Southern marksman. [volume] (Clinton, Miss.) 1838-1839, 1838-12-04
From the Mississippian,
To THE DIIRIIC

written by myself TO man named STARK
weather, in New York, has recently been
laid before the public by Franklin E. Plum
mer, president of the Grenada Bank, ac-
companied by what he terms narrative
of fscts' relative 10 Mr.. Cook and re-
puted wife, whom [ was instrumental in
imposing upon the community. The ma
terial allegations made against me are
basely false.7
1t is not true, as charged, that came
to the South under the patronage of Stark
weather. Ireceiyed patronage from no
man.
1t is not true that was established in
business by "a few politicians of the coun-
try At the time of the establishments
the Free Trader. | knew but one influen-
tial democrat in the State, and my acquain
lance with him extended no farther than
a formal introduction and five mlputes
conversation In fact the enterprise was
looked upon with dislrust on account of
/ the'repeated failures of democratic presses
/ in Natchez.
/ 1t is not true that ever met Cook at
/ Brandon. 1t is not true that led his
'reputed wife upon my arm in gay and
! fashionable circles:' so far from it | never
saw her but once in the State, AMI then
but for few minutes and in the presence
of other company The following are
the facts:
Mr.. Starkweather wrote me, in the
spring of 81, that two men named Baker,
and Cook, fugitives from justice, had left
New York, the latter accompanied by
young woman who travelled as his wife.
He expressed great solicitude, and de-
sired to be informed if they came to Mis-
sissippi, SO that the men could be deliv-
cred up to Justice and the woman returned
10 her friends; requesting me at the same
time, to furnish her with money for that
purpose and he would reimburse me. |
REPLIED, and thanked him for his attention.
Some months afterwards Cook arrived at
Natchez. He is man of fine appearance
plausible manners, talented and elo-
Guent. He proved to be a man whom
had once met in hotel in New York,
when he was partner of Samuel Boards
ley in the practice of the law. He re-
quested letters of introduction. | took
him to my office and showed him the let
ter | had received from Starkweather,
which charged him with having defIauded
his clients, &c. He then exhibited TO
me a receipt from the sheriff that such
money had never been collected, also
letter from Samuel Beardsley to Hon.
Thomas FL Benton, endorsing his charac-
ter and legal attainments; and he further
most solemnly protested that the woman
7eds has 1gife, that she was then in the in
terror of the State where he had resolved
to settle, and as he and his wife had both
referred to me as an acquaintance, unless
did give some demonstration OF ack-
nowledgement they would be seriously
injured in the estimation of those with
whom they had already become associated.
knew some points in the history OF the
woman whom Cook averred to be his
wife: knew her when playmate of the
daughters of Starkweather. had heard
that Starkweather, though his wife was
and still is living, had seduced this woman
when she was girl, but [ knew not all
the acts of inlamy which both Starkweath-
er and the reputed wife of Cook had been
guilty of, and it was reasonable to suppose
the information ] had received was incor-
that | should furnish her money 'to return
to her friends 1t may be asked why
correspondent 9Th Starkweather, knowing
him to have been guilty of such an act?
He had flattered and petted me when boy
at academic exhibitions, and had kindly
feelings for him when left my home at
the age of sixteen, since which time | had
little positive knowledge of what trans.
pired until after 1887. Cook had the en-
dorsement of man who had for a series
of years been an influential member of
Congress from New York, was then At
torney General of the State and is now
upon the Supreme Bench. Cook, with
all the eloquence which he is known to
possess, appealed to my sympathies.-
Notwithstanding the errors of the past,
be satisfied me he was married to the
woman,-and rife is holy and sacred
name. For years had been in different
parts of the world laboring under various
vicissitudes of fortune, and knew full well
what it was TO be without money or friends
ina strange land. gave him the letters
he asked.
A citizen is bound by every feeling Of
benevolence and philanthropy to aid in
retaining from vice those who are dis
posed tie become good members of society,
but if society be injured by the act more
than the individuals are benefited, then
the act is wrong, no matter what the rea
sons that inducedit. This is precisely the
position | occupy. | have been guilty
of an imposition upon society. Without
asking any one to appreciate my motives,
freely and openly acknowledged to the
parties interested that | had done wrong.
That acknowledgment is now made pub
Ill - Tloo,.re IL - a.. 49, r. IL