Bridgeton pioneer., 1891-09-10
2255
v, N. HEWITT HITS BACK.
EX-POsTMA s.A,HANIgt,
IN DARK sOLORS.
GRAVE CHARGES AND SPECT.
FFCATIONS MADE.
EX-POstmaster Laning Charged
with Perjury and MfsapprO-
prtati0n of Money.

prf6tI0n of Money.
From week to week, Postmaster
Laning, Of the Chronicle, has been
printing reckless, false and malicious
statements, rejecting upon the affairs
of the Bridgeton Post Office, and Post
master Hewitt, The wild rawlings of
the notorious Bourbon Shrieker have
been unnoticed by Postmaster Hewitt,
and e dignified silence has been main
tanned by that official. But forbearance
ceases to be a virtue, and many influ-
entail gentlemen, warm friends of the
Postmaster, have urged that gentleman
to defend himself from the un principled
assaults. In the following dignifed
and man,festly fair letter to the pub
lie, Mr.. Hewitt gives few facts which
will show to the people, why ex-Post-
master Laning has such bitter feelings
towasa the present Postmaster.
BRIDGEToN, Sept 8, 1891.
| Editor Pi0neer:-It is net always
pleasant to reveal those things which
sometime come under official notice,
but one cannot calmly lie under serious,
unprincipled and malicious charges
| made in public print by such an un.
principled person as the junior editor
of the Chronicle
have passed unno.ieed all the taunt-
| ing filings and assaults made by Mr..
! Lanipg upon my administration of the
affairs of the Post OHoe, and myself,
personally, and until this time have
maintained silence. But desire now
to calmly and in q dignifed manner,
present 70 the public few of the
facts which are in my possession, and
after the people have digested the
| matter well, am perfectly satisfied to
accept the judgement of any we'll
thinking person.
OF Mr.. Laning personally, I have
nothing to say. His character and
personality is too manifest 10 require
even brief attention, and it is more
perhaps, owing to his, that I have
not sooner replied to his malicious and
unprincipled assaults.
Since became Postmaster through
the kind offices OF the Chief Executive
of the Nation, D We endeavored to
| improve the service in this city and
| fulfill my duty. Whether or not 1
| have succeeded, leave the public to
| judge. As to my official career and
acts. l am more than willing to have
it compared with my predecessor, and
| challenge anyone to find a stain upon
| my record as Postmaster. OF ex-
Postmaster Laning, rs much cannot
| be said. More serious charges were
made against him, ,I4I clearly proven
or admitted, thai against any Post
master within the jurisdiction of
Pos al Inspector Edgartou, and
glance at that officials books will
clearly show it. Not only were
charges made and substantiated
agansl him OF q political pature, but
OF crimins! nature, and if perjury or
the misappropriation of Government
funds viii send e man to prison, such
/ "oNtA toDE, cllSC bIlG ldtS OI Tue
! ex-Pcs' master If the charges had been.
push d. Perhaps, fair minded public
might very properly observe that such
staten Its as made above, cra rather
broad and not proved, SO fair pre-
senfatiop Of facts as shown by the
| books of the Department, and the
sworn affidavits of reputable persons
will be more to the point.
For the OBJECTS of this letter per-
hsps it is only cessary to make and
present two specific charges against 8.
| A. Laning ss follows
First = Having pay roll signed aud
taking an sffidavit that 5000 per year
was paid Gle. k, VIII. only little
mere than one b ,sf was actually re.
c. ived
Sscond-rhat wi!ful perjury was
COL inltted when an fiji iavit was made
tha' ptrson outside Of r4e office d-iv.
cred special Geiive-y I-'ers.
As TO specitica ion NJ. IL here.
with charge that ex-Postmaster San-
uel A. Laning did falsify his accounts
with the United States Government,
by putting Walter II. Borden on the
pay roll as Despatching Clerk AS having
received $500 wear, and for the month
OF October, 1890, AS receiving $5O.54,
and for the m nth OF November as
having received $4S.92, wolfe the said
Walter I. Borden was only paid for
his services by ex-Postmaster Laning,
the sum of So s5 per week. EXP
mas er Laning further made affidavit
that he paid said Borden the mop.Y
received from the Government