The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-17
THOSE CHARGES.
Meeting Of the Democratic Central Com
mittee to Investigate the Charges
Of Corruption,

Pursuant to call, the Democratic Central
Committee of Choteau county met at the
Court House on Thursday evening, the 18th
inst. Mr.. Gus. Senieur, chairman, called the
committee to order, and the roll being called,
the following members responded: W. :.
Conway, John w. Tattan, John +. Murphy,
secretary. The chairman asked the pleasure
of the Committee, and Mr.. Tattan proposed
that, in view Of the serious charges made
against the secretary relative to the misman-
agement of the finances Of the committee,
the accounts Of Mr.. Murphy be audited. The
chairman appointed Messrs. Conway and
Tattan to audit the accounts. Dir. Murphy,
in o few pertinent explanatory remarks, pre-
sented his statement and accounts, which,
after being closely examined, were found to
be correct, and the expenditures therein were
found to have been made solely and exclu-
sively for the uses, purposes and benefit of
the democratic candidates for office. A res
olution was then proposed by Mr.. Tattan, and
unanimously adopted, to the effect, that hav-
ing audited the accounts of the secretary,
the Democratic Central Committee of Cho-
teau county denounces the attempt to blast
the reputation of John F. Murphy, secretary
Of the Committee, and pronounces the charge
of Encouragement of the funds of the Com
mittee to be absolutely false. Mr.. Murphy
then addressed the Committee, and in the
course of his remarks stated that he was
ready to answer all questions or charges,
whatever they may term themz made against
him, and that he was ready 10 ansWer them
upon oath if necessary. The applause which
greeted Mr.. MufphY's remarks showed that,
outside OF the isolated few who proponnded
the questions and wrote the charges in the
RecorG, there was not q maj in that large
assemblage who doubted the integrity of the
secretary OF the Democratic Central Commit
tee.
Mr.. John W. Tattan then took the floor,
and addressing the Committee, and his fellow
citizens in the body of the hall, said that the
Record had used its columns ostensibly for
the purpose Of asking questions Of the Com
mittee and Of its members, bat virtually tor
the purpose Of basing an attack upon Messrs.
Senieur, Murphy, Adams, and the speaker
himself. ssAll public men, he said, ''shoula
have no objection to having their actions
criticised, and it was the privilege Of the
press and people to scrutinize the actions of
public officers. The Democratic Central
Committee, although being a partially public
body, not only admitted the right Of scrutiny
Of their actions, but courted the full light of
investigation, notaloneof their public actions
but their acts as private citizens during the
late election campaign. 1t is q fundamental
principle Of criminal law that a man should
be considered, innocent until he was proven.
guilty, but ID: Benton, only very recently.
however, this principle is reversed, and the
Record says that we are guilty Of these
charges published in its columns, notwith--
standing the fact that they ask the question:.
are we innocent. The manner in which
these charges have been made is more fitting
the emanations Of q BLACKBOARD Of the slunas
of some gseat city, thar OF respectable jour-
nails. OF these charges" Mr. Tattan con-
tinued, Il have, througha card in the RIVER
Press, demanded proof"
LII. r. Buck, Of the Record, interrupted the
speaker by stating that he was there to pre-
sent proof Of the charges.
s.Yes, sir replied Mr.. Tattan, II de-
manded you to come here, compelled you to
come here. You shallhave ample oppoatun-
ity to present your proof, but it will not be
of the Tom-told-D ick-to-te y-to-tell-
SBuck kind Of proof we will have. Proof
upon oath is what we require; upon oath are
we prepared to meet your charges
The applause which greeted this sally must
have discounted Dir. Buck, for from thai
moment until the investigation was complet-
ed he preserved q respectful silence. Mr..
Tattan continued his speech, which through.
out was taunting and full Of invectiye, and,
though the gentleman was laboring under 8
slight hemorrhage Of the lungs, was well de
liVered. His reference to the returns from
Carroll, to which precincth he had sent tickets
/ and which had Just been heard from giving
large majority for Major Mauinnis, was
! telling hit. His tilt with Mr.. Healy was til
| bitter pill Of the evening. Mr.. Tattan, in
d low hntdistinct voice, related how an oppol
. tunity was presented to him, as an attorney
J, to bring an action against MIR. HeaIy in III