The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-05-29
who gave II villfullv violated their obliga

tons. He appealed to their sense of
honor and explained the awkward |
position in which he was placed; he
offered to take a check at 10 days but was
refused. Again he urged on Mr.. Deere
and Mr.. Velie that he must have the
money: that he had returned their taxes
as paid and that he could not raise the
money unless they paid him. 1t was no
use, and finally as an only resource Mr..
Hemenway took the firm note at 60 days
In payment of the taxes, which included
those of s. Fl. Velie. Mrs. Weber. and
some others, but not the personal. taxes OF
Charles II. Deere. To order to realize the
necessary cash, the note amounting to Sc,
1881, dated April 4th, 1877, at 60 days,
was discounted by Mr.. Hemenway, at the
Moline National Bank, he paying dis
count of $ll6.
Thus was he forced, through the broken
obligations of men of supposed honor 10
business, to lose SIG, which he could ill
afford to do, being a man OF moderate
means. There was no recourse. however;
he had to make the amount good or stand
10 the light of a defaulter, and all through
the duplicity of Charles Ell. Deere and S.
Fl. Velie. L. E. Hemenway is one of the
most conscientious men 10 Moline and
would not knowingly wrong any one. He
is one of those thoroughly honest men who
are often made victims of misplaced conf
dence through an over confidence and
faith in human nature. Deere and Velie
had evidently guaged the man and fed him
on fine promises until tLey knew he was
inextricably obligated and then took a
mean, low, contemplate advantage OF his
trusting disposition to crafty their mer-
cenary ends. Ii this is not species OF
dishonesty what is it? Tnese men seek
to appear abundantly strong, and able to
pay their taxes, and then by chicanery
manage to force note at 90 days, at par
value, cn the collector, as cash, getting his re-
ceipts for the same which they fauntin the
face of others in defiant manner. getting
credit for paying cash when il reality
they gave only a promise to pay,Which was
discounted at loss to Mr. Hemenway and
who was actually robbed by them, SO to
speak, of SIG!
Not only does the loss fall on Hemen.
way, but it also reaches where it is needed
most, for when Luke Z. Hemenway took
the office of collector he had an obligation
to perform, promise to fulfil; promise
made the dead Ferguson. This promise
he has faithfully kept and out of his com
missions he has already paid over to Mrs
Ferguson and the little orphans left her
$327,54 Had Deere & Co., kept then
promise a still larger sum would have
been added Thus. not only has Charles
81. Deere aud S. H. Velie branded them
SELVES as wilful regulators Of their just
obligation to MI. Hemenway but by theil
action they have kept poor widow from
receiving her share of the commissions
Can there be more contemplate actor
than that? Is there anything that coulo
be meaner, lower, or more unscupulousl
mercenary?
The action of Charles H. Deere, and
Il. Velie will not soon fade from tn
memory O. Moline citizens, and no amour
ofmoney, not even the position that wealt
: brings, can efface the stigma that wi
r cling to them as men who wilfully violate
an obligation of honor and Of business an
thereby wronged an honest man and poe
: widow and her orphan children out 0
SIG. simply to crafty their mcrcenar
greed Mr., Hemenway will lose in add
, ton to the SIG 90, $40 more, which is III
1 amount of commissions on Deere 4 Co
| taxes, that under the agreement was to {
to the widow.
G Proud Molnel again hide your dimiI
! ished head in shame! Tomorrow, as 70
@ hang chaplets Cd the tombstones of th
}. heroic dead and refresh again the men
o ory of their noble deeds do not forget II
, widow and orphans you have with yo
il always, nor let any circumstance of wealt
n efface the memory of the noble deeds
q the living Proud Moline! let the examp
|. of your business men be guide Of honor
e all aspiring observers, and forget it not {
It you stand with uncovered heads at Il
,s tomb of the noble Rodran who did
muoh for vOur haautifu1 citv