The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-18
The Attempted "AssassinatiOn'' of
Senator Wade-StatementO Of ". l..
Fleming, the Alleged ssAssassin.''

The Attempted "ASSassInatiOn' OF
Senator Wade-Statement Of ". l..
Fleming, the Alleged ''Assassin.' -
We find in the Washington Star n
card from w. l. Fleming, who, IL seems,
was the individual charged some weeks
since with having attempted 10 ''assas-
sinats" Senator Wade. Mr.. Fleming
quotes the narrative of the affair as
published in the Washington Chronicle
at the time, and says:
"Now | wish to say that | am the
mysterious stranger in gray-that my
name is Fleming, and that the story put
forth by Senator Wade in regard to
that interview is from beginning to end
a fabrication of the honorable Sena-
tors brain, as ridiculous rs untrue, as |
shall demonstrate before | am done.
II has SO happened that this story was
circulating for weeks before it came to
my knowledge, and then l only learned
it through friend who wrote TO me
inquiring about it. What end Senator
Wade had in view in starting this ab-
surd story, whether from an itch to
figure before the public as a parsonage
of such Importance as 10 be mark for
assassination, or whether for some vii
lainous purpose he wished to put a
brand of infamy on an humble person
like myself, who has done him good
service IN years past is known only TO his
conscience. leave the public to judge
Of the truthfulness of his statements,
both as regards my visit to him and his
denial that he knew Ice, or that my
name was Fleming, by the following
plain statement of the facts IN the case
| first became acquainted with Senator
Wade in 1851, in Washington, when my
knowledge of Kansas affairs and iden-
Atity of feeling with him in regard 10
those affairs made him quite willing to
know me, and TO make my knowledge
available for his purposes. Such aid
as / could give him and o4her Free
State leaders was cheerfully given by
me in aid of what thought a righteous
cause. To show how well known ! was
to him and others of the Free State
party, then and subsequently,, and hoN
utterly false are his allegations in
regard to this strange visitor, | sub
Join the following letter from him to
me, and, also, a Recommendation of
me, signed by Hon. S. I. Maddox, Of
williamsburg, New York, and indOrsed
by Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts;
JEFFERSON, May 20, 1861.
''Mr Levi Fleming:
eSm: From the last two letters re-
ceived from you being postmarked at
Charlestown, Mass, | trust you are IN
better quarters than when on the iron
clad and Wabash. You did not say
whether you had received your dis
charge from the service, or had only
been transferred. / should like to
know how you are getting along, and
what YOU are doing. The pictures /
received few days after you sent them,
and at once acknowledged the receipt
and thanked you for them. They give
very good ideA Of those battles
Yours, &e, B. WADE
'WmIIANsBURG, October 10, lS6j.
Mr.. Jonss, Master Machinist. Navy yard:
This will introduce to you Mr.. Levi
Fleming, who has served two years ia
the navy during the past rebellion
He now desires employment in your
department He is an earnest Union
man, is industrious and worthy OF EN-
plcyment in the Government Yard
Please put him at work, and do an act
Of Justice IS we'll as confer a favor upon
Yours, truly
SAMUEL F. MADDOX
q concur in this recommendation.
II. WHsoN-
Ialso concur in all that is said.
'ARca. n Bliss, Brooklyn, \. y.
"On the night in question | called
on Senator Wade-nOt, as stated, 10
get s situation in the navy. but 10 see
him in regard TO the course adopted
by.the Navy Department of dischsrg
in civiiians-msster Workmeu-from
nsyy-yArds Senator Wade declared
that he would have nothing to do
with me-that / had ST Charles
town, Mass, last winter, told things
about him and Kansas affairs that
should not have been told Said /;
Judge Wade, what did say He told
me to 90 70 Senstor Wilson, who
would tell me an about il. told him
that had seen senator " ilson and that
be had shown me 3 letter from hr.
Harding s workman in the machinlst
department. Charlestown, which came
through thehands Of Mr.. Charles Field
Chief Clerk Of the yard, alleging that
l had diFulged certain things IN regard
70 kansas affairs preiudicsAl 20 senator
Wade / told Mr.. Wade that The state.
msHt was untrue. At this time there
being strong smell Of gas in the room,
l called Mr.. Wads's attention 20 IL
he got up and opened s door and rais-
ed winaoN, snd sAt down 70 resding
nsEspsper Said !, Judge, WhAt