Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-02-21
NO DUEL.
Correspondence Between Major NJ. j,
Wicks, Of Memphis, and W. Rule,
Of Knoxville.
The Assault Of a Correspondent OF the
Knoxville Chronicle on a High
Toned Citizen OF Memphis.
Explanations and RetraetiOns Refused
Final Letters-Mr. Rule Leaves
Mr.. Wicks On the Ground.

We copy the following from the Knox
Vile Chronicle, Of the nineteenth in
stant, as matter of interest to all who
know and, like US, believe in the integ-
rity and uprightness Of Major Wicks:
On the twenty-third day of Decem-
ber the following communication was
received at the hands Of friend, ad-
dressed as below:
THE SAVINGS RANK OF MEMPHIS
MEMPHIS, TENS-, December %, 1872.
Messrs. Rule a Kicks, ,Proprietors Of the Knox
Vile Chronicles:
DEAR SIRs-In your issue of the nine
teenth instant there is a letter from
Memphis over the signature "W. r., 3"
and bearing date of the sixteenth in
slant. The libels contained in il cannot
pass Unnoticed. / intend to hold the
writer to a strict responsibility. You are
well aware Of the rules Of Journalism,
which impose upon you responsibility
for all articles published by you, or else
duty TO give to the party demanding
il the name Of the writer. / demand
tie name Of the writer Of the article al
luded to.
Your immediate attention is requested
to this matter. Respectfully,
On the next day the following reply
was sent:
hSONvLLE, December23, 1874.
SIR-Your letter Of the twentieth in
instant was handed to us yesterday af-
ternOOn by a mutual friend, and we an
sweT il by earliest return mail.
The letter from Memphis IN the Daily
Chronicle OF the nineteenth, over the
signature "W. RI was written by Mr..
William Rule one Of the editors and
proprietors Of the paper. 1t was written
while on a business trip to your city,
upon Information furnished to him by
reliable gentlemen and solely as a mai.
ter Of news. Mr.. Rule has never, to his
knowledge, seen you; has never had any
intercourse Of any kind with you, and
bis letter, therefore, was not written
from any malice or ill-will toward you,
or with any desire or intention to do you
any injustice. II you feel that any
wrong has been done you in that letter,
and viii inform Us in what particular,
we will promptly and cheerfully make
all corrections and reparation Justice de-
mands.
1t has always been our practice to open
our columns free Of charge, TO every per-
son who feels that injustice has been
done him by any statements in our pa
per, and We now extend this privilege
10 You.
Not having knowingly done you any
Injustice, we make this statement in
simple Justice to ourselves and the gen.
tlemen from whom We derived our in
formation, who were likewise, as We be-
lieye, uninfluenced by malice or ill-will.
We are well aware OF our responsible
ties as editors and publishers, and shall
always endeavOr to meet them honor
ably and manfully.
With the above explanation Of the
circumstances under which the letter
referred 10 was written, we leave you TO
take such action in the matter as seems
70 you proper. Very respectfully, your
Obedlent servants, RULE RICKs.
To Major NJ j. Wicks, Memphis, Tennessee.
On the sixth day Of January, the fol-
lowing was received:
MEMPHIS, Tenn, January 8, 1873.
Wm. Rule, Esd, Knoxville Tennessee:
SIR-In the Knoxville Chronicle of the
nineteenth ultimO, there appeared let
ter signed ''W. r., personally offensive
to me. / Immediately demanded Of the
publishers OF that paper the author OF
that article. Before receiving a reply, /
was forced to leave Memphis, and was
unable to return, being ice-bOund, until
this morning. / have just received the
letter of Messrs. Rule q Kicks, inform
ing me that you are the author. There
fore respectfully request an uncondition-
al disclaimer OF any intention on your
part TO reflect upon my character for in
tegrity, or as q gentleman.
Respectfully, NJ. J. WICkS.
Next day the following reply was
sent:
kSoxVILLE, January :, 1873.
bR-Hour favor Of the third instant
was handed nae yesterday by g. II. Me-
Kinney, Esq. In reply / have to say
that ] meant, ia the letter complained
Of by you, what its language, fairly con-
str1ed, imports, aud i decline to make
any explanation or disclaimer ia regard
L. x. What l wrote was upon informa-
ti0n obtained frOm reliable gentlemen,