. HAYES.
Mr.. Leroy again wrote, going further
into the details of the case and receiv-
ed the following reply:
COLUMBUS, o., November l6 1862
James Leroy, Esq. Sir: In reply to
YOURS of the 10th instant must say that
/ had Iell ,c.th me soms Of the boys money
but it was all returned by me before the
battle. / think you intend to levy
blackmsll on me. Yours. etc.
r. B. HAYES.
To this letter Mr.. Leroy replied, en-.
closing statements from the county