The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-09-14
COLUMBUS ONO. Sent s. 1916.

posed Of.
COLUMBUS OHIO, Sept. s. 1876.
A sensational story was telegraphcd from
Ffcnonton the 2nd inst, stating that it hat
been discovered that Governor Hayes hat
falsified the return of personal property
made to the assessor Of Sandnsky county,
Thinking there might be two sides to thi,
| story, your correspondent called on Govern.
Or Hayes to night, and called his attention tc
the matter. Thc Governor said the tale was
tissue OF Misrepresentation, but that he did
not desire to submit to formal interview, as
he had already communicated all the facts in
the case to General Comfy, OF the State
Journal, who would furnish proof slips o
the article he had prepared for the question
From these slips condensc the following:
THE CHARGES AND THE ANSWER.
The charge is that Sardcs Birciard Gov
ernor Hayes uncle and benefactor, listed
SO, 9S2 personality in 1872, exclusive of money
and credit, and that Governor Hayes, with
the same personally in possession, listed on
ly 1000 in 1874. This is not true. Biz
chard's return included all notes, credits and
book accounts. Governor Hayes III 1874
made no return of notes, credits and book
accounts, because all credits were swallowed
up in debts. The same is true OF the notes.
The personality bequeathed to Hayes was al
most entirely bank stocks, upon which tax
is paid by the banks. The one item of per-
sonalty returned by Birchard, $9,9S2, was
more than swallowed up by obligations in
cured by Governor Hayes in carrying out
Orchards projects for the benefit of the
town Of Fremont. This very question was
at the same time investigated by Democrat
ic Board OF Equalization and reported by
them as all correct. 1t will be seen that the
debts more than Offset the credits under
this item, and that the return of $1,000 in
1874, was for household goods which were
not subject to this deduction. The increase
in this item to $1,000 in 1875 was due to an
increase in Hayes private library.
As to the second charge, Governor Hayes
says he never had and never returned watch
worth $500. The three watches returned are
keepsakes, and all together are not worth
$3.50. One watch Mrs. Hayes had when a
school girl. 1t has not been running for twen-
ty years. GEk3
Third. Hayes had never owned piano at
the time the return was made, and only
rented one last october for the use OF niece
who was visiting him. This summer he
traded lot for one.
Fourth. 1t is alleged that Governor Hayes
returned in 1875 and 1876 three horses
at $500, when they were worth $500. In an
swer the Governor says one of these horses
is twenty-seven years old, and not worth
anything, yet he is listed at $780, and that the
strict valuation Of the other two is $50 and
800, yet he listed them for taxation at $3.50.
His best horses cost him 1925.
Fifth. 1t is charged that 1875, Governor
Hayes returned four carriages at $3.50, when
it is known he paid $500 for one and $3.50 for
another. In answer, the Governor says the
carriage referred to was not bought until a
year after the alleged false return was made,
then it was properly listed. AS the return
of 1876 shows, two of these carriages were,
in fact, buggy and wagon, one OF which
was soon after sold for $40, and one would
not sell at any price, but they were listed for
$75. The other was secondhand phaeton,
which cost 800.
Sixth. 1t was charged that $33, 700 was left
in Governor Hayes hands in requests made
by Birchard, which he was allowed to hold
for three years, and that he did not return a
dollar of this money for taxation. The Gov
ernor says the fact is not one dollar was left
him to pay requests that it was intended
requests should be paid for the sales of lands,
and he was given three years so the land
could be sold for this purpose. The real es-
tate is of course taxed by the county with
out consultation or consent of it's owner or
holder.
Seventh. This property was all vested in
Hayes by terms of Orchards will. 1t was,
therefore, not necessary, according to Ohio
law, to make separate returns of property
held as executor. 1t all belonged to Hayes,
and was listed as his. Governor Hayes is
authority for all statements given above