The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-12-04
To My FelloW-C itizans.|

~ IVY r SllOW.Ol.lES4lS.'
l am not oblivious of the fact, that
many will consider this i strange line
of conduct to pursue, in the face Of
such a card az Z. L. Pierson has pre-
sumed to indite and publish, concern
ing myself. do not do so, however,
with any intent to satisfy the morbid
desire of many, but simply as IL JUS
tiiication of my acts'to my friends. ,
Those who know me personally !
those who know my antecedents are
we'll aware that my past condi'ct
through life has been such, that tile
name coward could never with truth,
be imputed to me. l have through
life endeavMed to prove to the salts
faction Of myself, at least, that n"
craven act should mark my conduct,
my friends are equally satisfied, I am
sure, that have upon 7 II occasions ri;'s' .
evinced enough determination, or
moral aptitude to resist insnlt. f.
Ipropose now to give to tho public
my reasons, succinctly stated, and for
the truth Of which I am willing to youch
my life and my honor, for declining to
accord to E. L. Pierson that right
any gentleman, who was agsIieved at
NY utterances through these eo'umns.
should expect, and which am will
ing to allow. Il enter upon this task
with due Difference to the feelings Of
TIE family Of this degenerate son of
- worthy father, for whom I yield to
none in my high regard and apprecia'
ton, hr them regret it, but in vim
dication Of myself in this matter the
truth must 10 told, come what may.
During the war, F.. L. Pierson hav-
lug enlisted as a volunteer in C"mpa-
ny A, Second Louisiana Infantry, de-
scrtetl therttTioss o'r more than one &C.
casion. He entered, during the time
of his desertion, into the p,nct'ee Of
forging discharges and .far'sxgns in
Richmond, W., fur which he was
arrested, t'ied and sentenced to be shot,
he escaped, however, paying the pom
atty Of his crimes, through the kind
ness Of a lady Of Rapi''es parish,
whom. / believe to be, still living !;
this lady was the wife Of an int|nen-
tial citizen, and succeeded in arousing
the sympathy Of Mrs. Davis, the wife
of the President. The crime was so
palpably proven that the President
,nfusetl to interfere at first, but a
personal interview was obtained by
these lalies, between the President
and this E. L. Rierson, at which in
terview the culprit threw himself up
on his knees, bathed' in mock or real
tears, pleaded youthful indiscretion,
that he was the only support Of a ,cid-
dowea mother, an only child; both
false, and under a solemn promise to
reform; to return to his command
ana act the soldier, he was pardoneil.
1t will be seen how. he requited this
act Of elemency. M sooner is bis
safety assured, than he assumes the
same roll-he deserts again, and this
timo in tho dress of IN officer, styl-
ing himself 1t, Col. Huntington, per-
ambu|ates the Confederacy under
forged papers, drawing pay from the
many departments upon FORGED
pay accounts, not only for himself,
but for others: He was caught in At
lanta, Ga., in the Department Of the
West. then in command Of Gen.
Bmxton Bragg, IN the act For this
he was tried, condemned and senten-
ced to be shot. Through the indis.
cretion of'an officer on the Court Mar.
tial, he was apprized Of his fate. He
knew Gen. Bragg. He knew tlmt no
mercy was shown the criminal, and
he succeeded IN escaping. = This is as
mnch as we know Of his war record,
it is enough, however, to satisfy all.
Returning to his home after the
war, he was coldly met at first; his
father and family stood high. and for
their sake. society tacit!y received
Pierson, agreeing To overlook his past
fragrant acts, and Judge him closely
by his future conduct; He showed in
private life that same character which
had ever actuatel him ; he was 1un.
truthful, unreliable, and in more than
ono instance, charged with, ungcntle.
manly conduct, In 1871. or w. he
was retained as an. Attorney in snit
Of Peter, Venleman W. Sam'l. Par
son, in which, as Attorney for Veule.
| man, lie recovered fom Parson over
two hundred dollars, which amount
1t retained in his possession until the
24th of November, uIt., and then
paid over, under the stress Of the
charge in these columns made on tie
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