The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-23

printer. Will DO held there until alter the
time, the Republicans will make it warm
for Mr. Smith and oil who have
conspired with him to conceal the
game. and there Is no longer
any doubt but that big game has been
The action taken by the Democrats in the
Senate. when Senator boyds resolution. as
we'll as himself. were gagged. and the
whole Investigation delayed until his re-
port should come from the printer. is very
suggestiye. Ever since Senator Boyd in
troduced his resolution he has received.
from day to day. letters from almost every
quarter of the State. supporting him with
facts. dates. ETC., until there can be little
doubt that. if the Legislature should
allow an investigation to proceed. Mr.
Smiths alleged reputation as an anti. tax
reformer would fall rather fiat The fol-
lowing letter Is sample:
MICHIGAN CITY, Jan IA.
Senator BOyd-I saw your resolution TO inyes-
tigate Encouragement Smiths official record.
and could not refrain from writing you TO push
your resolution and give me chance to produce
the evidence / can find you all you want. [
am one of the men that he has robbed or 1855.
He sent q man here from Shelbyvllle TO look
over my docket, as am justice OF the peace. l
had on hand about $47 that had not paid in,
and gave him my docket and helped him make
the record of my business of fines that were col
ieeted and all that were staid and never paid:
When we got through he wanted me to sign 1t
and make affidavit to It, ! told him had not
collected all the money. and IL would be wrong
TO make affidavit showing had. He said he nor
Mr.. Smith would not collect il off of me. They
only wanted TO see how much business
the justices were doing in the state, so as
his lying l did so. and he then came into my
Office before he left town, and wanted the
money. and threatened. if l aid not pay him, he
would sue me and my bondsmen. L told him he
was black mailer. and to go ahead. He left
town, and went To Michigan. He came here in
my absence aud told my friend, A. 5. Vreeland
Il
paid at once, he would sue me, and Mr. Vreeland
paid him. was mad, you can bet; and want
use Of this letter you like. and call on me for
evidence at any time. will furnish you allyou
want to convict the office of obtaining money by
lying and misrepresentation. Only wish you
had more Republicans in this term. but IL you
push it it can be done easily, and will show up
of the rottenest lot of black maIers the State
ever had. Hoping to hear from you and do you
good, and the public. too, remain yours. truly.
CEPHAs II. DIBBLE, Justice OF the Peace.
Another letter from MuncIe says:
Senator Boyd1I noticed in yesterdays papers
10 investigate the Attorney generals Office. /
hope such investigation may be ordered. and
that ii may he thoroughly done. The suspicion
has long prevailed in this part of the State,
especially among lawyers, that for years the
Attorney generals office has been a nest of cor
ruption. Upon this point call your attention
20 what Is probably familiar to you-the recent
LEGISLATION that paves the way for just such
schemes as you Intimate TO the Legislature
tho Statutes, passed in 1853, the clerks were
made liable on their bonds for the fees and per
cent. paid the Attorney general on such sums as
they had not paid over to the proper officers,
and were paid to the Attorney general. and then
by Section 1905 OF Elliott's Acts of 1859, this
liability of clerks on their bonds is taken away.
This last act looks like il had been passed in the
joint interest of the clerks and Attorney general.
1 have heard. whether true or not cannot say,
that the Attorney general in Office in 1889 pro-
cured the passage of this last act.
know of clerk in this state who did not pay
over the moneys required by law. and the
Attorney general collected. The per cent. was
$500 or $500. The matter was stirred up, and
he became afraid that he was crlmnally liable.
and he paid over himself the amount he had paid
the AttOrney-general Recently | tried o case
against clerk on his bond for failure to pay
over the moneys which had come into his hands
as such clerk, and a judgment was rendered for
the fees and per cent. the Attorney general had
received down TO the date of the act of 1891,
above referred to. As to what was paid the At
torney-general after the date OF that act Mr..
Clerk went free Neither of the cases above re-
fcrred to occurred in this county. Yours,
W. A. THOMPSON.