The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1902-04-24
The Commissioners
Turned It Down
Hooking County
Officials Dis
approved
The Railroad Custer
Suits.

written by staff correspondent,
describing IN interesting terms some
matters both in the courts and in
politics in this county of more than
ordinary interest to local readers.
The dispatch Is as follows:
Logan, O., April I9.-The CON-
missioners of Hooking county
some time ago took a determin.
de stand on the subject of
economy with reference to litigation
involving the county and still persist
in maintaining it in the face of
pressure from interested parties.
but with practically the unanimous
approval of their constituents.
Their attitude was brought out by
the pending custer suits against the
Hooking Valley and Ohio Central
railways, ,one of which was instituted
by Prosecuting Attorney E. o.
Petit, in this county, with F. s.
Monne,t and David F. Pugh OF Co.
lumbus as advisory counsel.
Mr.. Petit made strenuous efforts
to engage the county commissioners
with him in the litigation, but on
his representation Of the case he
failed utterly, and by the unanimous
refusal of the commissioners, to
secure the county's backing to his
plan of operation.
On the day the suit was fled Mr..
Petit appeared before the commits
sioners, then consisting of George
Jacoby Of Nelsonville, and ]. w.
Strents and Henry Trimmer of
Logan, and made plea for its
official recognition. Previous to
this on the same day be had en-
deavored to enlist the services of
County Auditor w. F. Bowen in
the same cause, desiring Mr.. Bowen's
influence with the commissioners to
induce them to take up the matter
The auditor, however, fatty n.
fused to have anything to do with
the proceeding, notwithstanding Mr.
Petit intimated to him that the
suits would be vigorously fought
''all along the line," that sentiment
counsel were interested in them
and that the prospect OF paralyzing
tho interests Of the corporations in
volved was very brilliant.
To all this Auditor Bowen turned
a deaf ear and Prosecuting Attor.-
ney Petit, apparently undisnayed.
went befote tho commissioners. In
the language of Commissioner Trim.
mer and S,rdntz the following is
aboat what happened;
| Mr.. Petit explained the proposed
litigation and earnestly solicited the
backing of the county. To the in-
quiry. "What benefit will the coun-
ty derive from fathering the suits?"
he replied in general terms. that
he considered it the duty Of the
county to prosecute the case and
assist him aud the other counsel in
the "great reform" that was to
result from ousting the corporations
attacked from their charters. No
substantial answer to the question
however, was forthcoming.
Mr.. Trimmer objected that Hook.
ing county could not possibly be
interested in case against the Ohio
Central road, inasmuch all the lines
of that company did no. enter its
boundaries.
| Next all three commissioners de.
manded to know who was to pay
the costs, whence the fees for Mr..
Petit and his associates we're to
come; who or what, in a word, was
to "hold the bag"
}, Mr.. Petit replied that of course
the county would be Obliged to pay
the costs. He presented, Dut did
not read a document which be de-
sired the commissioners to sign.
81 don't know what my associates
think about this proceeding" de-
clared Commissioner Trimmer, ''and
if they want to engage in this sai {
they can 60 ahead. But for my
part, shall have nothing whatever
to do with it. We have no axes to
grind and no complaint against the
Hooking Valley Railroad"
1t took about 8 minutes to find
out that this was the unanimous
sentiment of the board and Mr..
Petit retired. Notwithstanding
this, the report was sent from Lo-
gan and widely published the fol.
lowing day, that the commissioners
of Hooking county had fathered
the suit that was fled the very
day they refused to become parties
to it.
Mr.. Petit is now serving his
second Term as prosecuting attorney
of the county. The course Of the
commissioners in reference to the
railway suit is warmly commended
hy custapt;olly all the neODle af