The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-05-04

THE CHARGES AGAINST HONEST WARD
wELL-HovEY IS HARD on THE MAJOR
Really, nov it seems as if they, will not let
the Superintendent of the Penitentiary
have moments peace. See how one Of the
discharged employees " comes back at him" !"
We publish the letter because the story Of
the other side has appeared in our columns :
RICHMOND, Va, May 3, 1869.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:
Gentlemen, ,-soon after my arrival in
the city Saturday evening friend called
my attention to an article in your Issue Of
the 18th ultimo purporting to be the CUB
stance Of q "letter " written by WardWell,
and published in the Petersburg 1nder. AS
the article in question contains charges of
a personal nature, designed to prejudice
the public mind, I trust you will per-
NIT me, through your columns, to make the
following explanation and reply:
|. Why does not the "honest" Msjor come
out like MAN and publish his epistolary
production over his own signature, and not
thus, in most cowardly manner, in my
absence from the city, busily engaged in
agricultural pursuits, procure some un-
known correspondent of paper published
in neighboring city to do his dirty work?
If he has written q letter with contents as
stated by the Inder, denounce him as q
fslsiier Of facts and base slanderer. l
came to Richmond Immediately after the
evacuation, not as teacher employed by
the Freednen's Bureau, but as delegate
of the Christian Commission, recommended
by intelligent Christian gentlemen Of un-
impeachsble character, who had known me
from childhood. Ireceived 10 pay, and for
many weeks assiduously aided in giving
out supplies that were furnished by that
noble Commission to the thousands that
were then found in this city in extreme
destitution. r. ~ ..y
He well knew that my removal was not
the occasion of charges being preferred
against him. But 1aeuer desert or betrsy
friends; and, as am down on the pro-
gramme, "accept the situation," believ-
ing many Of the charges and specifications
substantially true. -
Wards well, knowing that am conversant
with many Of the facts in the case, the last
time I.Was in the city sought to deter me
from taking any part in the proceedings
against him by suggesting that it would not
be for my interest SO to do-thst he had pre-
pared an article to my prejudice for the
papers, the publication Of which could
then prevent. Having ever desired and en-
deavored, under all circumstances, to act
the part Of an honorable and obliging
Christian gentleman, 1 chose to not be in
tinidated, but to abide the consequences.
I gave up good position and ac-
cepted situation under Wardwel at his
request and months before was relieved
he knew that had arranged to engage in
other business-disgusted by his trickery,
treachsry, duplioity, and inconsistencies.
As examples: he reads prayers to convicts,
and is a profane swearer in their presence /;
he's resolutions adopted commendatory Of
clergymen that oficiate at the prison,
and perhaps, when they leave the chapel,
condemns portions Of their discourses that
do moi harmonic with his peculiar views.
In his harangues to prisoners he proposes
to hold q" four days. csmp-meeting," and to
80 reform them by preaching UniVersaiism
that he can dismiss his guards and have
the cell-doors taken off end piled in the
back yard. He employs convicts to write
letters in his self-laudation for the public
press, and has them published as emana-
ting from visitors and strangers. He pro-
fesses to be temperance man, and makes
temperance speeches, but his bills at GER
tain Maiu-street grocer's are evidence that
he is not an entire stranger to "Old Bour-
bon" and "French brandy"
l came to Richmond single man, and
remain such. His statements that have
a wife North or elsewhere, or that agreed
to pay her one hundred and fifty dollars
and q portion of my weekly salary Ito go
back and keep "mum ~, are false. And if
he will publish the charge over his own sig
nature l will satisfy the public that he is o
base slanderer, perverter Of facts, and q
liar.
I have not commenced this controversy,
but it has been forced upon me; and can
say to the double-faced, hypocritical dema-
gogue, " Honest" "B. W." in the language
OF the warrior chieftain when demanded to
surrender, "My head or yours"
Respectfully, Il. W. HovEY.