Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-04-01
Ewallow to Hastings.

convicted ON the second charge of libel
brought against him, last Friday. he
was serenaded that evening and shortly
after addressed the following letter to
Gov. Hastings, who was one OF the
witnesses against him.
Dear Sir-If you have examined the
testimony offered by my witnesses, but
mostly rejected by the court at the IN
stance of the lawyers representing your
side of the two suits for libel just closed
in one of which ] am found not guilty
and must pay the costs and IN another
Of which i am found guilty, covered
by motion for new trial, and if You
have sufficient determination to qualify
Won TO be the Governor of great State
YOU will have observed that you are
astrav when you say that the testimony
produced is barren Of truth.
mo one knows better than You that
Won have wrongdoers, your creatures,
filing important places in the service
of the State. Has nothing developed
to prove my claims?' Surely enough
has developed to open your eyes, If not
already open, to the character of many
Of these men, and to stimulate your
energies to rid your administration OF
their presence.
lyon say you told them they would
have TO v1nuIcaue themselves in the
courts. Have they done y-e-,.-- ,,rst-
isfaction? Let us see. No suit mas
been brought on charges one, two and
six. Why? Action for criminal libel
was brought by your representative on
Nos three, four, five, seyen, sight and
nine leaving one, two and six unnotlc-
ed When it came to trial you aban-
doned No seven. Nos. eight and nine,
concerning which we have more evl-
dence than on all the others combined,
were, by order of the court, without
our knowledge or consent carried over
TO the June term, thus enabling those
now known by us to be in possession Of
State furniture to spirit il away, and
by that time to hold up apparently
clean hands. By that time too, the
visible evidence of the incendiary orr
gin Of the fire may have been replaced
by preparations for new building.
We had less evidence on the soldiers
orphan school than on any other count,
because we had not access to books,
but were acquitted, which was equiva-
lent to saying that we were justified in
its publication.
'sWe had plenty Of evidence when we
began on three and five, especially five.
One of our witnesses who was very
positive at the outset that he knew OF
fraud in bidding and of an attempt to
| bribe him for $500, shortly after we
were sued was given State contract
and suddenly became know-nothing.
Another was given additional State
work. Another was labored with by
one of the prosecutor til late hour
Of night and went over to the other
side Another for some reason became
80 misty in his recollections Of what
had been well remembered before we
were prosecuted as to be worthless to
us as witness.
when on the witness stand you in
ferentially complained that we had not
as a taxpayer and a citizen presented to
YOU in person information in our pos
session as TO 'mismanagement, loss,
extravaganza, waste of public funds,
etc. That such visit would have
been barren is illustrated by the fact
that q mutual friend, who knew some
thing OF the evidence III our possession,
visited You several weeks ago noe at
our instance, TO plead with you to dis
miss the wrongdoers, force them TO dis
gorge, surround yourself with better
men and thus prevent the pains and
sorrow of prosecution, and the grief
that must inevitably come to innocent
men, women and children throughout
the State whose fathers, brothers, sons
or husbands had at a period near or re-
| mote been led into the appropriation OF
| State property by the spirit Of specula-
| ton which has characterized so disas-
=. ba
What was your answer Iou in
suited the mutual friend and myself by
| ineinuating that ] was weakening and
| that he was there 10 ask for quarter for
| me, and you did it after he had told
you that | would consent TO nothing
less than Il continuance Of the libel
suits TO the point Of my vindioation or
condemnation.
From this time forward, till you are
fully satisfied by actual experience that
| / am not weakening, all our condolences
will include the general public.
TIT IL well now TO inquire whether
some plan may not at this late date be
adopted 10 prevent much Of the suffer
| ing that must result from wholesale
prosecution Of those who are wrongful
| " in possession of State property.
| While we think you, sworn as your are
TO execute the laws, should show no
quarter to the leaders in wrongdoing
and should not place on private citizens
the onus Of proving guilt against your
agents, yet there should be s9nie 43ali
for tempering justice with mercy, and
we respectfully suggest to you the fol
lowing.
First Dismiss, prosecute and pun
! jsh the ringleaders.
! Second Appoint a committee of
three citizens, tried ard true, TO receive
and act as custodians fornay conscience
money, furniture or other State prop
erty that may be returned during the
period Of restitution that should imme
diately follow such announcement.
Third Devise some plan for pre-
>venting the possibility OF such wrong
doing in the future.
Il state what / know when / write
MAJ sgch property is scattered over the
State, and IL To- 49, f.Srd in the homes
and Offices Of politicians, judge ~"
yers, State and National officials, other
wise reputable people in all grades Of