Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-07-17
"BirdS OF a Feather" Sc.


which calls itself JUDGE hayden,
thrown at the editor of this paper. and
at young man who came near being
disgraced a few years since by reason
of following hayden's advice. The
public are informed how terribly wick
ed and criminal we have been, Well,
we have lived here many years, are
well known, and we leave that for the
public to pass upon. We shall have
no fears as to the good opinion of our
neighbors until accused by uestimoney
other than Henry hayden's; but sup
pose the worst to be true, how does
that relieve the infamy and treachery
of hayden? Barnum endorses hayden
oditorially perhaps he can tell. He
should if he can. And by the way,
there is a singular propriety in the
fact, that Barnum champions hayden,
and insists that he is ''slandered.
Those informed as to Barnum's
immediate surroundings few years
ago, and with hayden's very recently.
will readily see that they ought to
sympathize with and defend each other.
You have a fearful responsibility upon
you, Barnum, JUDGE hayden prom
Uses to reform again with the aid of
his 'tfriends !" You and two or three
mash-tubs here, constitute his friends
and the mash-tubs are rather awkward
reformers. So you must do it, Bar
mum, and the culture will hold you
responsible. But there is this to en-
courage you; any change you make
in hayden will be an improvement.
The studied purpose of hayden's
column and half of slush, as also
the persistent and silly caekling Of
himself and mash-tubs here, (the
tactics by which his deviltry here has
always been defended if in danger of
exposure, is to make the public believe
he is the special object Of the unjust
hatred and malice of several persons
here. the editor of this paper among
them. There are, Or have been, doubt
less those who believe more or less Of
this pretensn. Let such persons look
at the facts and judge him by them
rather than by what he or we may say.
This hayden came here few years
ago, stranger to all our people. He
advertised himself as great in his pro-
fession. He had no enemies here, and
circumstances were very favorable to
him. Prominent influences were
friendly to him; he courted promi-
nence professionally, socially, politi-
cally. For a time success, in some
respects at least, seemed within his
reach. He sought local Offices and
obtained them, only to abuse the trusts
they imposed AS school clerk and
superintendent here, he made false
record Of the doings of the School
Board in order to screen, if not him.
self, one CT the teachers who was his
special pet and aid in iniquity, from
the condemnation which the real action
of the School Board implied He
became County Judge. He has gross
ly and scandalously violated his Off
cial oath, and corruptly acted as Judge
to put money illegally in his own
pockets, and to aid pet suitors in his
court to swindle the heirs Of the dead.
He was employed professionally. He
directly betrayed his clients in some
instances, and in others, after encour-
aging them into litigation, and obtain
ing all he could from them, insulted
and snubbed them into an abandon
ment Of him. He courted the friend
ship Of men whom he thought could
and would advance his personal fortunes
and if they dared to act independently
in any respect, to be guided by any
consideration other than his arbitrary
wish, he insulted, and if possible pun
ished them. He betrayed the conf
dence of all those who trusted him.
whether in business, in politics or in
social life, whenever to act honestly
would require the surrender by him of
a selfish wish, interest. or lust. Those
who have known him well have learned
these facts by experience or observa-
ton, and as his real character has been
gradually unfolded to them, have dis
pissed and avoided him. Among those
who were his former friends, and
would be still if his conduct would
admit OF it, scarcely one remains-not
one who really knows him. The man
he so recently betrayed in manner
for which no compensation can be
made, was his friend. He ought not
to have beer, it is true, because he
ought to have known better but he
was one of many who never had occa-
sion to see hayden except when on
draSS ,,arala ana ho Id L..sl !