The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-13
TO THE EDITOR OF THE EnoyInEn.

SIR, -
Abhorrent Il is to my feelings TO Re en-.
gagged in newspaper controversy on any subject,
and much more when opposed to a man Of so cor.
rapt a nature the recent attack made on me
in your paper Of the 9Th inst. by Michael Wall
Hancock, renders it necessary to say a few words
| IN my defence. II the charges thus made were
| to be seen Only by those who know me, or those
ohI who know him. would not utter one syila.
| BILE in my vindicaton. But as they viii be read
by those who know neither, it is my duty to re-
pei the attack, SO fundamentally aud so unexpect.
eddy made.
| The first charge is, that Nicolson. Heth & Co.
hold the negotiable notes Of Randolph, Gillia4
| and Hancock for at least so 600 bushels of coal
more than the quantity on hand. On what ground
or authority this assertion is made does not an
| sear But 1t true, it is OF no great moment
1t would Only shew that the quantity of coal had
not been accurately estimated--'tis a difficult
matter accurately to ascertain the quantity of coal
iyf's In large irregular banks but IN this point
| ne cannot even himself believe the asser,on-See
the certificate of Mr.. Zachariah McGruder. (Al
the man. who raised most of the coal who has
oeeh long IN the business, and who is now in
Hancoc''s employment-See also Mr. Dan'l Bur-
tons answer To my lettcr(B) These two exhi
bits will not only shew my just intention ON the
subject, but will rivct the belief. tina, the uuan,i
| ty Will actually overr,in the estimate
| The second charge 10, that Nicolson, Heth and
Co have paid 10 rent on the Deep Run Coal Pitts
tor the years 1903 & 1909; &that they have with
held payment unaer the pretence of having paid
them To Mr. ID. Ross, when in fact Mr. Ross had
to the knowledge of beth Nicolson and Hetb.
previous to their making the alledged payment,
transferred to him, NJ. w. Hancock, his part of
the Deep Run Coal Pitts, together with his in,e.
rest IN the lease, Ssc.-In answer to tins charge
which, II Tue, would prove that Nlcolson, Heth.
| and Co had been guilty of great folly as well as
! injustice it is sufficient to remark, that Han.
cock obtained transfer of the Pitts from Mr.
hossi tby means best known to himself) on the
goth day OF Jan in the year 1903 y, and bv the
| original drafts OF Mr. Ross on N and Heth. inow
delivered you, Mr. Richie, } it will be found Tho,
one is dated and accepted on the 18th 1unc, and
rae other on tire 1Cth Dec. 1907, CD both lodged
IN the Bank Tor collection, and taken up by them
80 much Tor this--That part of his publication
! winch relates to matters i'll suit with one cxcep
tion) Will not be noticed They are before the
court ot chancery, and in the court of apneals
neither is it expected they ever will be there All
OF these may he brought to a final close durinor
the present session of chancery, if M w Ham
| COCK VIII allow ms counsel to bring them forward
The question as to Mr. Ross debt to Nicolson
ana He,h beng good offset against the rents is
| suspended by supersedeas awarded by The die
trict court. II may, however, be taken our to.
morrow and submitted to any one two, or three
professional men of chsracter-and Nico,spn
Heth and Co. are ready ut any moment to abide
by their award.
| 4 M
NY other wicked and malicious expe,lents 10 do
him M w. Haacock) injustice, brought su;,
IN ciianccTy to recover back 6 5000 actually Daid
to him, that / have filed a copy of le,tey Gaa
dressed to him, Michael w. Hancoci) as an eyb;
bit, y that have falsely transcribed the only part
OF the letter that applies to the subject OF con-
troversy "A charge like this, winch, if true
would not only prove me to be base man. bu,
base without possibility OF advantage to self
and with a certainly of detection before nv ewes
and what is more, base without a motive. for linen
no controversy existed, does not excite in INV
mind those feelings which perhaps MANY ,youI-,
think ought to be 'nduged-but when the public
shall Know Nj. w Hancock as well as do, and
| many others IN the city of Richmond il will mo-,
be q matter OF surprize, that feel no sentmert
but that OF contempt-the accusation and accuser
hold IN equal scorn The exhibit alluded IN
accompanies this letter, (marked Ed 1t is su
thentcated By the clerk OF the court of chanccry
lt's An exhibit HE'D IN suit brought against him
tor fraud, and have doubt i'll nv own mind
tmade more confident by the opinion of abIs
counsel, but that shall recover back the c9OOO
he so unlustly obtained from me- The or;,;nal
is in the hands OF Michael w. Hancocl, and
call upon him in the name Of all that is fair and
good on this earth, to produce it. Let him leave
1T with you, Mr. Rtchc, that it may be publish
ed and compared with the exhibit, and if there
De any difference that cannot be fairly supposed
to have arisen from the haste and carelesspas.
with which generally write, or which rn;rSt
not happen to any man in copying his oz,nletters
any difference whichbetrays the least shade Of
an improper or fraudulent design--I shall Her !.
content to bear all the misery and 1epr,. Iai;on
winch Know that M. w. Hancock now reilly
deserves and ere long VIII experience
1t may not be a.:.iss to add, that neither Mr.
Gilliat nor M w Hancock were known n N
and IL in the transaction for which the regnt;a :
lDie h''ies III question were given, except by exc
cutting an instrument of writing, binding them.
selves to execute with Mr.. r.. Randolph or en-.
dorse orhim, It's not recollectcd which Chat n,-
per not being at this moment before me- but which
VIII be sent to you, Mr.. RI negotiable notes for
the amount OF any purchase he might make of N
Z III Co and Mr.. Randolph has N. & Heth's
bond conditioned for the payment of anv deGc;.
ehcy winch may occur; and he has bond not
yet returned TO N. and FL for the signature of
| Messrs. Ciiiiat AMI Hancock az his securities
conditioned for the payment to them, NJ and n
OF any surplus which may happen on actual mea
surement of the coal. The notes will be mt IN
Bank for coliection--they still coun, as much On
nv Ciliiats integrity as they count on M lis
blseneSs.
HARRY HETH
Black Hall, February'1O, 1910
(A)
l have lived at Deep Run Coal Pits. nc The
manager ofthem since the beginning of the wear
1903 Most OF the Coal on land on the 20,l,
December last was raised by me. I WAS pre-
ont hos, lass. y t..