Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-06-15
TO THE PUBLIC.

slaht ls Puollsneo reply to the state
ment of the board of managers of the
Washington National NJ nument Society.
signed by the parties who claim to con.
stitute the board of manages, by virtue
of the fraudulent election of the 22d of
February last, and the treachery of Eek.
loft, the clerk, and Hilton, the day watch.
man, of the old board, together with
statement of s. s. Rr ggs in relation to
what occurred at the monument on the
18th Of Mai ch last, in which although
they dare not make any direct charge.
they leave it to be inferred that received
and disbursed money without rendering
any account, together with other insinu
ations In relation to the manner of con-
ducting the work. Were these CHARGES
only to be circulated in the community
amongst whom have resided for the last
nineteen years, and who know both me
and my accusers, should be perfectly
willing TO let them pass unnoticed. even
though | am but common stone.cutter.
whilst these patriots, who have nothing
but the welfare of the monument at heart.
are known to be the soul and BODY Of
ACKNOWLEDGMENT in this District. But
as his will be circulated throughout the
country, and be perfect Ged.send to
them to ease the dying gasps of Sam, it
is necessary to set myself ight, and leave
the country to judge between us.
In reply to Briggs's statement, | will
only say that the statement made bv me
on the 10Th of March last, was written
on the night the occurrence took place
with all the facts fresh in my mind, and
is true In every particular, and I am per.
fectly willing to leave it to the five police
officers who were present all the time. to
say whether it is so or not. Although they
all belong to their organization, and are
depending on them for their continuance
In their offices, yet am willing to leave
it to them, and dare my traducers to put
them on their Oaths, al d ask them whether
any part of my statement is untrue. n
regard to Hilton 'sstatement, whether true
or false, there is nothing in it that affects
me; he is as well known to them as he is
to me he answers their purpose for the
present to do their dirty work, and when
hey are done with him, they will ut
him loose, unless before that time be be-
trays them as he did those who have fed
and pampered him for the last seven
years.
In their first allusion to me, thew state
that after the meeting of February 24rh,
" they continued in office Doughertv,
the superintendent, appointed by the old
board, and did not, in any manner, in
terfere with the admins ration of the
society, further than to examine into its
condition, and prepare some system of
operations for the collections of funds"
This assertion they knew to be false when
they uttered it; they knew that they had
no power to remove me, that Twas in law
full possession of the property at the mon
ument, and responsible for the delivery
of it into the hands of the legally quail
fed board, and that so long as two par
ties claimed to be the lawful board. rei-
ther had the power to take the propertv
out OF my possession until it was deter
mined which of them had the right to it.
Had it been in their power to have re.
moved me legally, l would not have been
retained one hour, but as they knew they
could not do it, they went sneakingly to
work to get possession by sending mes
sages TO Hilton, the watchman. As soon
as found this to be the case, | asked him
If he recognized them as having any right
to instruct him, he answered emphati-
oally, no. l then ordered him to tell
Eckloff if he brought any more orders,
that he would not receive them, and that
was the only one that he could receive
directions from. The next day o note
was sent to me, the same that was pub.
hshed in my statement of March 10Th.
signed by five of their number, represent
ing themselves as a committee of the
board Of managers, and addressed to me
as superintendent, thinking, no doubt,
that L would suppose that they intended
to retain me in the situation, and would
acknowledge their right to the places thew
had -usurped by Obeying their instruc.
tons, and If l once recognized them,
would be in their power. But notwith-
standing the letter was gilded over SO
nicely by the eminent lawyer, (who it
appears has % furnish brains for The
whole establishment L was not so sim
pie as to bite at it. Immediately on re.
ceipt of this, / addressed a note to one of
the number, refusing to acknowledge
them in any shape or form. Finding their
scheme had failed, the next information
had was, that this august bodv had de.
creed my removal, and appointed in my
place TO construct the heaviest BODY of
masonry and marble work in the country,
a gentleman known here only as a black I,
smith or filer of brass, who few months
ago was engaged, in connection with a