Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-09-01
PLATTE the Murder Instigator.

from the Washington Republican, attempts TO
explain away the obloquy and contempt that
will forever attach to him for bis late coWardly
attempt to have Mr.. Goode shot by hired as
sassin. His letter only confirms every state
rlent that was made 10 MIR. Goodies expose OF
the Infamous transaction, published in yester-
days Gazette: -c
"WAsHINGToN August 81, 1876.
II B Nichols NORFOLK w.:
| nave received with utter asonshmeot your
telegram in relation to the affidavit of VIM. ID.
Coe, charging that, having written the letters
which have appeared 10 the Washington he
publican sgped Paxton" | mad engaged him
| to assume the responsibility 10 case MIR. Goode
should demand satisfaction. | am unable to
| realize how any man Can possess mallgolty and
bardrhood IN ugh to SO pervert facts, and DOT
having seen the affidavit referred to mus! COD.
tent myself with an absolute and unequlvocal
denial of the statement, and meetlt by a simple
and truthful recital of all the facts Of my con.
nectiou with VIM H. Coo and the paxton
letters Early 10 the month Of August Zoe
called at nv room with the manuscript OF the
first letter, dated Norfolk, August 3, and re-
uuested me to procure its publication. tie
stated to me that be felt deep sense OF graft,
| TO me for having some three years ago obtained
| him employment when he WAS 10 destitute
aud suffering couditioo; that be had felt out
RACED at the treatment had received from MIR.
Goode, of whom he spoke 10 terms stronger, II
| possible, THAI III his letter. He stated 10 me
| that he had been captain 10 the AUD Vlr-
| GINA regiment and Vas genlleman by Dlrth
aud connection 10 Virginia; that he had had
| Two fights on my account, brought about by his
Of ho nj ross
| and Mr, Goode 10 my election contest-one
with the Hon. Beverly Douglass at the Metro.
politan Ho.vl, aud Que with Frzhugh the late
| doork eeper of the House, at the National Ho-
! tel. H. took from his pocket ADD showed inc
a communication, which, he said, he had writ
ten TWO years ago, when was attacked IN the
columns OF the Sunday Gazette, OF this city,
aud 10 which be warmly defended me, aud pro-
| nouuced the statements 10 the GAZETTE articles
to be bassly false He gave as a reason why
be did not II mself take his letter to the Rcpub-
Ilcau Office that they mad refused to publish his
defense OF me two years ago, and he thought
they would not insert auy hing tor him.
asked him If he was prepared to take iuil re-
spouslbily OF the publication, to which he re
pied that be was. | then took the letter, which
was written on both sides OF the paper with a
lead pencil 10 back hand, struck 1ut some tul-
some praise of myself, and added the charges
in relation to MIR. Goode having voted for hun
self and permitting his father to be supported
by the State, aud copied the letter SO corrected,
Coc reading from the manuscript. The letter
was then sent to the Republican office by me
and published. % the 23t of August he
1 called again on me With second letter, aud l
| gave him copies of the card inserted By Mr..
Goode 10 the Vrginian of the 22d, and that OF
[ IL Of ho q
date. After readiug these he said he would
alter the letter that he had written, and would
stop the writing of cards, but that be did not
know about the charges that Goodc voted for
himself aud about his father. | told him l
assumed all the responsibility for those charges,
aud was prepared to prove them. lie had
signed this second letter, Paxton, an officer 10
the Confederate army, who lost an arm lighting
for the South, while you, Mr.. Good, were oc
cupying your soft place IN the Confederate
Congress-" At my suggestion all OF this but
the word paxton Was omitted This letter
was prepared for publication 10 the same way
as the first, and at his request l met him at
the editorial rooms Of the Republican aud III.
trodu;cd him to Mr. Davidson as Paxton. y
While 10 the editorial rooms he again asked TO
have the addition above referred to made o
the sigma ure, but was dssuaded from doing SO
by me. And be- exhibited to Mr.. Davidson
the letter previously referred to, which he had
prepared two years ago for the Gazette, reterr-
| Ing to the fact that the Republican had refused
to publish it as his reason for his request tor
me to accompany him to the off -, as be
thought they would not print anything tor him.
This letter appeared in the Republican OF the
24ih inst.
Believing that it would compel notice from
Mr. Goode, this Arrangement was made with
Capt. Coo and myself. His address was left
with the editor Of the Republican. Any com
munication which might come FIR Paxton
was to be sent to Coe. lie was 10 refer the
writer to me, and | was to notify whoever 1t
might be that VIM. H. Coe was the author Of
the "Pax'on" letters, add responsible for all
the coutcns except the statements:
l. THAI MIR. Goude voted for hims If at the
last Congressional election.
g That while deporing the great pov ry OF
| Virginia be had permitted his father to be sup
ported by the State.
g. That he had attended the dauclag parties
and balls Of Washington Immediately after his
ia: hers death that for these staten :nts l was
responsible, and that We both docllued any re-
traction uoI,ss furnished with proof that the
statements made were incorrect. Expecting
| to be absent from Washington Tor two days L.
at bis request, gave him the form OF an answer
| to send 10 any communication he might receive,
referring the writer to me. And 90 bis state
ment that be was on! of employment gave
him letter to General AveriIl, asking for a
position for him 10 the work of paving Penn
sylvania avenue Believing him gentleman
and man of honor, | had 90 hesitation in CIV
ing him this letter, aud said no more in it than
| believed to be true.
On Saturday evening" August &c, the fol-
| lowing note was brought to me at my rooms by
a man had ueve. seen before:
| James IL PLatt:
DEAR FRIEND: Please send me 10y ten
dollars. as | wish to leave for Baltimore |
called to see you twice, but you We're out |
| will call 90 my return would call, but am
down town.
By complying with the above you will oblige
yours, &c,
| lPaxtun. VIM H. Coz.