The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-07-04


I'm keepin' store yet. Buy what you want and
pay when you can"
He was an easy creditor 10 hundreds in this
way, and many Of those whom he thus befrlend-
ed owe him to this day for large portions Of the
groceries he sold them when they would have
been In the direst distress but for his kindness
As a matter Of course, doing business In this
manner, II was not difficult TO become very pop
ular and Fessler soon found himself hail fellow
well met with both Democrats and Republicans.
Seven years ago he determined to turn his pop.
ularity into account and he became candidate
for the office Of County Treasurer; but he had not
learned how TO manipulate the ropes as yet, and
he failed TO grasp the prize he coveted. Nothing
daunted, he kept on with his store, Credliug more
freely than ever, showing q bold front TO the
world, though every day becoming more and
more involved In debt. Five years ago he sue
Ceeded In being elected Treasurer Of Stark coun.
ty on the Democratic ticket, and, though from
the free manner In which he used money to Sc
cure his election during the campaign 1t was
thought by the uninitiated that he was we'll.
heeled financially, he was, In fact, In debt TO the
amount Of from $4,000 to $4,000.
Among the heaviest Of his creditors was the
City lBank OF Canton, an institution that was
mainly owned by ex.COunty officials, and which,
very suggestlvely, had It's office In the Court
uOubG uuuSE tlO IOOul VI NOuhby
To this bank Fessler, when elected Treasurer
was indebted from $4,000 to $4,000, and, though
his legitimate fees for the entire year only
amounted to about 81 ,000 yet within three months
Of the tine he became Treasurer Fessler paid the
bank every cent he owed 1t.
The stockholders of this bank were Martin
Wikidal, George W. Lawrence, U. r. Feather and
W. Williams. Mr.. Feather is the leading political
trickster of the Republican organization OF Stark
county and shortly before Fessler took his place
as Treasurer, Mr. Wikidsll, hearing through con.
idential channels that Fessler was largely In
debt suggested to his partners the desirabilty Of
getting him to give them security for the money
he owed them, when Feather calmed his fears by
telling him that Fessler was all right, and would
pay the money as soon as he took possession OF his
office. How did he know he Would2
FesslerR bondsmen during his first term Of Of.
fee were John Mschamer ]. 0stroph, G. H.
Albright, David Smith, L. ]. Midday, Henry scho'
ner, Michael Nye, Solomon Baif, VIM. Lesh, Hen
ry Krall A. Ponttus, David Cassler, Leonard Ra-
ber ]. H. Bair, VIM. ]. Smith, Ell Smith and L. l..
Mckinney.
One of the above-A. Pontius-becameF FesSler's
chief deputy.
Fessler entered into his office In September,
1874, and on the 10th Of October following Mr., u.
R, Feather, by direction Of Judge Hildebrand, Of
the Probate Court the only Republican official in
the county, Inhue I'LL eAhUluhLlOu vi buG COuul-
tion of the Treasury. He reported everything all
right and straight, and balance on hand Of
$40, ,62676.
On the 2Sth of March, 1875, by appointment Of
the Probate Court. Mr.. Feather made third ex-
animation of Fessler's accounts, and he again GER
titled under oath that everything was o. K, and
that this time the balance OF cash on hand was
S2670.95.
On the Sth of April, 1876, Mr.. W. X. Miller was
made examiner by Judge Hildebrand, and he
found everything In apple-ple ORDER and bal
ance on hand of S44 7S62S That summer Fessler
took his wife and daughters to the Centennial
Exposition, to New York Niagara Falls and else
where, everywhere stopping at the best hotelsa and
cutting big splurge generally. In the fall Of the
year no examination was made of the business
accounts-at least Judge Hildbrand could find no
record OF his having appointed any, nor could he
| find in the pigeon hole where he keeps sbch pa
pers any report of any such examination having
been made. The law is mandatory on this sub.
ect and 1t is strange to say the least that 1t was
not complied with.
March 16, 1877, Mr.. Feather again examined the
condition of the Treasury by appointment Of
Judge Hildebrand and again all was reported hy-
perCon and this time the balance on hand was
A2 341.48.
September %, 1877, Mr.. Feather having again
been appointed examiner by Judge Hidebrand,
reported thaC teSSler was a rlRnJ, ana lnhL Lnere
was a balance on hand Of SSl, ,29i &C.
In 1875, Fessler, having been reelected Treasu-
rer. filed new bond, his securities being John R.
Miller, Louis Midday, ]. H. Bair, Jacob Garty, Mi
chael Nye, L. L. Mckinney Samuel Braucher M,
L. Fast, U. B. Feather, Leonard Raber, John Willis
R. s. Shields, F. ]. Benskln, Joseph sherley Louis
Dumont, Daniel CobsuEh and Louis schaefer.-
Shortly after Feather had made the last examina.
ton Fessler ran short of money and could not pay
the orders presented to him, and a secret exami.
nation Of his affairs was made by his bondsmen.
1t resulted In the discovery that he was defaul-
ter to the amount Of about 900.
Strange to say, the news Of this defalcation was
kept hid from the people Of Stark county, though
the majority Of Fesslers bondsmen were Repub.
licans, and one OF them. in defiance Of law, was a
Commissioner of the county. Instead Of deDounc
ing him at once and having him removed from
office, his bondsmen got him to deed them his
property worth aboutten or twelve thousand dol
lars, to consent to having U. R. Feather, one of
their number. made Chief Deputy Of the office.
with the understanding that he was to be the vir-
tual Treasurer and they In turn agreed to make
good the remainder OF the detalcatiOn out Of
their own pockets. April s, 1873 George W. Law.
renee made an examination Of the Treasury, and
he reported all serene, and balance Of cash on
hand of S44 9SS58. Fessler didn't walt for anoth-
er examination, but skipped out, as has been de-
tailed heretofore. During his term Of Office his
legal fees were Rs follows: