Savannah morning news., 1885-07-27
DISTRICT ArroKNEY DARNELL.
What He Says in Reply to the Charges
Brought Against Him.

What He Says in Reply to the Charges
Brought Against Him.
The investigation OF the United States
District Attorneys Office at Savannah
has brought out a reply from Mr.. Darnell
to the charges upon which the investiga-
ton is based The NEWS has given
statement Of the case as far as it has yet
developed.
Mr.. Darnell was in Atlanta on Satur-
day, and made a statement in reference
To the charges, which he denounced as
unjust and in every sense unfair.
''There is not" he said "the remOtest
shadow of foundation in fact in the charge
that ever approved prosecution to pro.
mote personal interests or to crafty per-
sOnal ambition. There is not the smallest
grain Of truth IN the charge that | ever
said to Mr.. McMahOn he must pay costs
amounting to $50, or any other SUN as a
condition TO the dismissal Of his case.
lie was reported to me by the Deputy Col
1ectOr Of Internal Revenue at Savannah
as violating the law and as not having
paid bis special tax. He had violated the
law which am sworn to obey and cause
10 be executed, and l approved the war
rant for his arrest. This was an official
act, aud demanded of me by the law.
"HOweYer, after / had ascertained the
difficulties this man had encountered IN
his several attempts to pay his tax. for
which the inefliciency OF the present Col
ieetOr of Internal Revenue is and was re-
spOnsible, as many OF the business men of
Savannah can testify, l said to MIR. Nc
Mahon hardship had been imposed upon
him; that / did not desire 10 prosecute
such a case. and suggested to him that he
lay the matter before the Commissioner OF
Internal Revenue.
''These observations apply with equal
force and truth to the other cases. These
men had openly aud publicly violated the
law for nearly i've weeks. Whose fault
was that? Not mine. II was the fault of
the prese Collector ofInternal Revenue
who, during the months Of May and June,
neglected TO furnish his deputy at SaYan-
nah with suftjci4 > stamps TO meet the
demands Of the taxpayers, about 400 Of
whom desired TO pay their special taxes
in Savannah, and many Of whom were
turned away by the deputy collector there
with the statement that be had no stamps
This officer was often absent and finally,
ms / understood, he was instructed by tue
present Collector not to receive the taxes
nt all, but TO inform the taxpayers they
must make application TO Atlanta.
"Only four prosecutions were com
fnenced, and in these cases / was not in
formed OF the efforts Of the taxpayers
prosecuted TO pay their taxes without
avail, but "A number OF warrants against
Others were presented 10 me for approval,
which ] refused, because / had ascer-
tanned in detail their difficulties, and yet
the law requires the payment Of the tax
before any business is done, and. also.
that the stamp denotlng such business
shall be posted.
SIT is said my official action IN cOnnec-
tiOn with these cases is being inquired
into. By wh0mf BY the CollectOrY No;
but by one Of his deputies who was In Sa-
vannah a week or more aud bad made his
report before calling 40 my oflice--and
then when / WAS out-and after he had
said 10 me five different times he intended
20 confer with me. After 1 had waited
one afternoon in vain for him, and after
he stated 10 me that there was no dispOsi.
lion 10 inquire after my office, he reported
the object Of his mission, as l am In-
formed, 20 q Justice of the Peace. whose
Office is next door 20 barr0om, and
whose cOnstables be had employed to aid
him IN making impressions LOt warranted
by the facts against me.
"rhere 10 not now, and has not been
during my official term. a case In the
Southern district which just iies the
structures made. The attempt 20 depOst
me from office by the methods employed
IS as unmanly as IL is cOrtemptibls"