Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-10-23
A CARD.
Fitzgerald's Statement.

AULLvILLE. Mo-, Oct. Is, 1872.
EDITORS lNrELLrGENCER: The card OF
G.. l.. Douthitt having appeared IN public
print, in which l an concerned. it is due me
that l make ny statement of the case. As to
the guilt or innocence of his son David ID.
I express no opinion, leaving that to be set
tied by the courts, but Of the statement pub
lished over my name, | state that late In the
eyenin & of the 9Th, Mr.. :. =. Bascom
came to Inc aud said Gen. Shelby wished to
Gee me- ut his (BascOm's) store. to Fix up a
compromise of the mule trouble. l replied
that l had no compromise to make. Uut to let
the law take its course. Finally, however, |
called on some OF my friends to 30 with me.
among them Judge Price, Mr.. Zcysing ami
others. When We got to the store. General
Shelby said he had Il communication to make.
to me from Col. Douthitt, who Was at his
house, and stated, that Col. ID. WA in great
distress of mind aud wished to have the
trouble settled up, claiming that his sun had
been deceived aud ml>led by EstclI, but that
| had been badly treated and that he WAS
willing to refund to me all expenses | had
been at in recovering my mules. Gen. 5.
urged that for the goou vi all parties on
cerned and tile quiet OF the community that
it Was best the matter 20 no further.
1t was also distinctly aud repeatedly stated
that by the proposed agreeinent, | was not to
he precluded from any criminal prosecution
or from appearing before the grand jury hut
that IL WAS only to settle my claims Tor JaLn.
agrs and expciises In recovering my mlles.
" Nth this understanding, | and my friends
thinking It bust, agreed to 1t and Gen. Shell
by at ONCE drew up the papers, which We
signed. 1t was placed III zen. Shelby's care
to procure the signature OF the Duuthitts AMI
then to he returned IL Judge Price by 8 A.
N. next day.
/ The next morning after more reflection |
with some of my iriends Thought it best ii
see the paper again before II was finally
agreed npon, ali Us soon us Gen. 5. came
asked Tor 1t, Out he nad already gwen Ii "
Col. DoutiIiti, alter seeing We determined IL
recall 1t, especially as IL conveyedA Ineaning
much different from my understanding Of
the asrremcut the previous evening. We
refused then TO accept the check tor S30U
which Col. ID. said he was Ready to give. and
asked that the paper be destroyed. which lac
refused. II WAS hnaily a. reed that il should
remain in the hands Of Mr.. Field. 10 be USED
by no Que without the consent Of all parties
concerned.
Whether I and my friends erred or not,
We hal no Intention to make any apology
for crime, or in the least to suielL IL. but lea>e
IL Tor the law. | admit am to blame for sign
ing TIL paper Ibid without u more careful
examination, bus I may plead tue lateness oil
the our 1t WAS lone and the further iacl
that l WAS worn OUT with trouble and ex.
element that had surrounded ME. 1 will
! add that Esteli had no authority whatever
from me to sell, or in ans way dispose OF my
mules, neither were they as stated by Col.
ID. In anv danger Ut attachment
r. Il. FITZGERALD.
We tho undersigned. VIM were present nj
Bsscom's store when the paper abave re
ferred to was signed by Mr.. Fitzgerald, say
that the statement above made by him OF The
transactions ut that time, are correct a. Z
scmem5sr them.
n. F. PRICE.
8 y. BAscoM.
Il. ZEysIN0, Sen.
~ A. X. SIfLiNGTON.