Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-06
A Republican Henchman to be
Pensioned Upon the County!
At the Expense Of the Tax
Payers,
To Give Color to RusselPs
Campaign !"


Ohio:
DEAR SIR:-Whereas, certain rumors are
atioat to the effect that several thousand dol
lars of taxes have been collected since April
LIST, 1885, in Henry county, Ohio, and have
not been distributed according to law, and
that other errors have been made which has
worked injustice to the financial interests of
the State and county and also the townships,
school districts and incorporated villages, in
said county. Therefore, we, the undersigned
taxpayers of said county, earnestly petition
that You cause an investigation to be made
at the earliest period possible, under the au-
thority given you by Sec. 1923 R. s. (amend-
ed March 9th, 1889, o. l.. Vol. Sc. page 100. J
without regard to party, we desire to know
the truth or falsity of said rumors.
Desiring to keep our readers informed
we called upon Ex-Auditor Evers to
see what he had to say Iabout the mat
ter, the following result:
Mr.. Evers have you seen any of the
petitions which are being circulated
over the county in relation to an inves-
tigation ofthe county affairs?
II have seen written copy"
What is there about the rumors men,
toned in the petitions
"All rumors about errors in the au-
ditor's office were started by the pres
ent auditor, George Russell, for politi-
cal purposes. Before George Russell
was elected auditor and before he had
any means of knowing he charged
fraud against the Democratic officials
and promised to prove it if elected. At
various times since his election he has
made repetition of such charges and
again as often has privately denied the
truth of his own assertions to numer-
Gus persons.
Mr.. Evers, what object has Geo. Rus
sell in having these petitions circulated?
swell, I will answer this question in
the same way it was answered by one
of George Russell's prominent Repub-
lican friends of Marion township, when
soliciting Democratic names to said pe-
tition, George Bussell promised the
people to show up fraud committed by
Democratic officials, and he must do
something or his name will be Runts,'
or in other words, he docs it for selfish
purposes"
Mr.. Evers, what, if anything, do you
know about taxes being collected since
April 1st, 1885, and not distributed?
II know that all taxes collected dur
ing my term ofoffice have been proper.
ly accounted for and distributed accord
ing to my Interpretation ofthe law"
Mr.. Evers, what is there in the story
asserted by Geo. Russell that you had
failed to distribute about twelve hun.
dred dollars of taxes collected to Mon
roe township?
George Russell, with all the books,
records and vouchers of the Auditors
office in his possession and under his
control for the last seventeen months,
must have known of the falsity and un-
truthfulness of his own statement.
LAS near as can remember, there
was an old delinquent personal tax in
Monroe township from T. st. L. ok.
G. Railroad amounting net to about
$1386.67. This tax was collected I think
in 1885, and was temporarily put into
the general county fund for the reason
that my distributions had already been
made for that year. There had been
exte nded litigations with the railroad
company about this tax inithe United
States Courts in Toledo, Ohio, and Ind
annapolis, Indiana, before it was finally
settled. This tax was distributed the
next year, think 1887. By first de-
ducting the expenses of collection as re-
quired by section 1882, revised statutes
of Ohio. and also deducting the special
assessments for bitches and road i'm
provements amounting to $519.73, and
after deducting the amounts due the
various State and county funds, Monroe
township received total of $3.50. .36 as
her share, which was added to the
amounts collected on the tax duplicate
of that year, and was paid to the treas
urer of Monroe township, and his re-
ceipt therefore is now in the Auditors
Office, or was there at the expiration Of
my term of Office"
Mr.. Evers, did Geo. Russell ever ask
you for any information or explanation
regarding this matter?
"He never did, although I have been
frequently in his Office and before my
time expired, at his request, I allowed
him to stay In my office for abont two
weeks to post himself as to the duties
of the office. Since I left the Office he
has frequently asked me for informa-
ton on various matters which always
willingly gave"
Mr.. Evers, do you think the Auditor
of State will appoint some one to in
spect the Auditors Office upon q
petition based only and solely on ru-
mors d?
"He certainly will for partisan p ur-
poses. twill give good job to one of
his political henchmen at a salary of SIS
per day and expenses, all to be paid by
this county for the purpose Of making
q campaign for George RUSSELL"
Mr., Eyers, what do YOU think will