The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-09-15

! l. WATCHES Gov. Hayes returns
as Published ia the Toledo paper are
as they appear ia the Auditors Books
aud are probably correct except the
return OF one watch ar 500. an
Informed Jy Gov. Hayes himself ana
4 by other members Of his family tlaI
he then owned the same three Watches
that he returned in 1875 and 1876 end
that he has not owned any other
watches Wis. one worth not 10 exceed
500. one over 80 years old worth not
/ to exceed $50 and one that mas not
run for many years not worth 70 e4
ceed $50. The two last valued prln
cipaIIv as keep sakes The return Tor
/ 1874 ought to have been and probably
was for three watches instead OF one.
4 mistake was probably made IN
| IN transcribing the returns onto tue
! Auditors Books.
2. HORsEs-The sworn statements
OF Mr.. Moore and OF Mr. Kridler, the
Assessor of the First Ward for 1873,
settles the question az to the number,
| description and value of Governor
Hayes horses. | have been quite
| familiar with all of Governor Hayes
horses during the three years, having
seen thein almost daily. and think
Mr. Moore's valuation of them is high
enough. and shows that Governor
HAYES each year valued them too high
/ In his returns.
3. PLEASURE CARRIAGES, &c,-Mr.
/ Moore's statement gives "a full descrip-
ton of all the carriages and other
/ vehicles required 10 be listed under
/ this head, including his cutter and old
worn out buggy and wagons shows
! that Mr.. Hayes owned no carriage Of
value until after his return for 1875.
After that he purchased an old pheton
and took it to Mr. Moore for repairs
and also purchased of Mr. Moore a
four passenger carriage, which were
included in Gov. Hayes return for
1876, at which time Mr.. Moore esti
mates the value OF the two at $3.50,
and of all the other old vehicles at $50.
! Governor Hayes returns them at S4OO,
which is $40 less than Mr.. Moore's
valuation. Admit that the Governor
under valued his carriages, the defii
cheney is more than made up i'll his
over valuation of other articles.
don't think the public will suffer any
great wrong thereby
4 VALUE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS,
FURNITURE. &C.-Under this head
tie value of great variety OF articles
are required TO be estimated without
eHUmerating them. In 1873 Mr. Bir-
chard returned $500 under this head,
aud in 1874 Gov. Hayes returned
S1,G00, in 1875 5000, and ia 1876
81, SEQ. In the summer of 1874 Gov
ernor Hayes made extensive improve
ments in his grounds, and in enlarg
ing and improving lis house and added
largely to his private library, furniture,
&C., and | have no doubt but he re-
turned the full value Of all the addi-
tons to his library furniture, &c.
5. PIANo.-The sworn statement of
Z. L. a.d r. A Cross establishes
the fact beyond a chance for doubt
that Gov. Hayes did not own piano
until May 1, 1876, and renders it un
necessary TO say one word as to the
charge that Gov. Hayes failed to
return a piano for taxation previous
to that time. The Law only requires
every person to return for taxation ais
| the personal propeTt-. money, &c,
which he owns on the day preceding
the second Monday Of April, in each
year.
6. VALUE OF CREDITS AFTER De
QUOTING BONE Eide DEBTS.
most serious charge is made against
Gov Hayes, of fraud under this head.
1t is alleged that although Gov. Hayes
received from Mr.. Orchards estate in
the winter of 1874 at least $50, 600 in
personal property, in April following
he returned for taxation only 81, 600.
The truth is he did not return any
thing for money or for credit, for the
reason that he he'd neither money or
Salance of credits after deduciiDg
bona fide debts, to return. The truth
of my statement is fully establised by
the sworn statement of a. II. Miller,
Cashier of the First National Bank
and co-executOr with Gov Hayes of
Mr.. Orchards estate and of DR.. J. w.
Wilson, President Of the Bank, both
having the best possible means of
knowing the financial circumstances of
Mr. Birchard, and Gov Hayes for
many years past, and they are corrob
Grated 10y the statement of John IL
Smith, Democrat, who was mem
Der OF the Board of Equalization in the
Spring of 1874, and as such member
examined Gov. Hayes returns of that
year and into the matter of Mr. Bir- |
chard's personal estate, was satisfied |
that Gov. Hayes returns were correct, |
so reported to the Board and the
u I'll fgHa al T.
and DR.. Wilson say that besides Mr.. |
Orchards band sock, the taxes on
which have every year been paid by
the bank, Mr. Birehard only left of
personal property subject to taxation
81, 154 50 money in bank, from S10,-
coo 10 SIS, ,000 in credits, notes, land
contracts, &c., and his horses, cattle,
household goods, &c, which Mr.
Birchard returned for taxation in
April, 1873, at 1882. His credits at the
same time ne valued at 50. 600. The
credits could not have been worth
more than SO, 600 ia april, 1874; so
that the personal assets, subject to
taxation, aside from the bank stock
which GOV Hayes received from Mr.
Orchards estate could not have been
worth more than about SIS. 900, aud
Dr. Wilson and Mr. Miller show that
that amount must have been more
than balanced by Gov. Hayes in obli- !
cations and advances in aid OF the
Birchard Free library and other ex-
penditures OF account of Orchards
estate In this connection think it |
will be interesting TO the public TO
know some facts within my personal
knowledge in regard to the establish
ment of the Birchard Free Library
and other donations made by Mr.. |
Birchard for the benefit of the people
of Fremont and Sandusky County, and
the part taken by Governor Hayes in
the same.
Several years previous 10 his decease
Mr.. Bircilard enclosed with neat
board fence beautiful grove contain
ing about eleven acres and another
small piece of ground both in the
Western part of the city, and which
be considered worth S25, 600 and made
a gift of them to the City of Fremont
for Public Parks.
At the time he executed his last will,
which | drew for him, he expressed his
intention OF making still further gifts
for the benei- Of the people of Ere
mont and Sandusky County, but lie
had not made up his mind how to do
it, He frequently talked TO myself
and other friends about it, in the
summer of 1873 at the suggestion of
Gov Hayes and upon consultation
with other friends he decided TO estab- |
lish Library at Fremont which |
should be free 10 all the people of
Sandusky County. and to devote
therefor tie sum of $50, 900 out of his |
estate Gov. HAYES drew uD the |