The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-10-10
Turner's VindicationL.

The Detroit Free l'reSS published letter
of one J. F.. McElroy, preferring charge:
against James Nj. Turner the Republican
candidate for Governor; LIST, that as mem
Der OF board of control of the blind school,
contracts had been secured by Turner to his
gain by means of. his official position; 3D.
that his individual accounts and Official
accounts were not maintained separately
while treasurer of the blind school: Sd, that
Turner signed saloon keepers bonds and
rented buildings for immoral purposes.
These charges had been prepared fol-
some time and had been offered to the
Detroit Sunday Sun, sensational sheet
that reveled in scandal, but were not DEEM
ed worthy of notice, but eagerly grasped by
the Free Press as Il campaign charge.
Turner's reply in the Tribune and Free
Press takes up the charges item by item
and disproves the first charge by the affida-
Wits of the builders and contractors that
Tarner never furnished a brick for the blind
school building and purchases of Michigan
slate were made without any suggestion
from Turner. Turner having the deposits
of nearly 200 individuals made with him, is
in fact private banker, and the state funds
were deposited in that way, and that every
draft upon state funds was paid as soon as
presented. The statute did not provide for
their deposit at all, nor in any particular
kind of bank.
Concerning the Sd charge, as Mr.. Turner
did not own the buildings in question, he
could not nor did not lease them for immoral
purposes, and that on one occasion he
signed the liquor bond of the proprietor of
the Hudson House, where he at that time
boarded, Hudson being an old time friend of
Turner'S. The Evening News says of these
charges:
In addition to this direct evidence in
answer to the charges made against him,
Mr.. Turner gives some interesting informa-
ton against his accuser. He was a public
Official who personally audited every bill
which he now declares to have been wrong
full. If there were bit of truth or force i'm
McElroy's charges, he would stand self-con-
victed before the people of this state as one
of the most unworthy public officials they
have ever had in their employ. He was
discovered to be extravagant with the states
funds, il is declared, and hence his official
wings were clipped. He was flying too
high. He was discharged from the public
service because the members of the board
considered that the people might be more
served by another man. His
whole official course in Lansing was marked
by continual friction with the resident
member of the board, Mr.. Turner, who had
many and varied occasions to check his
extravagances.
II seems to The News that Mr.. Turner
thoroughly and honestly meets all the
charges that were brought against him by
Mr.. McElroy. He meets them in the very
strongest manner, with the testimony of
McElroy's own witnesses. He meets them
with entire fullness and circumstance.
And it would look as IL he answers ali the
charges to his own credit. The attack bore
ON the face of 1t all the evidence OF political
soreheadism. The reply shows the reasons
for the soreness, and the reasons are entire
~ creditable to the man who caused them.
AS member Of the board of control of the
for the blind, Mr.. Turner'S Off
cial course does not seem to have been die
tated by any other motive than desire that
the people Of the state of Michigan should
be honestly served and get their moneys
worth.