The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1918-01-18
The pLKssIyGER CASE.

This office il in receipt Of a letter
from r. W. Plessinger. late county
treasurer, whose recent trial On the
charge Of Issuing false expense vouch-
eEs, and in which he was found guilty
BY Jury, created considerable Of
sensation Mr.. Plessinger also encloses
an itemized statement Of his expense
account contracted during trip 70
the coast 20 attend convention Of
the county treasurers Of the state, out
Of which the unfortunate transaction
that got him into trouble developed.
There Ia no fault TO find with his list
Of legitimate expenses, and those ex-
penses were undoubtedly correct and
legal, but Mr.. Plessinger seems to
lose sight Of the mistake he made In
presenting vouchers for money that had
never been paid out, although he We
hemently alleges that it was his inten-
ton to pay that money over TO the
persons to who he considered IL due
after he had drawn It from the county
treasurer. We have been told by gen.
tleman In whose judgment we have
every confidence, and who was present
at the trial, that Mr.. Plesstnger's de-
Tense was an exceedingly strong one,
there was really no evidence that he
premeditatedly committed a crime,
and that the charge to the jury hardly
justified the verdict. For one, we would
prefer to believe that it was an error
NJ Ert NJ Ar
singer than an intention to commit
wrong.
Throughout this unpleasant reveIa-
ton and subsequent proceedings the
Gazette has tried to be fair to Mr.
Plessinger. hesitating to believe that
he would stoop to any petty mide-
meanor Taking considerable interest
In the man both az an individual &C
quaintance and public official, we
have been inclined to give him the
benefit Of the doubt, and have felt a
touch Of sympathy for him, while not
excusing the apparent shortcoming, az
We sympathize with any man in trou-
Bile where trouble does not come to
him through perverted nature. With
the shadow Of this lapse upon him Mr..
Plessinger's future Is not 30 very
bright. However, we trust sincerely
that he may find congenial employment
and live long to make a creditable rec
ord among his fellow men. There is a
strain OF sadness In his communica-
ton. He goes out into private life to
face the future. He Is trying to find
work to do, and II he succeeds he will
do that work faithfully and well we
really believe. Evidently 1t Ia not his
intention to appeal the case. In part,
he says:
Just word In regard to the char
ges filed against me some weeks ago.
The jury In the case returned YER
dict of guilty. disappointing fully
ninety per cent OF the people who
heard the trial. The court fixed the
penalty at fine Of $3.50 and costs OF
$465. Later. he modified this fine to
5000. renting the costs. have Dor
rowed the money to pay the fine, and
80 the case is practically closed as far
as the people are concerned. As for
ny o~ii anu idiuiiJ IL CduuOL DC ClOScQ
so long as we live. This Is one OF the
very few instances in which an entire
ly innocent man. and the ones near
and dear to him are stamped az GRIM
inal for the remainder OF their natural
lives. The only solace left is a clear
conscience. My defense and fine hav-
Ing cost me all my life's Accommodations
/ am left to face the world without
chance OF an even start with the
average man. Several times in my life
has some misfortune or other swept
away my all. but heretofore have had
at least an even chance with my COM
petltors.
Il have no idea OF what I shall do. I
hope yet that shall be able to write
you one OF these days . that /
have been permitted to bring up my
family In fitting manner and made
them good and useful citizens"
That certainly is cry Of distress.
with touch OF manful courage throu-
ghout.