Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-01-27

...,.ss- Oar RmAAr0msh An whmsA@w.-
RALEIGH, Jan. 16, 1871.
To the Editor of The Rdzeigh Sentinel! y u
%. Will you do me the favor to publish the
ceived by me this morning. post marked
Raleigh, January 16 a5a 7ii g 81 -.''.
!, RAnE1aH, N c., Jan. 16, 1871.
FRIEND ERWIN :-Please understand
what say TO you, In this letter, la with
the most kindly feeling, being friend to
both you and the parties herein named, as
we'll as the Republican party would it
not be best for you, Swepson and Little
field, as well as the Republican party-if
you were not TO press this Western Rail
road affair further, for it is evident If they
are let alone few days longer they will
bring everything out 0. K. on the CON
trary, il they are pushed, and il worst
comes to worst, they will be obliged to
scoop in all, in their downfall. and you will
recollect, you are interested to the amount
of $500, or so. paid by Littlefeld, as Pre-
sident of the Road, to you, not as Attor-
ney or for services rendered to the Com
pany, but for an entirely private matter
the same check, endorsed by you is still in
existence, AID you can see, at once, that IL
would be unpleasant for you, as we'll as
them, to bring these things to light. IN
derstand, am friend to you and the Re-
publican party, and can see that by your
downfall as well as that of many other
Republicans, our cause will be almost
hopeless. Trusting this advice may not be
lost, 1 remain, yours truly,
A REPUBLICAN.
beg to assure the interruptions knave
who dictated this anonymous calumny
that it is not only not unpleasant" TO me
to receive his written insinuation of il, but
on the contrary it is just what wanted;
as il furnishes the public with tangible
evidence of the fixed design of this secret
and criminal combination of thieves,
Whose practices am about to expose and
punish in the courts) TO destroy every man
who is bold enough to attack them. defy
them all, whether In or out OF the Repub-
lican party. and shall pursue my deliberate
purpose to bring them to justice ut the
risk of my life.
The statement made in the above let
ter of transaction between Gen. Little
field and myself. at the time / agreed to
become the editor of the Standard, is
false. He gave me at Asheville, in the
presence of another gentleman, the day
after he wRs elected President of the road,
when everything connected with the road
was COIeur de rOSe a check for $500, which
exhibited, and, without any concealment
of it, or ony suspicion of wrong about it,
l had cashed at Asheville. / have spoken
of it freely and without reserve ever since
/
action, for that it did not need-but to ex-
plain the circumstances connected with my
agreeing TO 60 into the Standard Office.
do not remember now, now the check
was signed by Littlefeld, whether as Presi
dent of the road or as an individual. My
correspondent with the "kindly feeling"
no doubt has it in his possession. Let
him produce it, My impression is. how
ever, from what has since occurred, that
it was signed by Littlefield as President.
and tho check drawn in that way was one
of the contrivances to entangle me, SO that
my mouth could be shut. This is appar-
ent from the attempt made in the above
letter to intimidate me by threat OF ex
posing business transaction connected
with this check which have made no eff
fort to conceal, and which I now avow,
and will maintain, In any way that is
honest and unimpeachable.
Do not mistake me. This is not intend
ed as vindication of my conduct. In my
own conscience am perfectly easy about
that, and have no excuses or apologies to
make to individuals or the public. If,
hereafter, when shall have succeeded, as
I will in setting Littlefeld, Swepson and
other roguish aceomplices of theirs, to
cracking rock in the Penitentiary, il any
person is serious enough to inquire of me,
I will enter into full particulars of the
whole history of their nefarious design to
ruin me, which is manifest enough from
the contents of the above letter. My OBJ
iect now in publishing this letter, instiga-
ted by Swepson before he left the city
where he was in durance vile for week
or more for his crimes on account of q
movement against him, set on foot by me,
is to exhibit to the people of the State
I of all parties the means which will be re
sorted to, to suppress prosecutions and
8 hush them up by brides or threats. These
: men are rich and powerful; unscrupulou'
and cruel; and they will not hesitate al
murder by poison or the knife to stop the
l prosecutions I have begun against them
> much less will they hesitate, as their let
, ter shows they are preparing to do witt
a me, to suborn witnesses, TO buy judges and
t Jurors, and to forge documents to sustain
d false charges against any who may inter
fere with them. If many other Repub
licans" and four.cause will be hopeless.
ON account of ithe series of prosecutions
s recently begun, as my anonymous CORES
t lican party cannot maintain its organiza
!. ton without bolstering up thieves ii will
v and ought to be, hopelessiy broken mp
q At all events, no such suggestion can in
!. fuence me. Come what may, to men o
a parties or myself, I intend to pursue thi
< prosecution to its end. Whether / hav
in the appreciation of particular men in M
(. own party or not, neither know nor care
d know my course ought to be endorse
(. by the honest men on all sides and OF 81
q. colors, and whether Ii is or not / mean 3
i. pursue it In my own way.
II Respectfully,
II MARCUS ERWIN.