Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-08-28
From the Chattanooga Gdsette
To 81. an EBnk hIEe

| have refrained from making a statement
| of the facts connected with the recent charge
| preferred against me by the General Govern
ment for two reasons: lst | have been quite
sick since and before the conclusion OF the
| investigation of the case, aud am still so
unwell as to be confined to my room much of
my time. I'd. have been endeav Oring, as
| far as / was able by correspondence, aud by
| the industrious labOrs of many friends, TO
| ferret out and throw more light on the mat
ter.
believe that short, plain statement of
| the facts is due to myself. especially in view
Of the fact that many rumors have been circu-
lated, which uncontradicted are calculated to
do me injustice.
The facts of the case are about as follows:
On the day after my return from the Harri-
son Circuit Court, 10Th of April last,) a man
whose name understood from himself to be
''B. +. Ferguson" of genteel appearance and
address. called on me at my office in Chatta-
nooga and a. 6ed me to draw him up some
Blank Declarations for applying for bounty
lands from the General Government; stating
that be had been referred to me as being
conversant with the forms, &c. | made him
out some four blank forms according to his
instructions, and handed them to him with
instructions how to have them attested, sign
cd and certified, and thought no more of it.
A short time after th0t, perhaps week, ten
DAVIS or longer, letter came to the Post
Office addressed to I'D. +. Farquaharson" to
my care, which | took out l have always
done in such cases, and kept it at our office
unopened, among our office papers until
called for. AT the time the letter came, l
did not recognize the name as that OF any
that knew, and remarked to my partner,
Gen. WALKER, more than once. that there was
that letter and / did not know any thing
about where its owner lived. But some days
afterwards, when the man called for 1t. /
recognized him as the same man had known
as "Forgusonn and for whom had done the
business as before stated. He explained that
he had directed the papers 10 be sent to my
care because he did not expect to be at
Chattanooga when they returned-and that
the proper spelling OF his name was Ear
quaharson." have no doubt from recent
Developments that great fraud was intend
ed, and | was made TO some extent, an
ignorant and innocent agent OF its pefpetra-
tion-but no further other than that
agency which any Attorney would have taken
who would draw IA deed any instrument
which would afterwards be fraudulently
dealt with by his client.
Having seen the man Farquaharson but
two or three times, and that only casually on
business, am not able To give any further
description of him than those given by others,
(Which is that he is IA man of medium or null
size smooth-spoken of rather dark complex
ion and of genteel address and appcarance.)
That he is IA cunning knave and well skilled
in his business. | have no doubt. He seems
from what have as yet been able to learn a
man without a local habitation. Several
gentlemen have told me that they have seen
him in different places in Virginia, \. Car
olinia Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama lie
represents himself To some rs having part
ner in Washington. and ms having very supe-
rior advantages and facilities for the prosecu-
ton of claims against the General Govern
meut, | was fortunate in the investigation
which has been had. to prove the facts sub
stantially as | have stated them, beside some
other facts which have come to my knowledge
since that time | desire my friends every
where. To still aid me in ferreting out aud
making clear, this unpleasant matter. As a
matter of course, connected as | have been
with the case. have been much mortified.
cannot express To my many frie1ds the feel
ings which their kind and confding sympathy
have begotteH. and feel that the best return
can ever IN Ike 10 them IL, to still strive 10
deserve such friends
cannot refrain from expressing my kind
feelings toward Gen. Ramsey, Col. Peytun,
aud Mr.. Deputy Marshal Vaughn, for their
liberal. kind aud courteous department thro
she investigation. Aud although, | can bat
regret the occurrence, feel that ! cannot ia
Justice TO any gentleman whose name is con
nected with the matter, rehect upon any one,
or say that anything but desire to slndieate
the law actual, any Que. Aud while can
never cease to be mortified at the bare
thought Of the charge, feel thai il Is one
which mi ght be made against aas Attorney
whose client without his knowledge, did
wrong with the papers after they lett his en-
troll
would ieel much obliged to such papers
as are friendly to nae. and also those who
have given cTeusatlan % ssch rulnors as have
been IN circulation. as matter Of justice TO
me, 10 insert this article.
j. w. WHuF.