The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-10-06
THE RILEY FOX CAUGHT IN HIS
OWN TRAP.


from which important information
bearing upon the matter at issue, was
to be obtained, have been delayed
from publishing REPUTATION of Mr..
G. v. Eskridge's false charges against
me, in his last article, which appeared
in THE News of September LIST. AS
already announced in a card, now pub
ish specimens of the proof to substan-
tiate my denial.
The tone of Mr. E.'s last article was
such, and the charges, upon their face,
were Of sueh q character, that it may
seem out of place to some that should
condescend to notice it at all. My rea-
sons, however, for this reply are: First,
owe It TO my numerous friends in
this city and other parts of the State,
who, without hesitation, have pronoun-
ced the charges false, TO publish the
proof of their falsehood; Second: it
has not been the first time that Mr.. e.
has attempted to prejudice some minds
against me, by circulating some of these
charges in quarters the most favorable
to his nalignantpurpose; And thirdly,
publish this refutation, especially,
that the public may sec more fully how
! utterly unscrupulous the man is, to
publish such statements.
1t will be remembered by those who
read the article of Mr.. e. above referred
| to, that he introduced certain witnesses,
and through them, made charges that
was q rebel and oOned slaves when in
Texas, and was in the rebel army. OF
course his Is the guiding hand, and he
Is the power behind the throne that
must be held responsible for charges
made in this indirect way
Mr.. James Means, his principle wit
mesa, in his affidavit, gives the state
ments Of G Mr.. John Davis, who work
ed for him two years ago, and who is
reputed to have great deal to say
about me, very pertinent..t to the matter
nosD to be proven. Now this John Davis,
who Mr.. Means believes to be an 'thon-
eel, truthful man" by the way, is BROTH
ef-in-laz Of Mr.. N. T. Nix, OF this place.
I requested Mr.. Nix, as he wac CORES
lpoadirg regularly with his relative, to
cut Mr.. Means affidavit from the paper
and inelose it to Mr.. Davis, with re-
guest that he would say whether or
not he ever made such statements about
me as are attributed to him in that Aft
idsvit. Mr.. Nix did 80, and the follow
ing is Mr.. Davis reply to him:
COOK COUNTY, Sept. 10, 1871.
DEAR FAIsND:-S am surpns-
ed ct Jas. Means statements-or affidavit,
rather. made no such statements as he has
| sWoFR TO. simply told him (Msens) that 7
was Q Southern man, and in the Southern SER
vice. never saw or knew Mr.. OVerstreet
until net With him two yesfs ago, 1859.
street In the rebel army, he (Overstreet) act
ing as chaplain" which Is . base faleehood.
Aeans also state5 ''that censured OTerstreet
for pretending to be Union man in Kansas,
when I 1new hin to be 3 rebel in Texas
Thet statement is also false. never made
any such statsEnent to Aeans. knew moth
never cav him il the State. These statements
I HAYS made in regGrd to OyerBtfeet are true,
.nd If necessary will be 9aalIhed to the
| same. JOHN DAVIS.
Nov, IS Mr.. Davis statement over
his own signature not to be believed
II 30, most certainly a secondhand
statement purporting to como from him
is not, and in either case Mr.. Means
testimony goes down without proving
anything. I am satisfied with Mr..
Davis word, and shall not take the
pains TO get his affldHvit. AS he is Mr..
E.'s witness, If he wants It he can send
for his efddavit. But guess he viii
go baek on his witness, unless he
sweafs better to his notion than he
writes in the above letter.
With reference to the statement OF c
solored citizen Of this place, p. Smiley,
winch Mr.. E. Introduces. as part of his
lpfoof, and which he has so carefully
preserved, and doubtless, at times, car
ried about with him ever since tho night
before our lest November election and
which, out Of stretch OF charity, he re-
froined from reading 60 the meeting On
that memorable night but which, eth
moro than the industry OF one OF Bar
NUNS advertising agents, he and come
OF his friends, in substance, peddled
about our streets on election day srhere-
ever tSeTe toas any possibility Of nah
ing him a cote; az to this precious
document, 20 highly prioed by the great
statesme>, and that has been filed cyssy
% long With hi8 State papers, but now
Tor the first time is given to the pub
lie, ali have TO say about thi8 scrap Of
evidence Il, that Mr.. E. ought to have
SeoIssd it before s: ecas published. For
If It is tust as he says about it, the gen.
uine tninI that he had gotten up the
night before the election, no court Of
juGtice =Tould take it a. evidences, know
ing that it S;ss an electioneering scheme
tho production Of an old experienced
hand, 1ho Is SKILLED in "<7ays thnt are
dark and trics1s that ara vain" This
ra1t OF 1eer. Els proof 1 v7ill leave to
requisite ITSELF as Mr.. Smiley is on
cur streets every day, and hiss said to q
number of our citizens, among whom
e7s Ju65o z. B. Peyton and Col. j. NJ.
Steele, that he never knew me In Texas,
etc.
So much, then, for these charges, as
mode and proven by Mr.. E.'s witnesses.
IF h2 had been DESTROYS Of getting the
truth on this subject, he has had ample
time since he has been carrying that
statement Of his own coming, to have
written to the proper officer in the
county where resided during all my
sojourn in tho South, and ascertained
definitely and positively, from the tax
registers whether or not I owned slaves.
AS the onus is on him, that is his bust
ness. But no, his mind is SO construct
ed, that to use his own language, he
'gives the weight OF testimony entirely
Ia favor Of the statement" OF one who
never knew me in the South.
But let us hear what my intimate ac-
quaintances and neighbors while living
in che South, cay on the subject. I
herewith submit specimen. could
multiply it ten fold II necessary.
The following is . statement from
Rev. J. 81. Wright, a local preacher in
the N. e. Church, North, living near
Baxter Springs. Mr.. Wright, let it be
observed, has acquaintance in this city:
BAXTER SPRINGS, KAs.,l
September, ID, 1871
Rec. 2. Il. OoerStreet, EDspdrid, Kds.-
Da&1 SIR:-I send you the favor You ask.
and hope it Will eubserTe your purpose. I'll
you wish can get certificates Of q number OF
persons here from Texas, to the same end