The Ordway new era., 1920-10-29
Judge Woodbridge
Refutes Slanderous
Campaign Attacks

Any person who holds a public
office is constantly in a position
where all of his official acts arc sub
ject to the closest scrutiny by the
public and by every individual. and
| this is exactly as it should be. AS an
official l recognize the right of every
one to scrutenize and criticise all of
my official acts, provided such critic
my office, and l aG County Judge
have never objected to any just crit
icism made by any person regarding
my official conduct.
Opinions differ between citizens as
to whether certain actions, involving
discretion. are proper or otherwise,
and each and every one is entitled to
his opinion, provided that opinion 10
born out by the law; the. record and
the facts of particular case.
However. when statements are
made concerning g public official,
charging misconduct and malfeas-
ance and which are not based on facts
or records end are without founda-
ton, but falsehoods. pure and simple,
and made for the purpose of discred-
iting and bolitIing an official among
the uniformed for the mere sake OF
obtaining political advantage, or
for the purpose of taking the criticiz-
ed official at disadvantage, then it
is time for that particular public Of
fetal SO slandered to state the facts
OF that particular case.
Such is the position of your humble
servant.
For the past years-ever since /
defeated George F. Patrick for Coun-
ty Judge. have born the slanderous
insinuations, and attacks of character
for which he alone is personally re-
sponsible. / have made little fuss
about the matter hoping that justice
and right would eventually prevail,
but in this hope 1 have been disap-
pointed.
Now in Justice to myself, my fam
lily, my friends and the people of the
county at large, and in view of the
fact that his false insinuations, ac-
cusations and attacks of character
have gone cut to so many parts of the
county that l feel these slanderous re-
ports must b dealt with in the open in
order that an unbiased public may
know the facts and render its just ver-
dict.
There are many now comcrs in the
county who do not know me pcrson-
ally or my official work, nor do they
know the source from whence these
false reports come, all of which have
been Investigated and In every case
have been directly traced to George
F. Patrick
Among these false reports origin
ating with him are the following in
substance:
l. That i am short in my accounts
in the office of County Judge.
2. That Miss Bingham's estate
was mismanaged and squandered.
8. That 1 was ogged out of Miss
ouri.
4. That Amanda Might, the wo-
man boot-legger whom l sentenced to
Jail some weeks ago, is relative of
mine.
Each and every one of these mat
ters specifically deny and challenge
for proof
My monthly reports are on file
with the County Commissioners, duly
examined, approved and for public
inspection. My monthly reports are
also on file with the County 9Treasu-l
rer. My books have always been
found correct by tho State Auditors
on every examination. Besides this 1
am under O. 100000 bond to make
good at all times. AS to Miss Bing-
hams estate: The records show min
utely and in full every transaction.
Final settlement has been had there
in and the accounts duly approved,
Her conservator is under bond and
the signer3 of that bond could well
qualify IN the sum of S100,O00.0O,
and that bond is in full force and eff
feet. Also my official bond is avail
able If loss can be shown.
AS to my leaving Missouri: / an
nounced when l arrived in Ordway
tho purpose of my coming, to-wit:
For the benefit of the climate for my
wife. l cheerfully refer any interest
ed person to any of the leading citi-
zens of Rails County Missouri who
can verify my standing there and also
who can verify thc purpose of my
coming to Colorado.
As to tho alleged relationship of
Amanda Might: l never knew the wo-
man until she came before the court.
am in no way related to her.
Having thus placed the responsi-
bility for these false reports, now
invite any interested person to come
forward and review the records and
files of this court to verify tho truth
of my assertions. Just criticism is
invited and I respectfully ask your
opinion and verdict. What would you
do and what do you do in such case
as this? Do you approve Of that
method of political procedure?
Respectfully,
CHAS. c. WOODBRIDGE.