Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-08-27
EXPLANATORY.
The Facts as TO the Gambling Case Re
viewed by DIR. Beecher.

EDITORS APPEAL-A card appears in
the AUdJdnche of Sunday, charging that
Mr.. Cunningham and myself went to
Bartlett to indict him (WestOn) for EN-
bezzlement. l had hoped not to be
drawn into this controversy, but while
it is so, 1 shall fearlessly state the facts.
The writer says he is a gentleman; if so,
l am sorry he should see fit to degrade
himself i'll the use of such personal cpl
thets, or making statements which are
untrue; and l am authorized to say, after
visiting several members of that Grand
Jury, since the appearance of his Yves
toms card, that no charge OF
embezZlement was ever brought
before that honorable body by
MIR. Cunningham, and, if ne
cessary l am permitted to give their
names. / will be charitable, and state
that MI. Weston and his friends have
been imposed upon, and statements Il
think cOiOred to them which are un-
true. His own card, compared with the
language in his letter of the fourteenth
instant, in which he says, !"YOu, gentle
men CLawrance, Cunningham & CO..,
who have manifested so much conf
dence in my skill and ability to conduct
business, it is on your account that [ sor-
row and gTieve. This failure
is unexpected, and one that cannot be
accOuntedifor by the writer" How does
this compare to confessions made since,
that the money has gone in gambling.
1t is true, when the officials and Others
were urging the arrest of Mr.. Yves
ton, 1 did, as the friend of Mr..
Cunningham, appeal to him not to ar
rest or take any legal proceedings, but
use all other efforts in obtaining his
money.
Now, while upon this subject, 1 will
refer to the following, appearing in Sun
days APPEAL, that "during the same
day, DR.. P. D. Beecher, the messenger
referred to in the article, called at police
headquarters and inquired for Mr.. Gran
mer, who was not in the office at the
time. DR.. Beecher related the story OF
Mr.. Weston's troubles.n This is I'M
true. [ did call, as stated, for Mr.. Gran
mer, and when informed he was not in,
[ turned to go away Captain Athy
called me back, and asked me what l
wanted to see him about. l stated he
had agreed to meet a gentleman and
myself at ten O'Clock; it was now
eleven o'clock. When about to go
again he asked me who it was?
l said Mr.. Cunningham, of st. Louis.
He replied; Oh, yes; l know what you
mean. Mr. Cranmer was speaking to
me about it, and / have advised him to
have nothing to do with it, as we have
no authority to interfere. This was
several hours before Mr.. Cunningham
ever met Captain Athy,)-he mention
ing the facts as narrated to him by Mr..
Cranmer-nOt from myself, as the article
charges. / replied, when he got through,
that it was no province of mine to ques-
ton mis- motives or official conduct fol
saying so, but l thought it was his duty
as an official to aid all in procuring the
return of money if unlawfully obtained,
or lost, belonging to outside parties.
Captain Athy said when q man gam
bles and loses his money, and then
~squeals, it was his loss, and none OF
their business. then stated Mr.. Cum
ningham had lost no money
by gambling by any act Of
his own, but other persons
had taken his money, and he, as an Of
icer and preserver of the peace, ought
to assist when pointed OUT, as he knew
all these illegal places existing in viola
ton of law. l was referring all the
time to the action Mr.. Cranmer would
pursue in the recovery of the money. He
replied, if MI. Cranmer did go ahead.
he would not oppose, although he had
advised him to have nothing to with it.
All this was in a gentlemanly spirit,
and l do not desire to misrepresent him,
and at the same time I cannot be put in
a false position as TO the facts.
Respectfully, p. d. BEECHER.