The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-02-07
Senate BtuNO.I
Editors InteIligencer.

-ASSbSbO A"GSOGtyCbCSIs
The writer of the article on the "Sen-
ate Bill No. !, signing himself Gene g.
terry" published in your paper of
yesterday morning, says: SIT is proper
that the public should be informed that
no otter of compromise was made to
the five persons who purchased the
graveyard, until over eighty lots had
been sold and some interments made,
after which no compromise could be
entertained without the consent of said
lot-holders."
Much has been said as to misrepre-
sentation of facts in this case by an
nonymous writers, and 1 therefore
think 1t but right to make the following
statement over my own signature.
1t has been my fortune to be connect
ed in business for some years past with
Catholics, and believe they will, one
and all do me the justice to say that I
have never manifested by word or deed
any hostility to them, or to their pe-
culiar religious faith. Any opposition
I may have made to the cemetery at
Leatherwood has been on the ground
that 1t was cemetery and not that it
was catholic institution.
Soon after concluded the purchase
of my property at Leatherwood-some
time in February last-I met Mr.. Thos.
O'Brien near the entrance to the Gene
terry grounds. He then and there stat
ed to me that their company could, at
that time, purchase a property that
would answer their purpose better, for
q small advance on the price paid for
the Leatherwood property, and that
they would sell 1t to US at cost.
I replied that would see the parties
interested and thought the purchase
could be arranged. Mr.. Updegraff he
stated was the proper party to nego-
tiate with.
Within twenty-four hours after this
conversation saw my neighbors and
called on Mr.. Updegraf with authority
to offer to him the then cost for the pro-
perty. without naming any specific sum.
My offer was so indignantly rejected
that went off under the impression
that had been guilty of some impro-
priety in making an offer that 1 had
been informed by one OF the Larties in
terested, would be acceptable to them.
Feeling a little sore over the manner in
which my offer had been received, /
stated to Mr.. Updegraf that 1 would
not again approach him on the subject
and that we would have to resort to
some other means to rid ourselves of
the nuisance. Mr.. Updegraff was not
in when 1 entered his Office, but finding
the Bishop there, and believing him 10
be interested, 1 stated to him my bust.
ness. BE disclaimed having anything
whatever to do with it, and stated thai
ne had used his influence in opposition
to the project. 1 had not then, nor
have l now, any reason to disbe-
l1eVe his statements, though I be-.
lieve he has since lent all his
powerful influence to fix this nuisance
in our midst.
Atthe time made the offer above men
toned, no inteTments had been made.
believe no lots had been sold, and it. is
my impression the survey had not
been completed or even commenced.
1 believe it is fact that an offer of taDo
thousand dollars $4,000 was made to
them simply on the condition that
they would agree the property should
not be used for cemetery purposes-as
agreed to pay my proportion of that
sum in case it should bo accepted. An
affidavit of the fact is also on record in
the case now pending in the Circuit
Court. Yours respectfully,
JNo. P. GILCHR1sT.