Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-12-02
n.cnNNnR,S ANSMER-


O'CONNOR'S ANSWER.
Attorney General James l.. O'Connor
in his answer states that he has no
personal knowledge of the organiza-
ton of the Madison Times, hut be
lieves the facts were about as
stated in the complaint, lie admits
the allegations of the complaint rs to
the execution of bond by A, Wood
ard as president Of the Clinton bank,
and that said bond was signed by the
sTeties named in the complaint, and
that this bond was approved by the
board Of deposits and $4,000 of state
funds deposited in said bank. He al
legeS that the state treasurer has
shown this bank no special favors;
has drawn ON it at various times, and
that this sum of $4,000, deposited
June 10 1892, was fully repaid by
draft TO the state treasurer as follows:
April -, 1898, $500; May -, 1893,
$1,000; June T., 1893. $4,000.
The attorney general denies that he
ever subscribed to the stock of the
Madison Times, or that he ever became
in any manner responsible for its
debts, or that he ever represented to
the public that he or he with the other
defendants would make it one of the
best newspapers published in the
northwest, or authorized any such
statement
He denies that he ever requested
President Woodard.i of the Clinton
bank, to make application to have his
bank made a state depository, or that
he ever made any arrangement, direct
ly or indirectly, with Woodland that
the state moneys deposited in his bank
should be turned over to Clark or any
of the defendants or that he ever pre-
pared any bond or forwarded it to
Woodland or requested such action. He
alleges that he had no knowledge Of
any officers Of the Clinton bank con.
templated applying TO be made Il state
depository until some time after such
application had been made and that
if any conversation was had or ar
rangcmcnt made rs to what should be
done With the state funds deposited in
the bank it was without his knowledge.
He states that since the organization
of the beard no bank applying TO be
made a state depository which conf
piled with the law has been refused,
According 20 his recollection at the
time the Clinton bank was made a de
positoIy, the governor, who was pres
~ hA nj ffslf
the city, and the meeting was called
by the state treasurer. He admits
that he made the motion by which
this bank was made a depository, and
states that he also made the motions
on which thirty-cight different banks
were made repositories He denies that
the bond OF the bank was obtained in
any improper manner; that lie did not
see the bond or have any connection
with any person concerning il prior to
the meeting at which it was accepted,
and that he then learned for the first
time who its sureties We're He denies
that Woodland turnd over TO him or TO
any person for him the sum Of S10,-
600, and alleges that it was not until
January, 1898, that he heard the report
that Woodland had made a loan to G.
L. Clark, but states that any such
transaction was without his personal
knowledge
lie further denies that ne ever in-
CURED amy obligation for the Madison
Times Printing company or any of its
stockholders; he denies also the ale
cations that he conspired in any man
ner with the other defendants to de
fraud the plaintiffs or the Dows or
that he has any knowledge Of any in.
terviews between Clark and the plain
tiffs or that he ever authorized Clark
or any other person to make any
statement concerning the printing con
tract referred to in the complaint, and
states that he had no interest in said
contract
Mr. O'CCunor's statement concerning
his opinion on the governors power
to order a second edition Of the roster
from some party other than the state
printer. under the laws Of 1887, Is
similar to that Of Gov Peck's answer,
and states that this opinion was given
after examination Of the law, and in
perfect good faith. he also states that
he gave an opinion approving the form
Of contract, but states that be had no
Information tadt the governor had
made or intended 10 make an order
for 1900 sets Of the book