Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-16
A Card from, RIaekhnrn.
- NtNNtH II OHHh A1HtNCEAUIEAIa H
TO the Union and American:

TO the Union and American:
As there have been so many false state
ments published in various newspapers con-
corning me and my trouble, and as l view
1t, for the purpose of prejudicing the COM
munity against my interest, now propose
to give truthful version of the facts in the
case attending my arrest at Liberty, and
refer herein to good and substantial citizens
of Dekalb county who viii vouch for the
truth of my assertions.
Upon the return of the verdict of the jury
finding me guilty, and before sentence was
passed upon me, was advised by various
parties to return to my home in DeKalb
county, where my family were very sick at
the time, and respondent at the recent loss
Of a young daughter in addition to their
great solicitude and anxiety concerning the
result OF my trial. Upon my return home
L made TO attempt to conceal myself or
evade arrest. | was iii the company of
Deputy United States Marshal Armstrong
every day at Liberty. On the morn
ing Of my arrest, NJ. A. Stark, one of
the sureties on my bond communicated to
me at Liberty that Isaac Whaley, another
surety, had expressed to him his uneasi-
ness as to his liability on the bond, and
therefore in the presence of Deputy Arm
strong, NJ. e. and Thomas Wick announced
my determination TO Immediately return to
Nashville and abide the result of my trial
and thereby eXonerate my sureties from
liability on the bond This intention was
publicly avOwed previous to any intimatiOn
by any one of my probable arrest. l then
went to the Postoflice to mail letter, and
when coming out of the office | was met
by Armstrong and in reply to his remark
81 want to see you a moment" l said 'tAll
right" Armstrong then said he had to arrest
me. | then again said ''All right He ask
ed me for my arms. told him that | had
none, and that he knew | never carried
them. Armstrong then summoned Stark
and young Wick to assist in bringing me to
Nashville. They declined SO doing. | re-
marked to them not to refuse, that | want
ed them to come with us. / told Armstrong
that if he would give me the capias
would come myself and that he need not
put himself to the trouble of going to
Nashville if he did not want to. Had L de
sired to escape | could have
done so without any trouble. The guards
knew Of my intention to come at all events.
Knowing as | do the status of the whole
ease, DO wish that the truth could come.
| feel that his Hon. Judge Trigg would not
permit me to be confined in prison, and
am now satisfied that if his Honor knew
the precise state of facts he would not allow
me to remain in Jail. 1t is my conviction
that if any sin has been committed, or any
wrong done, the guilty ones feel it to-day,
The Banners account of my arrest does
me great injustice in stating that was ar
rested at the mouth of ''cocked pistols"
thereby intimating that intimidation was
used, and was necessary to secure me; there
were no arms to be seen on the OCCASION
and neither did | make use Of any oaths,
as was stated i'll the Banners account.
have not used an oath in six years. deem
this card necessary in order to set myself
right before the public, and protect me from
the injury always resulting from a mis-
representation, Orperyersion of facts. The
statements herein made can be verified by
the gentlemen above named.
J. II. BLACKBURN.
NASHVILLE, Dec. II, 1873.