The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-10-26

Harrisburg Telegraph.
Df. Swallow has filled the State with his
cries OF criminal wrong-doings by State

Harrisburg Telegraph.
DR.. Swallow has filled the State with his
cries Of criminal wrong-doings by State
officials. He has charged them with every
crime, from incendisrism-the burning Of
the capitol building-to petty larceny
the stealing Of old furniture. His charges
have been broad, his facts meagre. aud
his proof absolutely non-existent. Yet
he declares se has ''convieting evidence
which he carefully conceals. Why does
he conceal itg Probably because ne has
none TO present. Several weeks since
Colonel Stone pertinensly suggested in
writing TO DIR. Swallow. that II he had
evidence that would show probable cause
for the charges Of grave crimes he has
been making. it was his duty. not only as
an ordained minister Of the gospel. bu; as
good citizen. 10 lay such evidence before
the District Attorney of DSnpIin county
for action by the grand jury. In reply TO
this opposite suggestion DR.. Swallow
wrote Colonel Stone:
''Now, Colonel. you are lawyer; you
are more; lawmaker in one branch Of
the highest lswmaking body OF the nation.
and yet you evidently don't know that
private individual cannot bring suit
against State officials for malfeasance in
Office; that a grand Jury cannot hear his
testimony, and the District Attorney can
not prosecute the case unless il originates
with and be presented for the Attorney
General OF the State. as / am informed by
well-read lawyers
This preposterous statement of the law
was received with general ridicuie. The
suggestion that no one can prosecute
thieves who steal from the State, except
the Attorney General. was so absurd that
only the evidence furnished by DIR. Swal-
lows written statement could convince
any one that the idea had birth in DR..
Swallows abnormal imagination. OF
course, no ''well-read lawyers had in
aroand law Office would writhe If such
information were attributed 10 her. But
then, DIR. Swallow, in the same letter, as
though he believed in his own ridiculous
statement of the law relative TO thievery
from the State, goes on TO say that he has
many times importuned the Attorney
General to proceed against the State
thieves, and has offered to submit his
'convieting evidence" The ordinary
citizen thinks that if DIR. Swallow has
'convicting evidence" he ought to sub
nit it, and not talk so much about doing
SO. But Attorney General Mccormick
has evidently taken Dr. Swallows state
ment about importuning him seriously,
and treats it as worthy of reply; for he
thus addresses Governor Hastings:
II believe il 10 be due to you and to the
public, as we'll as TO myself, to say that
the candidate lDr. Swallow referred 10,
has never, directly or indirectly, men,
toned the subject 10 me, and. of course, |
has furnished not syllable OF evidence |
TO sustain any charge that be has made; |
nor has he. in any of his public utteranees,
shown that he possessed any evidence |
hat would be admissible in any court in |
any civilized country in the world"
Such stinging rebuke would not Le |
accepted in silence by DR.. Swallow did he |
lot know that his charge which brought
/ forth is baseless and that the rebuke |
tself is well deserved.