Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-07-11
Simple Justice.

Editors Memphis 1gDcaJ: a poor
young man, with nothing but charac-
ter to lose, becomes I" poor indeed"
when his character is taken from him.
As the press Of the city has given one
side Of the story rs to the shooting of
S~heltOneby Forrest Powell, parental
sOlicitude induces me 10 give the
other. And / must say that, when a
journal once permits an attack, it
should also permit q defense, which il
il your custom TO cOncede.
The facts are, that some two weeks
ago a communication p%urpOrting to
come from Mississippi, and asking in
formation about one +. NJ. Powell,
who had married a lady in Nississip-
pi and then deserted her, carrying
with him a stolen horse, was pub
lished in the Memphis Ledger.
ThereupOn Mr.. Shelton published a
card, in which he declared his belief
that F. NJ. Powell and Forrest Powell
were one and the same person. He
also declared that Forrest Powell had
deserted his wife, did not pay his
board, etc, and by plausibly coupling
similar names, did what he could to
ruin Forrest Powell.
If innocent of all Oficnse, ia Young
man OfgOOd standing and family, and
who respected himself, il it TO be eX-
pected he would rest under such
charges without redress? Would not
submission have been disgrace? Was
he not driven to choose between
dishOnOr and violation Of the
laws, where public sentiment
commands One thing and the law an
othef? 1t has been asserted TO his
prejudice that he sent up a false name
when he went to seek satisfaction.
His own answer to this is that his
massage was misinteTpreted-that he
inquired for "Mr. Shelton who used
20 live on Robson street." and he
suppOSes the name of the street was
mistaken by the servant for the name
ofthe man. It is said, too, that he
plead +" guilty." and so he was. of in
lending to defend his honor. He
priced that above his life.
From the pretended disinterested
character of Shelton's card one would
suppose il was written merely for the
public good. What then win be said
when it appears that the boarding
house he allUdes to was his own house
on Robson street Z; that he seized
the trunk Of Forrest POwell's wife for
board; that il was Feplevined and a
lawsuit Is going on about it; and that
the fact was charged on the trial be-
fore Esquire Walton, and admitted
before Esquire Foley, that while in
Skeletons possession the trunk was
rihed Of its contents, including the
jeWelry and bridal apparel of Mrs.
Powell? When such a quarrel was
pending, has it the aspect of seeking
the public good alone that Nh. Shelton
made a publication 50 well qualified
10 crafty malice? Would it not he
very convenient to have a man be-
IieYed a thief who was endeavorinp
TO. establish the fact that You were one?
Mr.. Shelton has stated that
my son is lurking about the city
living by his wits, etc. This as
sertion is and has the effect Of a false
hood. The facts are: that he entered
the Confederate army only thirteen
years old, and came out poor and that
soon after when but eighteen years of
age he married an estimable young
lady who was also poor; and that he
has not been able fully to provide by
his day labor for the support Of a
family in customary style, and that as
a matter of economy his wife is living
with her mother, while he IS doingail
he can TO support her by constant
daily labor with me in the gas fitting
business. II it's criminal to be poor
or to prize an honorable name among
men, he is indeed guilty. Is it not a
cruel thing and Unworthy of any re-
spectacle man 10 attempt to disgrace
a poor bog, and add shame to poverty, |
involving in his downfall wife and
Eamilyy He b industrious. honest.
sOSer and respected by the citizens oil
Memphis, who know him best. What
then are we TO conclude from the fact
that a persistent effort is made to
convict him of mUrderous intent ha,
fore a trial, when it is remembered
that his accuser Was first accused. and
hat the affair Of the tsunk may stimu.
late him az much as il did when heI
first published the Ledqercard. / ask
the public to suspend its judgment as
due in eOmmon kindness
~ J. Y POWELL,
36 Madison street.