The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-09-20
MILLIONS IN ILLEGAL BONDS.
BRIBERY OF The LEGISLATURE.
COIlusiOn of the Whole State Gov
ernment and a Reign Of I'm
paraIleIed Corruption.
Revelations Which Cast in the Shade
Even the Worst Developments
of the Tweed Plunder
of a City.
from the N. Y. world.l

hb 10 WGAl hhOWhI - -
sentiments against prominent member
of the late South Carolina Ring hav
been drawn by Attorney General Con
ner of that State and laid before tn
Grand Jury now sitting at Columbis
The names of Niles G. Parker, Stat
Treasurer from 1868 to 1872; Y, j. I
Owens-who lately died from the effect
of debauch at Baltimore S, l.. Hodge
FL. Cardoza, Theodore Davidson an'
TIC. Dun, all appear in those counts o
the presentment alleging conspiracy il
fraudulently funding coupons which hat
been illegally detached. CardozA, al
State Treasurer, has also been charged II
the presentment with funding certain
coupons which were not authorized tt
be funded. These coupons, it was al
legged, we're not due by the State, anc
were attached to bonds which were still
on file in the public Office in charge o.
the Treasurer, and Which had never
been issued therefor. T. Q. Dunn, at
Comptroller General is charged with
officially countersigning certain bonds
which were fraudulent. Cardoza is
further charged with violation Of duty in
issuing certain consolidation bonds and
stock and also for diverting the tax ap
preparation, for the illegal payment OF
claims and other official transgressions.
The Grand Jury has found true bills
against Carloza and the others, and the
indictments are now pending.
Two indictments have also been found
AGAINST United States Senator John J.
Patterson, the first based on his alleged
fraudulent dealings as President Of the
Blue Ridge Railroad, in consplring 10
bribe the members of the Legislature to
vote for certain bills intended 10 benefit
the officers and stockho 'ders of the
road. On the same charge of conspira-
cy H. Ii. Kinpton and Niles G. Parker
have oeen indicted. The second indict-
ment against Patterson is for actually
brjbipg members of the Legislature to
vote for the bills mentioned Joseph
Woodruff, late Clerk Of the Senate, and
A q. Jones, Clerk Of the House, have
Laan charged with receiving money Tor
their signatures to certificates of indebt'
edness to pay fraudulent claims of the
RepubIican Printing Company, but have
been permitted to make the terms with
the STATE published in note included in
Mr. Parker's statement below.
The Appropriation and supply acts OF
1875 made it felony to divert the tax
leyies directly or indirectly, temporarily
or permanently Cardoza, it is charged,
violated the express provisions Of these
acts by the payment of the printing
claim of the Thomas W. Price Company,
TO which allusion is also made in Mr..
Parker's statement. As one of the per
sons most prominently concerned in
these suits and as one likely to know the
inner history of the ring if any one may
be supposed to know it, World reporter
called upon Mr. Niles G. Parker at his
house In Jersey City and obtained from
him a very full statement, which was
taken down phonographically. The
statement was made without previous
preparation, and this may account in
great measure for some looseness notice
able in the arrangement, and also for
any slight inaccuracies of dates or fig
ures. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Parker
was engaged in conducting large tenn
perance meeting in Jersey City, and On
returning home made the following
statement:
Parker's Record and Election.
81 settled in Charleston in February,
1867, engaging in planting and the mer-
camille supply business. In 1867 Gener-
al Candy ap p5ointed me an Alderman in
the city of Charleston. Gaillard was
Mayor at the time, and there was place
in the council made vacant by death. A
few months later / was appointed Chair
man of the Committee of Legislation un-
der he Reconstruction acts. After the
discharge of that duty devoted myself
again to private business, | was soon,
however, elected member of the Con.
stitutional Convention from Barnwell
county, though l made no effort to Sc
cure nv nomination or election. In that
convention l was the chairman Of the
Committee on Finance and succeeded in
raising the amount necessary for the ex-
penses Of the convention. In the dis.
charge of my duties | had the co-opera.
ton and good will of Governor Orr. AS
a member of the convention | opposed
the passage of the law authorizing the
State to issue bonds. took the ground
that the State indebtedness and the cur
rent expenses could be provided for by
taxation and that any further issue oi
bonds was unnecessary. As in previous
years the State expenses had not exceed
ed 100000. did not believe that more
than 5000 600 would be needed to cover
them. The surplus. amount paid into the
treasury as collected taxes would bt
enough to meet the payment of Interest
On the State debt, consolidated and float
uq and settle, in the course of few
years, all outstanding claims not repre-
rented already by State bonds. The ac
0s incorporated in the constitution
however, in spite Of my opposition.
"At the first election under the new
constitution l was put in nomination fo
State Treasurer and elected. This nom
ination grew wholly out of the success
which l had achieved in raising the ex
penses of the convention. ] went int
Office in July, 1863 Scott was Governor
Chamberlain was Attorney General, Car
doEa was Secretary of State, Franl
Moses was Adjuiant General. The con
stitution of the Legislature was entirel,
Republican, / think, without an excep
ton. The Democrats refused to TAX
part in the election. Naturally boil
Senate and House were composed yer,
largely of colored members. Fran
Moses was the Speaker Of the House an,
undoubtedly the most influential mem
Der of it during his four years term c
Office.
"When 1 took charge of the Stat
Treasury there was only $42 in it. B
the Comptroller Generals report fo
1867 the bonded and stock debt ws
nearly $60O0.OO0. and there was consit