The Banner-Democrat., 1900-03-10

'Tt isn't always an easy matter for
: public official to perform his duty, "
aid the man of experience. "By
duty I mean what is required of him
under the law, which is sometimes
widely at variance with the prompt
tngs OF heart and conscience. have
In mind now the difficult task inn
posed upon Charley Tatman when he
was sheriff of Clermont county. Tat
man had been good friend Of mine
for many years. When he was elected
to the Office OF sheriff he asked me to
act as deputy. During the first year
Of Tatman's term nothing of impor-
tance happened. But along in the
second year of our service, just at the
time when Tatman began to lay his
plans for reelection, We struck a
snag
"The farmers in the southern part
Of the county gave the alarm. For
some time, 30 they complained, they
had been suffering from the depreda-
lions OF some petty robber or band of
robbe.-. Most of the thefts were
small, but they Sere continuous and
systematic. The luckless farmers had
banded themselves together for the
detection of the culprit and the pro-
tection Of their meat and potatoes, but
they made no progress in running
down the thief. Once or twice, indeed,
after light fall of snow they had
succeeded in tracing footsteps from
three or four houses whose cellars
had been looted to place about a
quarter of mile distant from the
scene of plunder, but at that distance
the footsteps suddenly disappeared.
'srhe farmers suspicious were
strongly aroused against a family
named Leach. The Leaches had al
ways been considered the most worth
less white trash in the neighborhood.
They we're lazy, they were uncleanly,
and they we're ignorant. 1t was q we'll
known fact that Hiram Leach had not
done days work in two years. Yet
In spite Of this protracted leisure the
Leaches continued to shift along in
their usual haphazard manner instead
OF being packed off to the poorhouse,
bag and baggage, as would have been
the fate of any other family in similar
circumstances. Finally the farmers
appealed to Tatman to help fix the
guilt, aud in response to this entreaty
Tatman sent me down into the south
ern townships to see if / could find
the thieving rascals. Already the
hirelings who stir up political gossip
bad caused it to be bruited about over
the county that Tatman was totally
incompetent and that he did not earn
the salary of good dog catcher, much
less the fat sum paid the sheriff of
Clermont county. Judging by these
reports it was quite plain that if Tat
man did rot soon redeem himself in
the eyes Of the voters he might as
we'll wrap up his political hopes for
the future and save the money he
would necessarily have to spend in
the coming campaign.
II, too, was batfied when trying to
discover the purloiner of hams and
similar food. Three robberies were
committed in as many weeks after
took the case in hand. At last I de-
termined to get ont q warrant ard
search Leach's house. Before taking
action / went up to Batavia and con-
suited Tatman.
ct suppose, he said, doubtfully,
'that it is the only thing we can do.
I've got to do something to make
record for myself or I'll be as bad
off as they say this Leach is. guess
TIL 60 with you. My presence will,
kEn Of
fective and serve as political timber
next fall.
''It was cold, snowy day in March
when Tatman and I left Batavia to
make our raid on Leach's house 1t
was 20 miles from our town to the
river country. The roads were rough
and in some places well-nigh inn
passable, and although we set out
early in the morning it was late in the
afternoon when we turned into the
narrow lane that led from the high
way back to Leach's This lane was
long and winding, and the intricacies
were hard to master, but after having
passed through barnyard, which was
entered at no less than dozen differ
emit places by as many sets of bars. we
found ourselves on the crest OF a steep
hill at the foot of which, according to
the testimony of the boy who was feed
ing the shivering animals in the sheep
shed, we should find Leach's house.
Tatman and got out of the buggy
and walked down the hill. We kept
peering round us sharply as we went,
but not until we came almost to the
base Of the hill did we see any signs
of habitation. Then suddenly lit
tie puff of blue wood smoke was seen
curling up through the denuded
branches of the trees to our right.
We went on few steps farther, and
the house itself was in sight 1t was
such little house of frame and logs,
and its color was so very drab and dis
couraging, that had we not had the
boys word for it that Leach lived
there, we should have been in doubt
As to whether Leach's house were
reallys house or a stable. notvith-
standing the evidence of the chimney
and the smoke.
ssWe hitched our horse 10 cherry
tysp a4d went into the yard. Ihs