p. 5

(4)

given up, and the Collector had left the county.

The undersigned are also informed that, "the petition is also accompanied with the official certificate of the School board of the town of Elk Horn, stating that the contents of the petition are substantially true matters of fact." They are aware that the official certificate of the School Comrs. is calculated to have a weight of influence altogether beyond the ordinary signers of the petition. But if the statements of the undersigned (the truth of which cannot be controverted) are believed, it will be admitted taht the comrs. must have appended their certificate upon the assertions of others, and not upon their own personal knowledge. This is certainly true of one of them (Dr. Tonney) who stated to one of the undersigners "that he signed the same because Mr. Windsor brought it to him for that purpose, and told him that Mr. Kinney was going to sign it - and he thought he would not back out, but would go as far as they would; but that he was satisfied upon further reflection that he ought not to have meddled with it." Were the other members of the Board equally honest, but little regard would be paid to their certificate, as it is, we do not hesitate to declare, that the Comrs. either certified to what they were ignorant of or to that which they knew to be false!!