Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-10-16
POLITICAL PERSECUTION /
Ex-AuditOr Eyers the Vic
tim Of Russell's Ingrati-
~ tude and Malice. ae
There is q lust in man no power can tame,
OF loudly publishing his neighbor's shame;

eNNAN-a
Individual integrity Is the corner stone and
foundation of society and of all social inter
course and relation. Without 1t and without
personal confidence every community would
be one Of dogs and cats, and We would be
compelled 10 live and conduct ourselves as
though every man was thief and a robber.
There is something peculiar in the organism
of small minds, which usually seek to shed
thin, feeble lights in local politics. A man of
irreproachable character, in whom his neigh
bors and acquaintances have the utmost con-
fidence, and who would be implicitly trusted
in any personal or private relation or
business, the moment he dare assert polIti-
cal convictions, take part in politics, or BY
his party be elected to a position Of public
trust be becomes the target for the small
shot of small calibered little creaturs who
differ with him politically or are enyious of
the confidence reposed IN him by bis party
friends and those personally acquainted
with him. E
This contemptable trate of character is
most plainly developed in the conduct of
George Russell and the little satellites, or
rather moths, which surround the Monroe
township luminary. A statute exists in Ohio
by which the Attorney General, in case of
malfeasance in Office of any officer may in
stitute an. action in the county where the
grievance has occurred, as in Franklin coun-
ty. Economy, convenience and decency
would require such action to be commenced
in the county where the offense was commit
ted and where the offenders reside. But this
would not serve the malice or the political
purpose Of George Russell. This narrow
minded political bigot, after harrassing Mr..
Charles Eyers with Investigation" after Sin
vestigation" at the expense Of the peoples
treasury, through rolitical persecution and
to serve his own personal ends, induces the
Attorney General and couple of political
insects to institute suit in Franklin county
against Mr.. Evers. The following is the Pc
tition.: L8& E
Court Of Common Pleas Of franklin County, Ohio.
The State Of Ohio, Plaintiff,
vs.. 8 .-..
Charles Evers, Harmon @. droschner, Ferdinand
NtoSosAhNf LuehOA ~ OAWAS ohu AhCAaeS w. OuE~
bin, Defendants.
EI1T1oN.
The said plaintiff complains OF the above named
defendants and for it's cause Of action herein against
them says:
That on the 10th day Of November, 1887 the de-
fendant, Charles Evers, was duly appointed by the
Board OF Commissioners of Henry county, Ohio,
to the ofce Of auditor Of said county, to I'LL va
from the second Monday Of November, 1887, to the
second Monday Of September, 1885, that or about
the 11th day OF November, 1887, the said Evers
sny gaaSsd as sSsa 1SSltos t6af on SAID second
the discharge of the duties Of said oce of auditor
Of said county and continued therein until the said
second Monday Of September, 1888.
Plaintiff further says that the said 18th day of
1887, the said defendant, Evers, duly
executed his official bond such auditor prin-
ciple with tho defendants, Harmon G. Groschner,
Roessing, Luther l.. Orwig and Thomas
W. Durbin. Said bond was on the 11th day Of
November, 1887 duly certified as TO the suthciency
thereof by the Prosecuting Attorney Of said Henry
county, Ohio, and duly approved and accepted by
certified copy Of the said bond is hereto attached
n marked exhibit A."
Plainti further says that by the terms Of the said
bonfthe said defendants bound unto the $tate Of
cd for the faithful discharge by the said ETers Of
he duties Of his said Office of auditor of said Henry
county Ohio, during the term for which he was ap-
Plaintiff further says that the said defendant.
Eyers did not faithfully perform the duties Of his
latd ofice during his said term, and that the said
condition Of the said bond Is broken in this, to wit
That for the school year ending August 3D. 1855 and
turing said defendant, Evers, said term Of office as
sudit0r, IS Aforesaid there Was collected and paid
into the treasury OF said Henry county, Ohio, as |
net proceeds Of the tax collections Of that year the
sum Of .0S belonging to and to the credit OF
the Contingent School Fund" Of said county,
1t became and was the duty OF said
Evers such auditor, to apportion and credit said
0f &A4096 the tnypnahnq and 0khAf |
school districts Of said county entitled thereto.
Plaintiff further says that the defendant, Evefs,
IS such auditor, apportioned and credited Of said
sum SO aforesaid collected to the various town
ship and other school districts Of said county en-
titled thereto, the snm Of $4486731 and no more,
eaving ballau CO Of said first named sum Of $687,
negigently failed 10 dpportioR or credit to said
shooI districts, and by reason OF such failure the
said sum Of S5S.77 became andis loet to the said
school districts Cf said county.
filing of spetition the attorney general Of said
State Of Ohio was directed by the State Superin
tendent of common schools of said 8 tate to bring
the suit on the said bond Of the said defendants
BY reason Of the premises there has accrured to
the said plaintiff the State Of Ohio an action on the
aforesaid bond Of the said defendants to recover
from the said defendants double the said sum Of
S58 IT, lost Aforesaid to said school districts
to-wit: Recover the sum of S117.4.
Wherefore the said plaintiff the State Of Ohio
prays Judgment against the said defendants, Chas.
u
Luther l.. orwig and Thomas W. Durbin, in the
said sum of one hundred and seventeen and 5-100
dollars (t17.5A) together with its costs herein ex-
pended.
David K. Watson. Atty Gen. and Campbell, Van
Camper and Tyler, attorneys for Plaintiff.
And now, what does all this balderdash and
lily constructed legal slang amount to? Only
this and nothing more !: If Russell and his
so-called experts" are right in amount of
school funds collected then Auditor Evers,
by miscalculation or other mistake simply
failed to distribute $5s.T of the school mon
ey in the treasury. As this money could only
be taken out of the county treasury by pay
ment to the State, evidenced by vouchers 6f
the State authorities, by order of the courts
or by allowance by the commissioners, it
must still remain in the treasury, and tUas
there at the time Mr. RasseU made his first
settlement ,oith the Auditor Of State I What
then was the duty of Mr.. Russell as the Au-
ditor of Henry county Section 1043 OF the
revised statutes of Ohio, as amended in 1881,
among other things, provides
= The Auditor, after first correcting
any error tohich may haze occurred in the APP
portionment of toGes at any precious settle
ment, shall certify the balance due to the
State, the balance due the county, the balance
due for road purposes, and the balance due
to the townships.
Then, if this $5S.H remained in the treas
ury at the time Mr.. Russell made his first
settlement, and was not apportioned, what