The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-01
EDITORS OrrAwA FREE TRADER-Sirs: Al
Won nnhlished In xour issna ef the 2Sth Of Nov.

EDITORS OrrAwA FREE TRADER-Sirs: Al
you published in your issne ct the 18th OF Nov.
last under the head Of Circuit Court proceedings,
that the evidence before the court on the trial OF
the people Vs. the writer hereof was to the effect
[ that had taken one John Sheridan, half or
phan boy to raise that had half starved him,
struck him over the head with piece of board
badly clothed him, and exposed him so that
he froze his feet &c. &C., for which I was tried
and fined $50, thought it would be bat right
to correct you and the wrong impression that
you had and would be likely hereafter to grow out
| of the same. Now am fully aware that you with
the rest of the fraternity very anxious to be
| the first to publish the news: and also aware
that in doing sometimes, great haste is made,
and consequently some errors creep in. In ordi-
nary matters it might not make much difference,
but when reputation is ct stake, think that JUS
tise humanity and prudence would seem to die
tate that the greatest of caution should be used
for mere slip of the pen, or the placing OF
comma, or the itslicizing of a word, might so eff
feet persons character among strangers, that
1t would take "A life time to wipe out the stain.
Now to the facts in the which L cheerfully
submit to candid public, with full confidence
in their decision. Not one OF all the above dis
graceful charges in evidence before the Court.
The father OF the boy urged me to take him for
a short time, he agreeing to clOthe him. Find
ing il impossible 10 keep him owing to his bad
habits, we told the Poor Master to take him.
After a shoot time Madame Rumor set on foot
the story that the boy WAS abused, when 10 and
behold, without warning from anybody, Mr.. Wil-
son and the Poor Master came one night about
nine o'clock. took him ont OF bed, examined his
| pulse, pronounced him pAuper, and next day
took him two miles 20 the Poor Masters, for
which Mr. Wilson received So from the county.
The boy stayed four weeks with Mr. Douglass,
the Poor Master for which the County paid S24
for one visit from doctor who came :, miles
70 see the boy, the county paid So Mr.. Wilson
went before the Board of Supervisors, and
induced the Board to pass resolution to have
me prosecuted which they did for freezing the
boys toes, but finally gave that charge up, and
took up charge OF striking the boy with piece
of board, and by dint OF hard swearing succeeded
in getting me fined S2j, from which charge !
took an appeal to the Circuit Court. There they
abandoned this last charge, and brought new
one, horse shoe charge-a thing that was not
mentioned in the lower Court. Now | submit
that from the facts above stated the truth of
which can be asoertained from the records of
the Court. and from those who heard the evil
dence) it looks very much as though the boy,
| who was the main witness for the people, had
been well drilled to meet the new charges as of
| ten as they came UP. You see that Wilson had
commenced a lawsuit, and was bound to win
some how or other Truly yours,
,. L. II. MCCORMICK