The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-30


sTbicKLAsD's STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC.
To ny friends IN Mobile the puoic generally
at this time
simple history Of the circumstances, in the order il
which they occurred I, me the best mode Of dc
derstood -
The first niimatlon had Of the two copies OF "Fred
Douesss bonoage ana Freedom being solo in store
came 70 me o. follows
The manner in which these books came into our pos
festion Is detailed below ID Mr. Babcock's afidayit
gentleman (hr. Harris, belleye), called and In.
quiied ior the hook. when present the store
ort came near my dssk ard remarked 10 me, Wnas do
you suppose can have created demand for Fred D)ug
lar no' On my replying, Il could no. imagine, he
SID he thought IN must have something to do with the
ed onother =
The copies dspoe ed Of and they the only copies Of
Inc "ofk yer IL cur possession sold by my part
rer to DR. Cras gfpIlcnan well know os one
WIZ We vie wed as personal friend he paid for one
Gnd took away suh him, and requested to charge
snc mail The oihsr copy 10 Colonel Jones.
mere the matter rested Until the afternoon of the 18th
DOCK had been shown him which had been sold in my
store which be feared would lead 10 trouble IL had
be paced IN TIE bands Of the Rev gr hawthorne 10
DC Used against us; tn H. hiend, he thought but
nfLt 10 come md place IN possession OF these facts
The next morning (Aug l3) friend, and very pro
mine nj oiiz H. called ana said there was great ex
mtpt on Royal street. IN consequence OF come book
hno sold reeeaied TO him the remarks OF my riend
who had called he evening previous He said it the
proper importance TO IT, he assured me friend it
sercus matter and had BETTER and at once treat
sbcb
He advised see the &c ntleman who had the mat
ter IN band as soon possible and gave tho
OF Dr. Woedcock, DR. Levert Judge Lesesne and Judge
Dargan
Judge Lesesne and myself hal not been on speaking
tc ms for many years; hence to have seen him would
have heen very dsagreeable.
Immediately had versation with DR.. Woodcock
DR. Levert and Judge bargain
Durirg the conversation with Dr. Ievert be informed
meeting that night be held at the Battle
to examine into the matter
expressed an earnest desire 10 be present at INC
meeting and told him we courted every possible inves
tgaton.
Before two o'clock Of the Same day Dr. woodcock sent
me a note Of which the following is COPY
Mr. srRIoKIASD-IEAn sm-A meeting of citizens win be
held this evening to take into consideration conduct in the
The undersigned have assumed the responsibility of con
sderng your case give fair opportunity for
defer ding yourself against the charge being in dis
The NEE ing VII take place this evening at o'clock in the
seR or Rsrsr on se Battle House John wooncocr
| was introduced to the meeting at about half. past
a'ccck. There were in the room about thirty gentle
men Mr.. Boyles was Chairman, and Mr.. Daughdr!
will, near as my memory enables ne give here
every word which TRANSFERRED during my examnat on.
Mr. Boyes produced the copy Of Fred. Douglass book
which bad been purchased by DR.. Cragin.
]. He asked me II knew the book or bad sold III
detailed the circumstances and that he had ordered
copy charged and mailed TO Col. Jones.
z. 10 You Know the character oil the book1
know IT. character IN the sense thas know its
thor and know be is probably capable Of writing but
kind Of book. am not aware that | ever read line
8. Would you have sold that bookP
Under the same circumstances certainly should. Had
an. gen teman now in this room, or any other man in
the comm unity well known to me- inquired for that book
and had been in my possession should most assuredy
have fold to him. prtsumng the to which no would
apply II was good
l. How did that book or books, into your posses
sion
DO not now know the fact can easily be determined
10 morsow by reference our orders In invoices tho'e
two books have been In possession two, IL not
three pears. az can prove by these Inventories which
At this stage OF the inquiry, Judge Le.esne seemed
particularly cesirous that should repeat again re-
peat this statement about the books having been in
possession so long.
gby he did SO, was soon very evident.
The committee have reference TO this statement Of
NINE when they say lied before them.
would ask careful and candid perusal Of what I am
now about 70 state regarding this lie with which am
About four O'Clock OF the afternoon OF this same day
friend called and said young Mr. Woodcock had shown
him book which had been bought at my store, winch
wss a very, very improper book for us 10 keep.
Its ranc be did NOT recolec; by his description could
not recognize II. called my partner TO my assistance
yy TREND again described the book, which my partner
recognized copy OF the Autographs Of Freedom which
he said IN our store when he purchased interest
- my business That when we took stock, he remarked
ether 20 myse one Of the clerks, thai II very
queer book 10 be there.
Immediately In presence Of this friend, referred to
the Autographs OF Freedom, hitch cost sixty cents
also referred 10 the inventory for 1885, and found the
ssme book ETH on hand and also n thus inventory ony)
Freedom" both inventories examined while
fict d WIS present.
My motive in taking the Inventories with me 10 the
meetlrp r, was to prove TO the Committee how many Of
them Ill how long We had these books.
My lie 10 the committee consists In stating we had the
books On hatd years, and that our invcnto
appealed confidently to the inventory and II did not
What did n proveS Precisely the reverse, namely
Il lat II the one copy Of Autographs OF Freedom,
which had been on hand sncc between 1858 and 1854
and that the Douglass books were in tho 1850 inventory
II this constitutes an intentional lie then did Lie be-
fore the committee but tnlnk any candid person who
will reflect nj, will al that intended
10 state nothing but the TRUTH rotherwsc certainly
should not have appealed to written list Of books TO
The position 30 Unexpectedly occupcd-tha, OF cui.
pitt was enough to excuse and, TO any candid mind, or
plain my sim pie mistake
Mr. Boyles next produced the book, which had been
purchased by Mr.. Woodctck
Ny recollection Of the questions regarding this book
are
S. Did you sell this book
detailed In reply TO this question all knew about tho
books precisely NJ have above, about our friend calling
end stating that Mr. woodcock had shown bin the book,
Q. Who was tina, ffIendY
I. no you know the character CT that book
know Its character only by my friends description
20 The best Of my knowledge never the book before
8. Who sold the book
my partner says he did not sell Il, and a. we are
working light handed, two Of usual force beng alb
scnt) must have been sold by our man Philip.
.. Is he authorized by you 10 sell such booksS
lie authorized 70 sell anything In our store Of which
he knows the value.
TO- Would you have sold that book, Mr.. s,rickiandP
would have scorncd to have cone any such thing
was Informed by the chairman that he had no further
quettions TO ssk-I might retire.
Pciore retiring requested the privilege a making
fw arks, which privilege Immediately granted.
alluded TO my having been resident In Mobile some
s,veni,en years-my early savings for years were in
vested in slaves. then turned my attention 10 small
Investments In real estate, which then at very low
ebb In Mobile. All was worth In this shape. when
my employer, James N. sumwah died. I then went
Ito business my own account and necessarily needed
ell my little capital In my business and hence sold my
slave property ana real estate possible and
placed the proceeds In my business.
My whole capital has ever since been In that business
for hal increased aud exonned beyond my most san
eu'ne expectations
| alluded 10 the peculiar difficulties In conducting tho
book busneu-hat rule, we had simply the title OF
book 10 guide its character unquestionaby we
had no doubt sold many novels and other ephemeral
looks, which may have contained abolition sentiments.
Whenever II came 10 our knowledge that any book
and 10, nd 10 circulntc ~ the SOUTH such books