Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-11-15
JOHN MORRISSEY.
His Card In Reply to an Article In
the New York Herald.
Arson HOUSE. SPRING STREET. |
New YORK, Nov. 3, 1856, !

NEW YORK, NOV 8, 1890,
To the Editor of the New York Herald:
SIR: My attention has been called to
an editorial article in the Herald of this
day, in which it is stated that | have
been indicted for burglary and other
offenses."
1t is duty, not only to myself, but to
the people of the 9th Congressional Dis
trict, for whose support am candi-
date, that | should state the facts. ...
When l was boy, but sixteen years
of age, and few friends were engaged
in an alteration with party of young
men, and in that alteration there was
the door of house kicked open. 1t was
charged that ! was one OF those who
kicked open the door and struck one Of
the opposing party. An affidavit was
made by one of the men engaged in the
quarrel, that had broken open the door
and struck him. / was indicted for bur-
glary and assault and battery.
The indictment for burglary was never
tried. The District Attorney regarded
the charge as too frivolous to be prose-
cuted, and summarily dismissed it. /
was tried for the assault and battery and
found guilty.
Before entering upon my canvass for
the position to which aspire, referred
to my past life, which, until the last eight
wears, was one of adventure, in conse.
quence of the poverty of my parents and
the few advantages had in my early
youth. / commenced TO labor for my
own livelihood and 10 assist in the sup
port OF my father and mother at the early
age of ten years. At that time most
BOYS are under the influence of domestic
discipline, and have the advantage of
regular educational training.
Is it therefore strange that / should
have committed errors in my early life 2
There are few boys who have not been
guilty of trihing assault and battery.
III had had influential parents and
7 friends / would have been permitted,
probably, to have escaped with repri-
mand but having no one to say one kind
wsrd for me-a poor, rough boy, working
in foundry-I suffered the slight pen
atty due TO my boyish folly.
During my whole life no man can say
that have ever wronged him, delrauded
him of dollar, or even broke my given
word. have had, during the last eight
wears. business relations and connections
with many of the best men of this city,
and not one of them will soy that l am
any other than man Of my word and OF
strict integrity.
/ have endeavored by my conduct to
atone for the mistakes of my youth.
Although successful in aecnmulating a
competency, have never forgotten that
/ was once poor.
/ have never turned a poor man from
my door, or deserted friend in need.
There has been much criticism in the
newspapers in reference to my being q
candidate for Congress.
1t is natural that ] should meet with
great opposition. A man who has passed
through such varied and strange scenes
| of life as / have, must expect to make
hitter enemies and warm friends, and
jealousies and hostilities are insepara-
BILE from political contests. But, Mr.
Editor, will state to you my motives
in being candidate for Congress.
Ihave one boy who is now twelve years
of age, who will have the benefit Of the
best education this country can afford,
and will have better opportunities than
/ had, at his hge, to start upon an hon
orable career.
/ feel it duty that ! owe TO him, ny
only child, to make my record as clear
and honorable as possible, that my man
hood NAV atone for the follies and errors
of nv youth, and leave behind me mem-
ories of which my son. in, after years,
may be proud, and that will cast no
shadow upon his path through life,
respectfully solicit, as an act Of Jus.
tice, that this reply should be published
] in vour naner IT JoHH NoRRIssEY.