West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-03-26
DEMANDS DEFINITE ANSWER
Prosecuting Attorney Can Give an
Opinion on Legality OF Auait-Evs-
sion Does not Satisfy People In Ar
svins Merits and Dement'S OF Audit
TERRA Alta. March .. 1911.

Editor Argus
The old proverb has it very truthfully:
HE that does you very III turn will
never forgive you." This is particularly
applicable TO the coterie. They have
maliciously and designedIy misrepresented
the county court, and now they cannot
forgive il for canceling an Indebtedness
OF some SO, 900 which was handed down
to il as the result OF ring rule in this
county from 1850 to 1910. 1t has not
only liquidated the debt, but has placed
balance OF $l2, 300 in the county treasury
to the credit OF the taxpayers. Such are
the facts. / admit, however, that the
cOterie is so skillful, il not accurate, in
its dialectics that it generally manages TO
confuse, il not refute, the figures sub
mitted. That is the life of ring rule
muddy the water. For ''he that has no
shame has no conscience" hence the
coterie does not hesitate 10 misrepresent
the court.
Every question propounded by the
coterie has been fully answered by me,
while it has failed to answer one OF my
questions. Not only has it failed TO an
swer my questions, bnt it has deliberately
misrepresented me. 1t says: "'Free
Lance admits the court will get nothing
from the audit Of the late Harrison linn"
As the coterie well knows, / made no
such admission. With that / have no
concern. II it is matter that must be
adjusted by the courts, take it that il
will be adjusted satisfactorily by such
tribunals.
The coteTie lays particular stress on
the amount the audit has cost the county
some $4,000. The last county court
proceedings, as published in the county
papers, stated that there had been col
lected and paid into the county treasury
$7,015.l7 as a direct result of the audit,
and there yet remains to be collected the
sum OF $50, 700. 40, exclusive of interest.
Is it not evident to the people that the
impression the coterie wants TO create
against the county court is that it spent
81 900 for an audit that did not recover
one cent? The records show that over
V',VOV hao hiic"uJ Dceil CclltCJeu, OF
So 900 more than the audit cost the
county. III there Is not another penny
collected the county is SO, 900 to the good
by the audit. There is over $22 coo yet
to be collected, and it is only reasonable
to presume that it will be collected So
the taxpayers of Preston county have
reason to be thankful that they have such
an efficient court to safeguard their in
terests.
Does Free Lance mean 20 tell the
people thet such proceedings are legal
and advised by our brainy prosecuting
Attorney" asks the coterie. AS | am not
lawyer l cannot answer as to the
legality of such procedure, but | have
my own crude ideas of such matters. If
| saw man who had committed a rob
berry or murder and he was about to
escape before / could notify the law,
surely would make every effort to hold
him until could place him in the hands
of the law. 1t might not be legal, or
legal formality, bnt according to my in.
| depreciation .of justice it would be Justice
with a big j. What would the coterie
do under such circumstances? What
ever is done in the interest and for the
benefit of the people cannot be at vari-
ance with legality.
am unable to answer your question
as to whether the accountant presented
an itemized bill OF his time, living and
TRAVELLING nynnncaoij IN hA A.
you gentlemen are close to the county
clerks office | would suggest YOU step in
the Office and ascertain whether the ac-
countant presented an itemized bill.
have not the pleasure of personal ac-
quaintance with our brainy prosecuting
attorney but his friends tell me he is an
affable and courteous gentleman and
well versed in the law. Suppose he gives
US statement showing wherein the court
erred, or violated the law, and penalty
attached thereto. Let him state whether
the taxpayers have been benefited by
such an audit. What say you? This
will give the people, the last court OF APP.
peal, an opportunity to render a decision.
Now let me ask the coterie il il IS their
opinion that the people would be justi-
fed in turning out a non partisan court
and placing partisan court in power,
one that would be dominated by ring
such as obtained in this county from
1850 TO 1910; partisan court that would
plunge the county once more in debt and
keep it in debt for fifty years? Let your
answer be specific, yes, or no.
Since you express such great solicitude
for the welfare OF the taxpayers let me
inquire how the management of the state
government suits your Do you sanction
the notification of the $50, 900 appropria.
ton for suitable West Virginia exhibit
at the Panama Pacific exposition? Do
you think the state officials acted wisely
in not levYing sufficient to meet the ex-
penditures of the state government,
thereby causing deficit OF more than
81, 100000? This has been done by a
partisan state administration. Do they
hope by thus retaining from levying
sufficient sum to deceive the taxpayers as
10 the colossal increase i'm the state taxes?
Answer now without evasion or ambigu-
itv. Let us have a sample OF your
sincerity.
The many friends Of Judge Joseph NJ.
III.