Evening journal., 1896-03-26
osss Of mIsplnced uonsaano.

Office OF county tax collector for VIII
mngton hundred. We cannot conceive
that Chancellor Nicholson win permit his
court Of equity to be used as an inssru.
ment for deprivlng the people of what Is
rlghtfully theirs. There are many ms
and outs to law. but we prefer to believe
With Sir John Powell that "nothing is
LAW that is not reason" rather than
with Mscklin who, IN his Love a Ia
Mode, declares that "the law Is a sort OF
hocuspocus science that smiles In yer face
while It picks yer pocket; and the gio.
rlous uncertainty Of 1t is Of mair use to
The professors than the justice of It,"
John j. Dougherly was appointed tax
collector by the Levy Court. In such
capacity It was his province and duty 10
handle many thousands OF dollars. II
was incumbent upon him, before entering
upon the discharge OF his duties, to give
bond in certain SUN, for the faithful
discharge OF his Office. He was q msn OF
political reputation, but that reputation
WAS not Of the best. He had stopped TO
methods ill-becoming an honest man, and
Of this his personal and political friends
were cognizlnt Still, he found friends
who we're willing to trust him, and they
went on his official bond They pledged
themselves. unequivocally aud unre-
servedly, to stand between tho county
and their personal and political friend.
and to make good any shortage which
might result from his incompeteucy or
dishonesty
There came time when they we're
convinced that Dougherty. was going
wrong; that he was robbing the people
and throwing the weight Of responsibility
upon them. They became frightened
and petitloned the Lsvy Court TO remove
him from Office. promising to make good
any shortage which might be found to
exist at that time.
The Levy Court commissioners very
properly called upon their attorney,
Edward g. Bradford, to counsel them
regarding the course they should pursue.
He looked into the matter very carefully
from legal standpoint, and advised
them that certain legislation enseted b.
the General Assembly in connection with
what Is popularly known as the Five
Commissioners law had placed it beyond
their power to aoce3e to the request
embodied In the petition.
Like sensible men they followed the
advics OF their attorney and Dougherty
went on in his ruinous course. Be
demonstrated himself to be a sooundrol
who was capable OF cheating the public,
betrsJlng his party. defrsuding
his friends and robbing orphans.
He ran his course Of infamy to It's ex-
treme limit. Everything visible belong
ing to him vas sold by the sheriff, aud
then. for fear Of being arrested FOR maxi
ing away with the property OF the Adair
children, he He'd the state and has fought
shy OF Il ever since He sNll lives, but
there Is not self respecting man,
woman or child In the city or state who
has word Of excuse for him or whom he
csn call his friend. 10 has bsen rspudi-
ated by everyone, including his old party
associates, as man who has forfeited
every claim for respect OF evon toleiation.
His bondsmsn have our sympathy but
sympathy Is a sentimental element which
should play no part In q transaction which
Is strictly business in its character
II is a BALD and glaring fact that
Dougherty, whsn called upon 60 settle,
was between sl5 600 and $4,000 short.
Being unable or unwilling to settle, the
county naturally and rightfully looks TO
the bondsmeu to reimburse Il FOR their
former friends dishonesty.
The tax paying public ia not response
bic for the acsiol Of the General Assem-
bly, which. prior to the time Of the
presentation OF tho petition, took from
the Levy Court it, only remedial course
IN the matter. There WAS no saving
clause TO that effect IN the bond Of
surety TO which these men became
parties. It was q plain. straightforward
promise on their part to guarantes the
fidelity Of man who was their personal
and political friend, aud for whose per
sonal benefit they we're willing to risk
their worldly belongings. / was plain
cass OF misplaced confidence on their
part, and now they are endeavoring to
evade their obligation by hiding behind
the adverse actiou Of tho Lsvg Court on
their petition for Doaghertys removal.
We cannot say that their action Is unnat-
ural. On the contrary. We recognizs that
the hardest money to pay is that Tor when
We get nothing ia rsturn but unpleasant
memories Of supposed friend dupllcity
and rascslit7. still. misplaced eorhdenes
and sympathy will no. 6ll ths hole Ia
the county treasury which was dug 6y
John J. Douehertys rascauy fingers st
the lnstlgauan OF bad heart and an
Itching palm.
Grant that the General Assembly had
not raised insurmountsble barriers
between the Levy Coutt and the petition
presented By thsss soretifs. surely the
Levy Court had Discretionary power IN
tbs mstter and could have refused 10
grant they \pstitiou; else. Why petition
not demznd