The Osceola times., 1886-06-19
THE OTHER SIDE.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY EDRING
TON On THE MISSISSIPPI CouS-
TY TROUBLES.

huu WuiCu VIC DelItfc uDOut covers
all the material facts in the Haskins
trouble, or rather the Mississippi
county trouble. 1t is in the nature
of reply to an interview reported
in the same paper fow days before
by w. B. Haskins, several hundred
copies of which were freely distrib-
uted throughout the county,
Yesterday morning a Gazette rep.
resentative met Prosecuting Attor-
uey W. B. Edrjngtop. He had serl,
the interview with Sheriff Haskims
and Mr.. II, NJ. McVeigh Of Missis-
sippi county in yesterdays issue, in
regard to the charges against Has
kins, and expressed himself freely
about Haskins and his career. Be-
ginning with Mr., Mcycigh's inter
view he said:
Mr.. McVeigh has misreprescnted
the Haskins matter. The court in
structed the grand jury that if they
found Haskins short in his accounts
it was their duty to indict They
found him, as you can see by their
report, some $1,000 short, but reius-
ed to indict. The demurrer to the
information in regard 20 the defalca-
tion was sustained on the ground
that Haskins could not be removed
from office by information for defal,
cation without the present term of
office. There are informations pend
ing against Haskins for failing to
make quarterly settlements; for fail
ing and refusing to serve II bench
warrant on one lucas, deputy sher-
i'll, who brutally beat young boy
OH the streets of Osceola with brass
knucks, was indicted by the grand
Jury aud remained in Haskins' Office
as deputy Tor mouths afterward,
aud was allowed by him to escape
although he had bench warrant all
the time. 1t is true that there are
no race troubles in Mississippi coun-
ty, but it is o wcll-kuown fact that
Hsskins has attempted time aud
again TO cause such trouble. Nc
Weigh again misrcpresents the mat
ter of suits upon Haskin's bond. He
as lawyer ought to know that no
suit can be brought against him and
bis bondsmen until utter the July
term Of the county court | will
leave the question rs to whether the
suit can be maintained by giving ex.
tracts from n very interesting docu-
ment called the Report of Commits
simiers of Accounts Of Mississippi
County, and also some extracts from
the report Of the very same grand
Jury that failed to indict IIaskins, ]
will say in this connection that six
OF Haskins' bondsmcn were on tlis
grand jury. Mr.. Haskins may be T.
democrat ~ his attorney, Mr.. Me-
Weigh says, bu, he made this remark
in the presence Of Mr.. G. O. Faber,
A. Cissell and John Is. Driver tn a
crowd Of dark.es when the report
came that Blaine was elected: Boys,
you can go home and tell yoar wives
aad children that you are free for
four more years. thus attempting to
fire the minds of the darkies with the
worn out political lie that if a demo
crat WAS elected president they
would again be enslavod. 1t is long
past the time for Haskins to settle
with the state, aud he has not paid
in u dollar, and has never made an
offer or attempt to settle with the
clerk. insofar as the superscdeas is
concerned, it can have no further
effect than to stop the execution for
costs in the case. The judgement
Of removal has already gone into Ell
feet, and the supersedeas, as "A mat
ter Of course, cannot restore liasLins
to Office, aud his case will take its
course on the supreme court docket,
aud il there should ba no appoint
ment by the Governor, Mr.. Faber
will hold as sheriff under the APP
pointment of the court. lnforma-
tion is a proceeding under article Z,
section ~, of the constitution, and
is in the nature Of an Indictment,
but can be filed for misdemeanors
only. Under the law the sheriff and
collector is the custodian o! the six
teenth section of school lands. One
Of these sections in Mississippi ooun-
ty, near Osceola, has about 800 acres
cleared and in cultivation, yet Has
kins, who attempts through his own
statement and those Of his attorney,
McVcigh, to pose as "injured inno-
oence," has never, during his almost
eight years in the Office of sheriff
and collector paid in but $3.50; $500
OF which | forced him to pay in by
the pressure ! brought to bear ON
him at the present May term Of the
circuit court, and the other $50 came
through Mr.. John B. Driver, and he
was forced to pay that in.
as prosecuting attorney filed an
information against Haskins. charg-
ing him with defalcation or failure
to pay over money due by him dur
Ing his eight years Of office. a de.
murrer was filed to tins information,