The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-07-22


GEN. Freeman; l wanted to know what
were the grounds he stated to me. that he
had refused to cali a meeting together; L
discovered that there was nothing in the Ian
gyiage that Gen. Freeman had employ ed,
which conveyed any offense; Mr.. Terger
said that his manner was abrupt; / under
took to carry note. or carrying lt. intend
ed to prevent any trouble growing out OF it ;
when / delivered the note to Gen. Freeman.
he read it and at first he appeared TO be
greatly astonished; / perceived however,
that after that was off. he began TO ev1Dce
some irritation. at being as he said, trified
with in that way; prevailed upon him TO
answer the note by simply stating. that II
anything in his manner had been construed
to be offensive, it was accidental; and that
ended the matter: can state however, that
in the whole matter. Mr.. 9erger'S apprehen-
sion, was utterly grcundless, that really L
was disposed to laugh good deal at 1t, after
the matter was over.
At that time think Mr.. Yerger was not
under the influence of liquor; he was e1-
cited, restless as / had seen him on many
occasions before in reference to similar mat
tiers, but which / had never ascribed TO
LIQUOR; he was certainly not intoxicated
when he engaged in this matter; at the time
of the difficulty between Capt. Townsend
and Col. Morgan my attention was directed
to the scene by the language and gestures
of Col. Yerger; he was. as 1t appeared to me-
the only excited man that L saw, and be-
Iieve he was the last-m quieted in the
crowd; / was not near enough to know
what his condition was, nor do know what
he had been doing during the day; one can
not know Col. Yerger long without obserY-
ing that he has seen an extraordinary man (;
Judge Johnston has given my impression,
and think the impression of most intelli e
gent persons who have considered Mr.. Yer
gers character at all, that he has been a
puzzle and mystery.
BY the Judge Advocate:
/ was not present at the interview be-
tween the prisoner and Gen. Freeman; L
learned the circumstances from Mr.. Yer
gers own account; | think / must have
noticed any popularity in reference to his
drinking; / have been associated with him
in public matters on all exciting occasions !;
| have never characterized Mr.. 1erger as a
man who drank to excess; l thought he was
rather cautious in his drinking. especially
when he had objects to carry out; he eX-
hibited the same peculiar traits OF character
in 1850 that L subsequently observed, but
they did not at that time attract my partic-
ular attention; in 1850 we were thrown to-
gether in many public matters; his COM
plant then was of combinations by which
he was to be excluded or affected; he made
the same complaint to me during the war in
regard to the President of the Confederate
States, and officers here, and so on down to
the present time; frequently made the ef-
fort to convince Mr.. Yerger that he was
wrong in regard to the Executive Commit
tee of which l was a member, in supposing
any measure was adopted or defeated on
grounds personal to himself; he would say
that | was very credulous and that |
took every man about me to be honest and
fair; that tendency was uncommOnly de-
veloped in him, and gave all of us vast
amount of trouble, and every member of the
committee had about the same experience
with him that | had.