Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-09-18
"The Hop Riot"


ticle in your last issue, over the sigma
ture of I'D. p. Walworth," setting forth
what he says, are some OF the facts 10
relation to the hop riot. Considering the
use he made of my name in the article
above named and the insinuations thrown
out in regard TO the affair, deem it
proper that / should, through the same
channel, set the matter in its true light
before the public, so far as ] am con-
cerned. In regard TO the notice in the
Express, | have no doubt the Editors
gave the public the statement as a mat
ter of local news at the instigation of no
"other parties" and precisely as the facts
were currently reported. Be that as it
may, | had no knowledge of its publica-
ton until l saw it in the Express.
! am not aware OF having any "con-
troversy" with Mr.. Walwortb in relation
TO the Hops or anything else. Mr.. Wal
worth has mortgage on the real estate
owned by Mr. E. B. Hill, for the secu-
rity of large amount, it being what is
termed a sliding Mortgage, and the first
one on the premises. After his are sew
eral others, ] holding the last.
Last December Mr.. S. W. Allen
brought a suit of foreclosure and the
court granted him a decree giving Hill
one year in which to redeem. Some
time in June last l made an investiga-
ton to ascertain whether | could afford
to redeem the premises by paying up the
mortgage prior 20 my own. AT that
time Mr.. Walworth assured me upon his
honor as a man that my notice of hold
ing mortgage Gas also of some others)
had never reached him. OF course his
sliding mortgage was applicable to and
covered the large debt that had accrued
against Hill since ! held a mortgage. If
Mr.. Walworth Id me the truth, |
was left out in the cold, while all his
debts were perfectly secure. |, as any
sane man would have done, looked 10
other methods to secure my debt.
| bought Mr.. Hills Hops before they
were harvested, and employed Mr.. Amos
Metcalf, who lives near Hill, TO pick, dry
and bale them. He went there on Mon
day with all his help, but was driven off
by WaIworth, who took possession Of the
yard as early as four o'clock. CT was on
this morning that the row between Wal
worth and Hill took place.) Mr.. Met.
calf went to another small yard and fin.
ished it on that day. He called on me.
that evening and directed him to get
all the help he could and secure as many
of the Hops as possible until they we're
all picked. | am not aware Of there
being any riotous conduct on Tuesday,
If there was, it was not by my advice or
direction
Mr.. Walworth says il l had a n VI
rights there / should have had recourse
to the law to obtain them. | hardly |
think / shall 20 TO law with any man
to find whether my coat is his or mine.
AS to the matter of the lease held by
Mr.. Waworth to the prejudice of prior
creditors, by what appliances or from
what motives that lease was obtained
l shall say nothing, for if the questions
relating thereto are to be tried by the
courts, it would be unfair to predjudice
public opinion beforehand.
The questions arising from that matter
are between Walworth and Hill, and !
am entirely willing, as l presume Mr..
Hill is, that they should be adjudicated
1t any tribunal, whether it be the courts
If Vermont or that higher court, where
he strong minded, overeaching man will
ave no advantage over his honest, con-
iding, weaker brother.
Having at least, as profound a con-
empt for newspaper controversy as Mr..
Nalworta has expressed, and not being
esponsible for its commencement, l shall I
With this brief statement let it rest.
JOHN II. KELLAM. (
Irasbufgh, Sept. IA, 1868. i