Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-09-11
TO THE PUBLIC.

A decent respect for the opinion OF my fell
low-citiZenS cOmpels me to refer to an article
which appeared in the HERALD, of this city,
in Its issue of the 23d ult., under the heading
OF "Assaulting and Bait tering," in which my
name is freely used and untavoraby referred
to. In fact, in said issue of the HERALD l am
accused Of having committed dastardly and
cowardly assault on an unarmed man, and
at time when he was off his guard and una
ware of danger, and of a subsequent collision
in front of the City Hall, in which policeman
Ryan is honorably mentioned. Now permit
me to say emphatically that so far as that ar
ticle refers TO me 1t Is in every particular
wrong except that l struck Dave WaldrOn
with pruning shear; Now one word in re-
dron: met him incidentally at the time and
place referred to, the Zanjero's Office; had
no words with him. ana IN fact never spoke 3ss
time, and never at any time, with the single
exception that after his second attack on me
me, said something hastily, and regretted
1t a moment after That is the only word
ever spoke to that man that could be con-
strued into an insult by the most sensitive
gentleman.
1 was about leaving the office and was near
the door, when Waldron addressed me and
commenced abusing me, and interposed him
self between me and the door, planted himself
before me and advanced on me with clenched
fists and vile language until he had forced me
to the extreme corner OF the room and was in
the very act of striking me in the face with his
fists, when l, with a slight motion of my wrist
and elbow, gave him slight tap on the cheek
with the shears, which had in my hand and
was taking to the shop 10 have repaired. And
that during the whole time OF his abuse of me
made no reply; and what | did was in the
fullest sense self-defence. was driven to the
wall by a rufflan and an old prize-fghter.
There was no alternative.
A short time afterwards, while quietly pass
ing along in front of the City Hall, and in the
act of taking a gentleman to one side to speak
to him, Waldron who was in the crowd, ran
up and struck me a glancing and harmless
blow, and ! turned around and seized and
threw him down, when policeman Ryan ran
up behind me and commenced trying to choke
me, and struck me in the face, making my
nose bleed; and that was all there was Of it.
l now defy any gentleman, If any were pres
ent, to say that used one word or did any act
that would reflect on gentleman. was at
tackled, and II had not been interfered with
would have been nghting until, as Parson
Brownlow said, " He'll froze over" but would
have whipped my assailant. There you have
the second affair. f1
Now want this community to know that
am peaceable man, and that no man would
publicly defy any person to truthfully say
that of the many years have resided in this
city to point one single instance of my having
ever been knownlto speak unkindly TO any
one or to comport myself in any manner un-
becoming gentleman and good citizen.,
l will close this note by some extracts from
the testimony OF policeman Carpenter, in ex-
planation OF the part he took in the affair."
Officer Carpenter being duly sworn said: In
the ZanJero's Office; heard Waldron say,
" If you will lay down your pruning shears, /
Will whip you In q half m1nute." When got
to the door of the office, Waldron repeated the
same words. l walked straight up to them
and said, "Boys, stop that; no gfighting." Al
that time the blow was struck, and Waldron
fell. la4 .Vea n
Cross-questloned by Bell: isgi. a
Ques.-You said you was near the window
when you heard Waldron's language; how
did he speak ,ie.ftsfa
Ans.-He spokeloud, and in an angry tone.
Question: many times did you hear that
language repeated? aIaA
Ans.-About three times fuC6
Ques.-During this time didpyou hear Bell
speak? G1o'
Ans.-I think not .'ss1
Ques.-When you stepped up to command
the peace, did II look like 1ght2 o3-ia
Ans.-It did look like fight. nH
Ques.--Did you see Bell withyhis hands up,
either in an attitude either of offence or de-
fence Hfa
Ans.-Bell did not have his hands up. Wal
drOn was standing with his fists drawn: Bell
was standing with his back to the counter,
Waldron Immediately In front OF him.
Here Mr.. Carpenter described the manner
in which Waldron stood with his fists up.
hereby certify that tha foregoing Is a true
and correct copy OF Carpenters testimony in
the investigation by the. Police Committee In
the charges OF Horace Bell against police Of
ficer Carpenter. Nj. KREMER,
City Clerk.
Septem ber 7, 1874.
Ibeiieve that is confirmatory OF my state
ment, and so you have it.
Los Angeles, Sept. 0, 1874.