Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-03
Personal.
STAuNTON. VA. Feb. oath. 1871

STAUNToN, VA, Feb. 29th, 1876.
EDITORS "VINDIcAToR"-G e,atzenaen:-
My attention has been called to an article
in your last issue, which contains SEN
tence that in the opinion of my friends
casts unjust reflections, and may tend to in
jure me in the estimation of those who are
not familiar with the circumstances OF the
assault made upon me several years ago.
The sentence is as follows:
''He was an active officer of the service,
and had made himself so obnoxious in South
western Virginia, that an attempt was
made to assassinate him, in which he was
shot and manned for life"
In 1866, was engaged in Symthe CO..
Va, Superintending the Holston Wooden
Mill That establishment having suspen-
ded operation for six months, was unfor-
tunately asked by Maj. Geo. S. Smith, AS
SCISSOR Of the Sth Va. Collection District to
take position as Asst. for three months.
After being duly commissioned 1 was as
signed to duty in Tazewell co. My supe-
rior officer ordered me to visit every distil-
lery in the county to ascertain whether any
of them were in operation, as none of them
were licensed. On my trip of investiga-
ton, visited the distillery of John Han
shew in Burks Garden, and found that he
had been operating for considerable
| length of time at night, to avoid detec-
ton. We had no difficulty in relation to
the matter, all our conversation being calm
and dispassionate. He knew that [ would
pass over Rich Mountain the next morn
| ing, also that it was my duty to report his
| illicit operation to the Collector. He Sc
how 10,
ciple that ssdead men tell no tales'' and 60
| ing six miles from his home secreted him.
self on the mountain by the road side, and
made a cold blooded attempt to take my
| life by shooting me, as [ was unsuspecting-
| ly riding along on my journey to the coun-
/ ty seat. Fortunately my horse carried me
about two inches too far forward, for him
to send the bullet through my heart at
which point it was aimed. The ball passed
through my left arm, fracturing the upper
third of the humerus, and severing the
mu sculo=spiral nerve. which has left me a
cripple for lie.
The criminal has been, and is now a
fugitive from justice.)
| Were it not for being crippled, 1 would
have retired from the Revenue Service at
| the expiration of three months, the time
for which [ entered it.
In conclusion permit me to state that I
have uniformly succeeded in getting along
smoothly with private individuals during
my official experience but whenever had
| any knowledge, or information that a
sworn Government Official was being I'M
true to his trust, by pocketing money that
ought to go into the U. S. Treasury, or in
any other way bringing disgrace upon the
service, have, as it was my duty to do,
called the attention Of the Government to
| it. Which has made some enemies There
is, however, plenty of room in this world
| for them and me.
Believing that mans success in this
life, and in the life to come, depends upon
the character established here, it has been
my aim all through life to so conduct my
self as to command the respect of all re-
fecting and right minded people, and since
my connection with the church, to win the
approval of my creator.
Very Respectfully,
| JOSEPH DAWSON.