Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 84, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1899 — Editor Babcock’s Back Taxes. [ARTICLE]

Editor Babcock’s Back Taxes.

Inasmuch as that amiable and truthful gentleman, the editor of the Jasper County Democrat is now posing as a martyr on account of the attempt that has been pending for some time to collect the taxes that he owes Jasper County, and has published statements much at variance with the true facts of the case, and makes these false statements the basis for attacks upon some of our county officials, we think it would be right and proper to give the public the facts as they really are.

On March 25 1898 Mr. Babcock sold the Remington Press to Fred L. and Stella Griffin, for $2,000. It was a full, complete and genuine sale. The Griffins paid him S2OO, down and agreed to pay the .rest by cash and notes in a short time. March 28th they took possession of the paper, and began getting out the first issue under their ownership, which first issue appeared on April 2nd 1898, but the main work upon which was done on and before April Ist. * This sale created a debt of SI,BOO due from the Griffins to Mr. Babcock, in the form classed as an account. It was a good debt, and they owed it to him until April 7th, 1898, when they settled it by S6OO in cash and good notes for $1,200. Thus this good and collectable debt of SI,BOO Was owed to Mr. Babcock on April Ist, 1898, and was taxable property and he was bound by law to give it in to the tax assessor that year. He was assessed on April 11th, 1898, the assessment being, of course, as all assessments are, for property owned on April Ist, preyious. He did not give in this SI,BOO but, as shown by his assessment sheets, duly sworn to, said he had property only to the amount of s3l. Now. as the best excuse he can offer for his false assessment returns, he makes the claimthat the sale of The Press was “not consummated until April 7th.” In other words he would claim that a debt is not created until it is paid. The facte, however, in this contention are all against him and the proof that the sale was consummated before April Ist, and that he had SI,BOO owed to him on that date, is absolutely conclusive: First, is the fact that the Griffins paid him S2OO on the deal on March 25 th. Second, is the giving ’them possession, on March 28tb, which they henceforth retained. Third, and in itself absolutely conclusive, is the sworn statement of Fred L. Griffin, present editor of The Press, made and now on file in the auditor’s office and in which he states that the first issue of The Press, under his management, was dated April 2nd 1898. That himself and his sister Stella Griffin, then owned the plant. That they took possession Mar. 28tb, 1898, and had bought it Mar. 25th, 1898, making at that time a payment of S2OO on the same. In this same sworn statement, Mr. Griffin says: “We owed Mr. Babcock SI,BOO, which was in the form' of an account, on April Ist, 1898." \ Still a farther conclusive proof that the sale was consummated before April Ist, 1898, is the fact that The Press outfit was assessed as belonging to Mr. Griffin on that date. No wonder then that, inface of

bis paper that the sale of The Press was not consummated until after April Ist, 1898, and that he did not have a good and taxable account date, himself furnishes indirect but very strong evidence against himself, when it comes to making a sworn statement. Not what he swears to but what he takes good care not to swear, gives his whole case away. Thus in trying to defeat the collection of the taxes on the |l,Boo, reduced by credits and discounts to $1,350, he made a sworn statement on Oct. 17, 1898. Now in this sworn statement he takes good care not to say that the sale of The Press was not consummated until after April Ist, 1898; and also takes good care, not to swear that a debt of SI,BOO was not due .him on that date.

He simply swears that be owned no property on April 11th, 1898, except such as was assessed to him, that year. Which statement, of course, amounts to nothing at all, for his assessment was made for what he owned on April Ist, 1898, and it is so expressly stated in the assessment sheet. Thus the only defense he was able to offer for making and swearing to a false assessment return for April Ist, 1898, was to swear as to what be owned and owed on April 11th, 1898, a date, which is of no importance in the • matter whatever. What a man : owns and owes on April Ist, is what is considered in assessing property for taxes, and what he' swears to on his assessment sheet. Thus the county officials are doing no more than their sworn duty in trying to collect this back tax from Mr. Babcock, and there is no truth nor merit in his claim that The Press was not consummated until after April 1,1898.