New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-24
A LETTER FROM MIR. A. H. DAVENPORT

To "a, Editor Of The NJ Y Tribune
SRA letter in Tile ~ Y. HeraH of yesterday
from Mr.. Charles Mathews, compels me to speak a
few words:
When Mr.. Mathews came to this country he was
personally unknown to me; had never in my life done
BIN an injury. While playing here some short time
after bis arrival, he formed, az ne admitted in open
Court, q criminal connection with my wife. With
what sincere affection had loved that wife, and for
gotten in my affection every fault, there are hundreds
In this my native city who can testify and had then
inflicted On him tsr heavier chatlsement than be has
now received, there few, think, who would hold
me heavily 10 blame. Mr. Mathew had not the ex'
cuse Of youth nor of nexperience.
Ills whole life has been TO his profession unhappuy
q speaking shame. For the sake of that profession
which at the time many of the best men 10 thus coun
try came forward to defend and elevate, l RETAINED
from any action which would lead to the exposure Of
such man and nfict on is Disgrace. took an acton
for divorce. | have since been silent. Not so Mr.:
Mathews Not satisfied with the desp injury he hrd
done me- he stated publicly in the presence OF several
OF my PROFESSIONALISM he virtually admits IN his note
TO Mr. Stusrt-that he had paid me $500 for my wife.
was naturally stung to indignation. Had not been
80, | should have been unworthy the name OF man,
and of that generous support--l may say regard
which has always surrounded me in this CITY, at
once wrote a note to Mr.. Mathews requiring him 10
give an immediate contradiction of 80 shameful q
fslsehood abide by the consequences but was DO
TERED from sending it by my friend and manager Mr.
Stuart, who stated that he felt assured that Mr.
Mathews had never given uttersnce to such false
hood and who undertook to write to him Tor contra
diction. He did so. That note written on Wednes-
day right, was posted Thursday morning by Mr..
Stuarts servant but Mr.. Stuart not receiving an an
swer on Thursday he informed me ne feared he might
have mistaken the address given 70 him hastily and
10 prevent all mistakes, sent copy OF the same with
directions to give it into Mr.. Mathews hands. That
letter append 1t required no time to give it reply
contradiction OF shameful faseh0od was demanded:
A line would have givea il. IL was not gwen. l
looked its not being given as an admission that no
IL lie AZ him m
and asked him if be had done 80, which be somewhat
eauiyocally was forced 70 admit. / desire now 70
state what believe every one in the community VIII
creditthat the satemen'tbat ever received drecuy
or indirectly one cent from Mr.. Mathews, IA shame
full falsehood, without shadow OF shade OF ounda-
ton. That my lawyer ever received q cent, ne
states, and / believe, is equally fssenood,
without shadow of foundation. IL Mr.. MATHEWS
paid s lawyer $780, be states, under the false pre-
tepse that il was for my benefit in any way, cave
him TO settle his accounts WITH that gentleman. III ne
was swin1led by him, II wa no Justhcation io' ms
slsndeirg me. That l assaulted him brntslly, &C
companed BY other persons he Asserts, the genue
man who was walking with him when met him, ana
others who saw the ence, will TESTIFY Is anotnet
fsl-ehood. walked up TO him alone, ana struck DIN
alone, and the chastsement infcted wa shPy sum
cien to induce him. if he had the spirit OF gentleman,
TO resist in the proper way the stigma have deserS'
eoly placed npon hun. ,,,r
no man who reads it wplscs his hand upon his heart
and say have done wrong. ,-,,,..-
Your obediept servant, A. H. DA' hNrohI'
Dr.R MATHEWS: Mr.. Davenport, gentleman
pEssed in nv th,aer and friend Of mine feels deeply hnTt ats
attributed 20 zoo that you mad paid him three hundred
do.r, % conrt divorce from Mr., Davenport tod him
ts.i from knew Of felt yoa would b. incspable
AZ .,..pg ANYTHING Of kind snd that would write yol
for contrs1op. which low do IN the hndiest sont snd
b. Of believe very truly Ae w. STUART.
Ny DEAR DAyEsPoRT: | was walking wit you
vL.p We met M Maih.ws Friday testify tha. you
went ID 20 him alone struck him alone and th anJ others who
s,sy up came 70 spers;-.
Your. ke., W. ". GRAY.