Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-02-13
A CARD.
Assessor ArIIe Makes Response to the
InielIigeacer's Structures.


ArkIe Makes Response to the
InislIigencsr's Structures.
Ts he Filter Of tie Re0iEtsr:
SIR:-I did not know that there were
any charges preferred against Z. J. Stone,
until it was made to appear that such was
the case BY q publication in the local
columns of the Inteligencer. did not
know of q certain statement presented to
Council with certain papers filed Herewith
to prove the truth Of said statement.
The Inteligencer to-day says that q
member OF the Committee on Equalization
and Appeals said yesterday that "Mr.
Ankles statement with reference to Mr..
Stones tax return did that gentleman
gross injustice"
In answer to this l will only say let the
statements and the papers fled with 1t an.
swer. The same member of said commit
tee also said, "he had given the matter
careful consideration and reached the con-
clusion that Mr.. Stone had made an hon
eat return" l don't believe that any mem.
Der of said committee who was present
when Mr.. Stone appeared before the com
mittee, ever said any such thing, and if he
did he showed his fitness and capacity for
serving on said committee, by making such
an assertion. The IntelGgencer goes on
with the following quotation: Another
gentleman who is converssnt with the
facts in the case, said it is an ugly thing
for a public officer to make such charge
against citizen known for
forty years in the community as an
honest business man. The Assessor made
that statement to head off the committee 8
report, and he has shown all through this
matter q spirit Of persecution. He has a
strong dislike for Mr.. Stone, and this is one
way he has of exhibiting il" l don't know
who the gentleman alluded to is, and |
care lees; but if such language was used,
he has drawn largely on his imagination,
and doubt very much whether he hasresd
the statement or knows the facts. Mr..
Stone has never done anything in
any way to cause me TO
dislike him, and have had
no trouble with him except in an official
capacity. In the year 1884, Mr.. Stone
was assessed ON the city books as trustee
for 81, 900 of city bonds BY mistake. He
paid the tax bill, amounting to S32 80, and
was not appraised of the error until my
self discovered it in making the assess,
ment for 1885. | called Mr.. Stones at
tention TO the fact and told him to look up
his 1884 tax receipt, present IT with
petition for rebate to the committee and
would explain the mistake, all OF which
was done and q rebate granted This Is
sample Of nv dislike for Mr.. Stone, the
mind reader above quoted who knows all
nv likes and dslikes to the contrary not
withstandipg 1t is al ugly thing
Tor q local croaker TO appropriate
steal carry away and publish not the
statement itself, but q gar5led report OF
the same before it is presented to the body
for which it is intended, for the purpose OF
moulding public sentiment against one
who never had any usa for one OF the
crosker's kind. | Coa't know how far the
representative of the lntelligencer looked
into the statement 10 discover that it Is
unfounded in fact. but do know that facts
are foreign element in the makeup Of
ssid representative when he desires to pre-
sent any one before the public in an un,
enviable light, and this ia fact 30 well
established that it needs 10 comment. 1t
makes no difference 10 me what Council
may DO with the report; it ID Of no interest
10 me and | would not give pin TO have
it changed. Bat SO far as Mr.. Stone and
the Iutelligencer are concerned, | will say
to the former, let the dead past be buried
and no resurrection provoked, to the latter
the statement and papers in proof of the
aame are on fle. Tell the truth and will
not quarrel with you, but ii you lie, will
tell YOU of it. RALPH ARELE.
Wheeling, February IL, 1886.