The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-07

A CARD-An editorial article appeared in the
Richmond /" Christian Adrocnten OF January 3D..
1873, headed "John Smiths slanders," which was
believed Try many persons TO reflect uponme. Anx-
ious to net adviscdly In regard to matter of such
grave Importance. determined, If possible, 10 as
certain whether or not the popular opiuon on the
subject was correct supposed that If the editor.
Ur. BENNETT, meant to refer to me he would not
hesitate to tell me Accordingly addressed him
the following communications:
PETERSBURG, VA, January 4th, 1878.
Rcr. DR.. Bennett:
Dear Sir,l am told that an editorial article In
your paper of this week. headed "John Smiths
Sanders. Is supposed by many persons In this city
10 contain alusions to myself. AS my name Is not
mentioned IN The said article, and as would not
misjudge you have concluded that IL Is due to you
and myself to approach you with the view of ascer-
talning the truth OF the matter You will do ME n
favor by informing me whether not you de-
signed by the article In question to refer to me.
Mr.. Bridgers will present this communication to
you and receive your reply.
Yours, very truly,
WM. F.. HATCHER.
1nrerly received the following note:
RICIIMoSD, VA, January ith, 1879.
Rep. W. E. Hatcher:
u
BRrDGERs. In reply have to say that If you dis
avow the authorship Of the John Smith" letter.,
published in the Religious Herald of this city, we
can have further correspondence on the article
published in my paper Of the I'd instant.
Yours, &C., W. w. BENNETT.
To say the least of 1t, this letter neither
teous satisfactory. The public will agree thai
my note was worthy of better treatment, and that
my question ought to have been answered. Instead
of meeting me in the spirit with which approached
him. Dr. Bennett denies me the courtesy due gen.
tleman.
AS know that the opinion prevails not only In
Petersburg, but elsewhere, that he designed by said
article to assal the author of the John Smith
letters, and rs the opinion Is confirmed by tho un-
kind in which he treat ed my letter, feel II
my duty to present to the public tho following state
mVnt Of facts:
| / am not the author Of the 'John Smith" let
tsrs and have never had any connection with them
have never hcsitated 10 disavow their authorship
when approached on the subject. There has 10
been day since these letters began to appear tina
DR.. Bennett could not have learned by application
| to me that not their author. His article re
i hcctlng upon published without taking th'
trouble to find out whether was the offender not
In attempting to create the impression that
wrote these letters DR.. Bennett either stated wa
he knew untrue, or else he stated what he d.
not know TO be true In either case lie has inlicte
upon me great lnjury-an Injury which no re
traction apology Of his can entirely heal.
Permit me TO say that while have been writin
for religious and secular papers for fifteen years
have never written one sentence rejecting upon tn
Methodist Church. The relations between the min
listers and people of that church and myself where
have lived have always been pleasant and often col
dial and intimate. They will not think less of mt
am sure, for trying to protect my reputation from
such harsh and unfriendly intimatIons as those d.
BENNETT has made against me. My object Is no
to offend them or injure DR.. BENNETT, but to ds
fend myself. WILLIAM f. HATCHER.
| Petersburg, w., January 9Th, 1873.