The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-01-05

assurance, that us soon as the latter gentle
inaa has time to examine aud verify my state.
menls, that these cases will be very soon dis.
posed of,-not later, at any rate, than the
January term of our court. The amount
claimek by W. from the last source is two
thousand aud seveuty.three dollars and sixty
two CENTS
Wth regard to the Mlligan case, also
commenced suit against him and his bonds.
men. Mr. Nj ligdn, however, had, prior to
my commencing SUIT against him, began II
suit against lHSalie county, That ease having
priority on the docket aud rs all questions
between Milligan and the county could prac
tically be settled IN ours as well as the Other,
we held the first named suit aud left our cast
against him on the docket undsposrd of until
tnal determination Of his suit against the
county.
Counsel representing the respective parties
argued "A demurrerto the plaintiffs dcclara-
lion last spring before the Hon. Geo. W. Stipp
for about u week, aud | remember We con.
cudtd the argument on town meeting day q,
the Atm day OF April, If | mistake not. His
Honor took the matter under advsement aud
he having To 90 TO hold court III another
couu'y, prevented decision on the questions
of law nj that term. In the meantime, the
attorneys on both sides of the case came
together and after several weeks Of confer
eaccs, agreed in the main as 10 the disputed
questions of fact between Mr.. Milligan and
the county.
The case was then set down for trial before
Judge Stipp To be taken up and finally dis
posed of ont the third Monday of the June term
of court. Owing mainly 10 political conven-
tions intervening the case was not tried until
July, and it was argued at least IN part during
The July session OF your Board meeting. Inc
Judge took the case under ADJUSTMENT and on
his return to his home in Princeton | know
he was taken sick, and he was for "a consider
able y Rod of time thereafter incapacitutcd
by reason of such sickness from giving that
attention to the case that it deserved and re-
quired at his hands. On his return here in
October he informed me of the foregoing
facts At that time, however, he assured ne
he would decide the case before December.
teegraphed the judge before the last named
date to learn if he could come to Ottawa and
decide the case, but failed 10 hear from hlm
On Monday last | wrote the judge to come
here aud decide the case this week, but got no
response Lest he mi ght not have received
my letter telegraphed the Circuit Clerk in
Princeton enquiring if the Judge was home
and got a reply that he was. Now, gentle
men, in my zeal and anxiety to have this case
decided So that could present to you com
dlete report at this meeting Of the Board, am
afraid have overstepped the bounds OF pro-
priety aud paid not enough regard to those
amenities that should govern the conduct OF
an attorney toward an hOnored and an honest
Judge under the circumstances. There Is no
more honest man living than Judge supp,
aad | am confident that there are absolutely
good reasons for this seeming delay. IL may
be that we all are too impatient, ut least may
bc so, but AS ! have said, II arose from my de-
sire To be able TO report to you his findings AT
this meeting of the Board There is no oincer
in this county regarding whose acts III MS
official capacity the law is SO unsettled IN re-
ation to as that of sheriff; and in my judg.
ment there is no officer in the county about
whose acts there should be as little dispute.
IL is of vast and vital Importance 10 the county
and to the officer that the law should be SET
tied so that there could be no longer any
reasonable foundation for continued contcu.
tons aud clashiugs between the representa-
tiyes of that Office aud the incumbent la the
VI lliEan case You viii remember he sued on
a note of ei sht Thousand dollars gwen to him
by the county. He further claimed about
three thousand six hundred dollars for un-
settled bills against the county, as coming to
him for services rendered by MN during the
latter part 5uf his official term. SO that the
entire amount claimed in thai suit was between
eleven and twelve thousand dollars, On the
contrary we claimed that he was owing tue
county. Finally, under the agreed state OF
facts, we practically reduced their claim to
about six thousand dollars and that irum their
standpoint, SO that, in any event we saved The
county over five thousand dollars II they
should be allowed every cent that they uItI-
mately claimed.
Now, gentleman, | have given yon all the.
information | possess touching the matters
contained in your resolution, and hope that
viii prove satisfactory. You viii remember
that the trust reposcd on me by former
Board was unsolicited and, indeed, for that
very reason, it was more deeply and duly
appreciated. Without egotism, may be per
united TO say that have endcayored To do my
duty faithfully honestly, and to the best of
my ability. | duly appreciate many acts of
kindness | have received at the hands Of this
Board, both individually and collectively. u
have tried by my acts to merit your esteem
and retain your confidence. | hope | have
succeeded | Mt least know that notwith
standing all the trials we have gone through
together, am not conscious Of having lnten.
tionaly wronged anybody. In conclusion,
would say that this county will ever owe Is
debt of gratitude to its former committee in
unearthing the defalcations OF former officials.
Respectfully submitted.
NJ. T. MoLoNEY.
On motion, time was given the committee
on judiciary to investigate and report ~ to
the liability of the county for the one quar-
ter of one per cent. commission for paying
interest on the county indebtedness.
On motion of Supervisor Fischer the
clerk was directed to publish the proceed
ings of this meeting in the usual manner
On motion of Supervisor Iloherg, the clerk
was authorized to draw orders On the treas
nrsr in favor of the several supcryigora for
their per diem and mileage in attending tins
ERIN of Board.
On motion Of Supervisor Fischer the
Board adjourned Until the second Monday
18th day Of March, A, D., 1889.