Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-10-18
FOR RECORDER AND AUDITOR.

been so shamefully and remorselessly
slandered as William H. Watt, the
Democratic nominee for Recorder and
Auditor of Alturas county. And this
has been done in the most despicable
way imaginable, none Of his accusers
daring to come out openly to prefer
their charges, but sneaking about in
back alleys and other out-of-the-way
places, and uttering them under the
sacred seal of confidential communi-
cations.
1t has been charged against Mr..
Watt that in Lawrence county, Da-
kota, while acting as Deputy Re-
corder of Deeds, few years ago, he
was charged with malfeasance in
ofice, and indicted; while the fact is
that although some of the county Off
cials-collcagues of Mr.. Watt-were
indicted, the most searching investiga-
ton failed to discover anything
]@crooked' about his work. The re-
suit of that investigation was there
fore as emphatic a testimonial to Mr..
Watts worth and faithfulness as his
most devoted partisan OF most exact
ing critic could have desired.
But the above are mere allegations,
It may be urged, and totally unsup-
ported. Is this true? Luckily for
Mr.. Watt, his record does not rest
upon unsupported assertions, of in
terested parties. Leading citizens in
his former place of residence have We'd
with each other in testifying to his
ability and unimpeachablc integrity,
and from the voluminous quantity of
such testimony at hand (all of which
the TIMES has examined critically we
are permitted to publish the following.
Read what is said of him by those
who know him best:
DEADwooD, ID. t., Jan. l, 1881.
To Whom it May Concern:
This is to certify that the bearer of
this, Mr.. William H. Watt, has been
in my employ in the office of Register
of Deeds and County Clerk of Law
renee county, ID. T., during the past
three years-most of which time he
has acted as my deputy-and it affords
me pleasure to recommend him as
being faithful, trustworthy and COM
petent man, thoroughly acquainted
with al the details of Recorders
Office, whilst his business qualifica-
tions would fit him for almost any
position.
Respectfully,
{. H. McKINN1s,
Register of Deeds and Ex.Ofhcio
County Clerk.
l fully indorse the above recon-
mendation. JOHN w. ALLEN,
Chairman of Board of County Com.
missioners, Lawrence Co., ID. I.
l fully indorse the above.
J. w. GARLAND,
County Commissioner.
The above, it will be observed. is
from gentleman in whose employ
Mr.. Watt was for THREE YEARS, and
is endorsed by the County Commits
sioners. According to this testimony
Mr.. Watt is fit for ANY POSITION, and
is faithful, trustworthy and compc-
tent man. This testimony was given
to Mr.. Watt on the first of January.
1881, when, his term of Office having
expired, he was about to leave to 20
none knew where.
But, it may be urged, these persons
were political adherents Of Mr.. Watt,
and the testimony was given out of
pure friendship. The question is not,
'4what did Mr.. Watts co.oficials
think Of him?" but, "what did his sue
eessors think of him, after they had
got TO all his books and accounts, and
had therefore had every opportunity
of discovering any possible crooked
ness9" Here again, we are ready for
Mr.. Watts enemies, for we are in pos
session OF recommendation equally
favorable to Mr.. Watt, from the Reg
lister of Deeds and County Clerk and
from the Treasurer who succeeded
MIR. Watt-who had defeated his politi-
cal associates, and who would there
fore have been too glad to be able to
pick some flaw, at least, in his records
and accounts:
DEADwooD, d. T., May Is, 1881.
To Whom X May Concern:
i v,,oH II