Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-08-11

Mayor Glns0n ana Sheriff McLain of
Ur-aaa because CT their alleged mis-
conduct at lha time of The lynching Of
Click" M.sc4eu, Elder Jos,hua II.
Jc@es, oha..n,a of the colo9ad citi-
zeas' committee, Eas written The fol-
Iowirg:
Columbus, .,sAug. 6.
To the Editor:
From certain quarters there are row
m6ay representations and false
criticisms being poured out uron Gov
erEcr BU-hlell's motives anu actions
as 20 the suits in quo warranto against
Mayor CGAson and Sheriff McLstn of
Urlona, o. Some say tk.2t he is play
ing for political effect, some say for de-
cept.on; some say he was too slow TO
be ;incere, others say thot he ought to
have investigated sooner, etc. | am in
position to say having taken a person.
el interest in TIE matter from the first,
that these statements are false and
these criticisms unfair and not justi-
fed by the facts.
For myself, l believe thst Governor
Bushnell and Attorney General Mon
nett are sincere and il earnest in their
attempts to upheld law sad order and
the constitutional rights Of citizens,
and 10 wipe the foul blot of sI.Gme and
disgrace from our fair state, placed
upon her by Mayor Ganson, Sheriff Nc
Lain and their followers at Urbana,
and thereby teach anarchists and riot
eTs taat in all supposed, alleged or gen
u.ne cases of crime the state of Ohio
is competent to deal with her Offend
ers l also believe that they should
have She confidence, approval, aid, in
dor5enent and good will of cll law and
order loving people throughout the
country without regard to color, race
or party.
Note the facts in the case: On June
A the mob lynched Mitchell. Coroner
Hewitt then pretended TO hold an in
quest over Mitchell's remains, and oft
erward pretended to hold another over
the bodies of Baker and Bell, in which
he tried to condemn to the gallows the
great state of Chic for killing and
wound!ng innocent rioters. By the time
these farc.cal Investigations were over
the month of June had grown old.
On June 20 and 27 my first two SER
mons were delivered in this city On the
Urbana lynch.ng. On June % | met TIE
gcverncr in the state auditors Office
tn the presence of DR.. Dicise-son and
there lGid before him the ccmplatLrs of
law-abldirg, order-loviNS people CT
Ohio. The governor fgani,iy statOl in
this first interview that he felt besnly
the disgrace brought upon the state by
the mob; that he was then in Consu!tl-
tion with the attorney general as TO
what could be dore in the matter.
On the evening of the 2Stl of June
met a number of citizens at ArmGry
hail, where the question was fully L.s-
cUssed PRO and con, and set Of req
lutiOns passed asking the governor 70
instruct the attcrney general to bring
suit in quo warranto in the supreme
ccurt against the officials Of Ur53Ha
6-d Champaign county. At this meet
ing. a committee of seven was appoint
ed 70 convey the resolutions TO the gov
eronr.
In the second interview the governor
assured US of his readiness to Go his
duty, hut stated that Attorney General
Monn5tt was in New York en- busin5l3
for the state, and as soon rs he return
ed the law would Le consulted 50 as to
find cut just what the governors au-
thOrity was in the premises.
On July 13 Ue called again, 5ut the
governor was Unavoiiably absent but
left word wish Secretary Rodgers to
shcw us Attorney General Monnet's
opiAo.n.
On July % re met Governor Bush
nell again. He assured us that mis- duty
in the matter was clear, and that as
sc7n as facts were la3 before him
which would warrant au.l0n ne was
ready 20 act. The committee laid the
facts Lefore the governor and gave
Enmes CT witnesses who would testify.
The governor was oaMed home by i'll
ness about July % and remained there
from sickness until August 2.
Immediately upon his return he or
dered Attorney General Moars.t to
proceed with the case. 1t viii thus be
seen from the foregoing that the gov
ernor from first to last actc.l in good
faith and in keeping with tie gravity
OF the crime and the dignity of his
Office
Having been chairman OF the c!ti-
zeos' committee and active in the mat
ter from first to last, | kncw on the
facts in The case. I am sure that the
governor deserves the confidence of
the people and is sincere and earnest
and acts truly from a sense of duty
The stories that the governor gave the
committee money TO meet expenses is
purely false, slanderous and malicious
/ was chairman of the committee sr1
was present at every meeting and in
terview With the governor, and money
in any form was never spoken of nv
the governor or committee. We used
our own money fer expenses. Honor
to whom honor is due, and certainlv
a. Ia dIa the poVernor and tba ~