Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-01

luton insisting that the charges against
me were wholly unsustained by proof
and the committee, as / understand, CO.
NEEDING with his views.
] / then requested tho further invesliga
ton Of the matter referred TO the special
committee, OF which Mr.. Thompson, Of
Bedford county, was chairman, and this
committee at my request issued sub
p9na for the Memphis editor, but the
Sergeanf-at-Arm reported him returned
to Memphis. Upon consultation with
friends, and being advised by Demo
cratic authority. that the editor while
here had stated he knew nothing of the
matter save what he had learned through
rumor, the committee deemed it unneces-
sary TO incur further labor and expense
| for his examination, and, therefore, sub
mitted their report, asking to be dis
charged from further consideration of my
case, on the ground that 1.-THE facts
ELECTED show that it is renewal, or
rather continuation, of the quarrel
between Governor Brownlow and Hon.
A. j. Fletcher"
As for the Nashville Banners unkind
comment upon the committees statement
that their report was made upon " par
tial statement" l will remind it, that it
was only partial" to the extent of de-
clining to take testimony of witnesses
offered in my behalf-all proof offered
| for the prosecution was received,
L affirm positively, solemnly that nerer,
directly or indirectly, have received any
amount of money from Geo. r. Rutter as
gift or loan, and to this review of the
record proof in my case, will simply
add, that if any of my accusers have
either letter or other character Of evidence
with which to convict me, challenge its
production-I demand the proof they an
sinuate. If none is brought, then | sub
nit to the press, which has so recklessly
and harshly charged me, and to the fair
minded public, with whom l have no
cause of quarrel or complaint, as to how
far it is right for political difference to
thus assail the private integrity of one
who has never defed or shown indffer-
ence to the good opinion of all just
hearted men, irrespective of their politi-
cal differences.
And now few words as to the testi-
mony of Honorable A. ]. Fletcher in
this matter and / shall have done. Mr.,
Fletcher was not my witness, IS has
been asserted in public prnt-only, so
far as it was my right as the party he &C.
cused to cross-examine him. His state
ment is substantially to the effect that in
April or May. 1866, while Rutter was so
much about the capitol, l had told him
(witness) that Rutter had handed me
five hundred dollars without asking me
for my note; that this was about the
time | was preparing to start TO Memphis
with Rutter; that l did go to Memphis
with him and returned in about one
week. That my conversation on this
matter did not, and does not, impress
witness that l had received the $500 for
any improper purpose, or In any other
way than as general loan unexpectedly
received.
In cross-examination Mr.. Fletcher
states that he objected to being made q
witness in regard to this asserted loan,
and told Mr.. Taylor, the Chairman of the
Committee, all he had to do was to recall
Rutter. Rutter, at my instance, was re-
called, and in answer to the question,
"Did Colonel John B Brownlow ever re-
ceive any money from you or through
any agent of yours by your knowledge 7?
stated in answer, =" do not remember
ever having given or loaned Colonel John
B Brownlow any money at any time"
Further, Mr.. Fetchers cross-examina.
ton reveals his asserted conversation |
with me was under his own root, in the
privacy of my room-st the time q |
boarder at his house-only he and being |
present. When being asked it he had
ever mentioned this conversation or its
substance to any parties previous to the |
present School Fand investigation, he |
stated be had frequently done so to his
confidential friends, and yet, what is
passing strange, totally failed OF ability
to name q single of these confidential
friends to whom he had made such COM
munication.
Respectfully to all men save Mr.. |
Fletcher, | point to the ear-mark Of
suspicion upon his testimony. To two
himself and myself-they are wholly |
unneeded for correct information, for |
both he and | we'll know that neither |
such conversation nor the substance OF |
it ever occurred; and, convinced as !
am, that the whole purpose and desire of
Mr.. Fletcher in this matter has been my |
personal wrong and injury, by the base
and cowardly effort to cast upon my
character the shadow of this School Fund
/ stood far beyond the
reach of its substance. must say, that in
testifying to the truth of the above con-
versation with me, he took upon himself
the guilt of malicious, willful and de-
liberate perjurer. JNo. B. BRowNLow.
Nashville, February %, 1852.
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