Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-11-27


ent county judge, deserves and retains our
fnll cor fdence in his un brightness as official
and citizen"
The above resolutions ANONYMOUSLY
adopted by the board of supervisors, on
roll call, at Friday evenings 8 session.
ought to teach certain medlers who are
always ready with personal washing
of dirty linen. that the county hoard has
tired of having their personal garments
exhibited on its clothes line each re-
curing session.
The matter leading up to this act on
was the introduction and ado )tion, on
Tuesday, of resolutions refecti lg on the
official integrity and ability of Judge
Mahoney in the administration of the
affairs of the probate Office A respect
full inquiry, if such were thought neces-
sary, would perhaps not have been con-
sidered out of place The spirit and
language of every line of the resolutions
were of themselves an indictment, and
apparently so intended. The circum
stances surrounding the introduction of
the resolutions. aud Subsequent events,
were eelf-evident to members of the
board am tie public familiar with the
conditions, that personal and political
considerations, and not an honest desire
for the promotion OF the public service,
were the dark motives that liuger ~ be-
hind the scenes. The CENSOR is not
disposed to believe that the introducer
of the resolutions was maliciously dis
posed when offering the same, but we do
know that he WAS smarting unGcr per-
sonal disappointment and imagined that
t1k, had rrtS n n
honey in connection Herewith Taking
advantage of his personal feelings and
impulsive nature he was made the in
strument through which others sough.
to wreak vengeance and bring reproach
to citizen and neighbor.
The board members did not realize
the seriousness of the ona-ye or appreci-
ate the underlying purpose of the accus-
alton till it was made matter of record
When these things dawned upon them
they availed themselves of the first OPP
portunity to right the wrong by unani-
mously voting to expunge the entire
proceedings from the record and as unan
imously and enthusiastically adopFed
the resolutions at the head of this article.
The gentlemen did themselves credit in
thus freeing themselves from any con-
nection with the origin of the affair and
placing their seal of condemnation on
the proceedings and spirit that animat-
ed it.
The resolutions cAsrged judge Ma
honey with gross carelessness in keeping
the records of his Office, declaimiug that
his conduct was ''reprehensible "A
committee was appointed TO look into
the matter. After investigation four
fna Int hon
found many unrecorded papers and un-
finished records A minority report was
to the effect that the records and papers
were kept in the same manner that the
predecessors of the present judge had
maintained them, that the rights of no
person having business in the court had
been abridged or estates neglected.
These reports were made Friday eve-
ming. Judge Mshoney was given the
right to speak in his own behalf before
the entire board. He charged that the
majority report was that of one man
the attorney who had been employed TO
assist the committee; that the commltte
az a whole had made no investigation;
that the report WAS grossly misleading
and incorrect. / IS evident that the
committee WAS not entirely satisfied
with the work, for each and all Of them
Immediately united in the vote to ex-
punge the entire matter from the record,
and Joined in the commendstory resolu-
tionS which followed. l. 5 Griffin the
attorney employed. defended his position
and said he was merely the instrument
of the committee in this WORK. Ex-
Judge Graves was invited to speak. He
said no man could keep the recording in
the probate Office up to dSte with out de-
voting his entire time to the work which
none but wealthy man could afford to
do: that instruments were seldom record
ed til! an estate was fully admin stored;
that if Judge Mahoney is negligen others
before him have been guilty Of the same
offense. He said the county board had
no legal right to investigate the affairs
of the probate Office. He said the whole
proceedings had the appearance OF a
ROW among republican politicians OF
the county seat. tempest in teapot
Then followed the unanimous vote on
roll call to expunge the whole proceed
inrs from the record, with the commen-
datory resolutions above given, which
were also adopted without dissenting
vote.
The CENSOR is not and will be no
apologist for neglect OF duty on part OF
any official. An honest investigation Is
always to be eourted, but one founded
on attempts to besmirch the standing.
personal, political and official, OF men,
Is something the CENSOR will not stand
for. and it congratulates the IN em0ers
of the county board on their action In
placing the seal of 'disapproval on ques-
tionable methods they were asked to
officially sanction.
-Reeretting the affiiction which
brought them here, the laying to rest OF
Az CfuNsGnf7 ruaa fttaQG-