National Republican., 1880-10-09
A SPECIOUS DEFENSE.
An Effort TO Offset MarcJ's Report by
Subsequent Receipts.
Fatal Defects In ChronoloGy--The Receipts
Themselves Vague and Inexpilclt-
Tho Papers Reviewed.
More about tho Easton ronsion Money.

York Herald of yesterday MS tho defense of W.
II. English against the charges printed iu THE
REPUBLICAN yesterday:
CHARGES AGAINST ENGLISH.
"The latest campaign story of the season is
that thlrty.four years ugo w. III. English, the
democratic candidate for the vicc-piesidency,
became pension administrator OF his grand
mother who was the widow Of revolutionary
pensioDer, and under the plea of insolvency
las defraudcd the heirs Of their money ever
since. This is tho substance Of the story rs il
appeared this morning in threocolumn COM
muuication in tho Cincinnati Gdsette. Such
q story, appearing just before an election, Is
not likely TO be believed, especially as 1t is
known that Mr. English has always been able
to pay, and could have been made to pay, any
legal claims against him. and II Is not at all
probable such claim, if just, would have re-
manned thirty-four years without being en-
forced
In this case, however Mr.. English has the
most positive evidence of the injustice and
falsity OF the charges made against him, being
no less than the receipt in full of every one OF
the heirs in question: attested before rcsponsi
Bile witnesses, and his settlement with and
discharge by tho court granting the letters Of
administration. 1t would be hard 10 find u
charge with seemingly less foundation. Tho
real controversy about this case was whether
the living children were entitled to this money
to tho exclusion of the children ofdoceasol chill
dren. Such was the law of congress, us shown
op the face of tho pension certificate itself,
which required the money TO be paid ITO
William II. English, administrator, for the
exclusive use of Mahala English, Sarah Reed,
Lucy Rawlings, Fanny Flick, Charles aud
Philip Easton the only surviving children"
Also, by decree of tho pension department, MS
shown by the following official letter:
PENSION OFFICE, oct. 49, 1910
Itto 10 NIntl, Qii, t,,gt
inquiring what construction has been given to the
acts of congress in relation to widows pensions,
where the widow of an officer of the revolution
was entitled TO q pension, but died before 1t was
obtained, leaving children and the representatives
Of deceased children, and the money was obtained
by her personal representatives after her death,
and whether any part of II goes to the representa-
tives of tho deceased children or whether those
who were living at the time of her death arc ell
titled to the whole amount / have the honor 10
inform you that i'll no are the representatives
OF tho deceased children Ofa widow entitled to
any part OF the provision, but the whole goes to
such of her children are living ut the time the
certificate issucs have the honor 10 be very re-
specially your obediont servant,
]. L. EDWARDS
"That the living children, who alone were
entitled to the money, woro all settled with,
and Mr. English, as administrator, fully and
honorably discharged, is conclusvey shown
by the following papers:
Received of w. IL. English in full of all debts
dues and demands of any and every description
individual capacity and as administrator of the
twitnessj W. E. HAMProN
OCTOBER 10, 1917
This Is to certify that any reports which are IN
circulation 10 the effect that my nephew, William
duct in the management of the business concern
ing the estate of my father and mother are false
and without foundation. CHARLES EAsToN.
Witness-D. A. pRIrcnARD. w. f. HAMPTON
JUNE II, 1850.
Charles. Easton was the father of the Harriet
Allison, who is the chief character In the Ga
stHes article, and these receipts ollcctually
dispose of her pretended claim:
Received Of William II. English, In full of all
debts, dues and demands up to this date of every
description whatever, both III law and in equity III
his individual capacity and rs administrator of
lhe estate Of Sarah Easton, deceased.
AUGUST n, 1919. JAMEs X. READ.
SARAH NJ. READ.
Witnesses-JoHN MCGOWAN Henry s. Howlsos
For value received !, Mahala English one of the
children and heirs at law of Philip and Sarah
EasOn, his Wife, do hereby assign and set over to
William II. English my full part of whatever may
Sarah on any account whatever, either in law or
nJuiy, lsi7 MGmALA ENGLlsH. n"'
wltnoss-E. D. wIrHgRs
"Her receipt in lu, is Oh flo in tho Clark
county probate court, also tho receipt In full
Df Lucy Rawlings.
This is to certify that william II. English has
settled with us to our satisfaction and any reports
against him TO the effect that he has been guilty Of
any dshonorabe conduct In tho management of
business concerning the estates of Philip Easton
nnd Sarah EGston are false and without founda
lion. His
FREDERICK X FRIcK.
Mark.
Understanding that one ]. p. Cooper and por-
haps others, have made statements rejecting OH
the character of William II. English on account Of
certain pension drawn by snid English for the
heirs of EHson, deceased we take this method Of
stating that said reports and all others pertaining
~ the matter In any way derogatory Of tho char
pcter of said English, are false and uniounded, he
having accounted for said pension to our satis-
faction. JAMES X. READ
SARAH NJ. READ
PHILIP EASTON,
NJ. ENGLISH.
Wltness-ITENRY L, UowIsoE,
AUGUST 70, 1919.
STATE OF INDIANA, CLARK CouSTY-Atn term Of
the probate court for Clark county, continued aud
hold by adjournment At the courthouse in Charles
town on Thursday. the lllh day of November
1916, present the Hon. Willis w. Goodwin solo
Judge OF said court, among others were the follow
ing proceedings, to wit; Comes William IL. Eng
lish odminlstIator OF the estate of Sarah EnslOn,
and produced his account with the same, and
vouchers which, on examination by The court are
found correct and are passed by the court, from
which II appears said estate is fully and finally set.
tied and the administrator is discharged,
4 truo copy from the record Of said court.
Attest: ELI MCCALLf, Clerk.
BY g, p. FERGUSON Deputy.
"For tho honor OF the country II Is fortunate
that Mr.. English, who may be its viGe.presl-
dent IN the course of tino, Is able to furnish
this documentary aud official disproof."
General noynton's RcJoinder.
General Boynton in his dispatches last night
sent tho following roview of the documents in
which he clearly shows the receipts were an
aftcrthought resulting from tho action of the
heirs.
Ii Is not necessary TO characterize as spurious
the receipts and other papers telsgraphed from
indianapolis as the defense of William Ii.
English against the charges made in tho of.
hcial papers Of President Polk'a secretary of
war, his attornoy-genoralu and his commissioner
of pensions. This charge could bo fairly made
from the evidence OF these receipts themselves.
and from the facts set forth by the high demo.
cratic official named and already published
But, accepting these papers rs genuine,
they by no means meet tho case They
scarcely beltor it in any particular for Mr..
English, and in some particulars they mako
IL much worse for him. since they show that
the written explanation which he made TO
Secretary Marcy in January, 1si0, was false
IN the most material part Of II.
The following points should be kept In mind
IN examining his defense;
l. His papers of administration were Illegal.
IL. with these Illegal papers no received by
nrlel "a S.nrpturV Marco tl,a ,,,n5i,,, Iua A..