Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1909 — CAH'T LAUGH THE MATTER OFF. [ARTICLE]

CAH'T LAUGH THE MATTER OFF.

Winamac Bridge Cd, W’ill Gain No* Friends By Scoffing at Graft Charges. The Francesville Tribune states that a member of the Winamac Bridge Co., who was interviewed by that paper regarding the graft charges made by Wallace Marshall of Lafayette, practiced by the former 1 company in the construction of at least one bridge in Jasper county, says there is not a word of truth in the charges; that his company fully complied with the plans and specifications, and no lighter or cheaper material was substituted? This may be true. The Democrat doesn’t know a thing about it except what Mr. Marshall openly charged before our county commissioners and several other people present in the room at the time. The truth or falsity of the charges ought to be easily proven. The specifications are plain and any man of ordinary common sense can measure the iron. If the charges are untrue the Winamac Bridge Co., ought to be very anxious to be cleared of them, as it is something that no honest firm would care to rest under. Mr. Marshall is- financially responsible for what he says—at least he so stated —and he should be made defendant in a. suit for damages if he has deliberately mis-stated facts in order to injure a business rival. These charges cannot be laughed

off by the Winamac Bridge Co. They are either true or false, and if the bridge company take no steps to bring Mr. Marshall to time the people will conclude that they are true.