Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-09-07


Turns Out to Be q Rebel
Desertcr, Spy and
Bounty Jumper.
The Inside History Of Case Fut
of Curious Coincidences-Stdte-
ments in Full From Coz.
Hayes and General
j. II. Comfy.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati
Times.l
COLUMBUS, August %.
Next to writing book, running
for office has more ills connected
with it than anything else in life
No matter how pure the life or noble
the character Of man may be, LEI
him once stand as a candidate fol
public honors or emoluments, and he
is a monument for every scalawag to
throw mud at. If he has faults, may
the fates help him, for in a week af-
ter his nomination, these faults
shockingly exaggerated, will have
been given to all the world by his
political enemies. If he be pure and
honest he frequently stands but lit
tie better chance than if he had COM
mitted all the crimes in the calender,
for all the liars of the land are set to
work to coin stories against him that
may tend to his defeat. Governor
Hayes has been something of an ex-
ception to this rule, having lived an
official and private life so nearly per-
feet as to make even the champion
prevaricators hesitate about attempt
ing TO make the world believe other
wise.
After searching in vain for some
story of fraud or corruption, that
should operate against the Republi-
can standard bearer, all seemed to
give it up as hopeless task, until a
small weekly newspaper of West Vir-
ginia gave to its readers cock and
bull story, which when boiled down
was to the effect that a former chap
lam of West Virginia regiment had
charged that Governor Hayes had
appropriated to his own use some four
hundred dollars in money, the prop
!. erty of an unfortunate Union SOL
dier who had been shot by order of
General Hayes" This story was so
utterly stupid as to cause only amuse-
ment to the intimate friends of Gov.
Hayes, and it only became important
when it was repeated by some of the
more prominent papers in localities
where the Governor was less known.
Now, what was the basis Of this
silly story? just this: Rev. w. w.
Harper was at one time the Chap
lain of the Thirteenth West Virginia
Volunteers.
Later along Mr.. Harper was dele
gate to the Republican Convention
of his State, and a candidate for
State or county Office, and conse
quently was target for the archers
of the enemy. To lessen his iniu-
ence story was started that he had
appropriated to his own use some
$400 in money and two silver watch
es, the former property of Union
soldier who had been shot at Mo-
nocacy junction, Maryland, in 1854.
Singularly enough Mr.. Harper did
not enjoy being published as thief,
and so to right himself he published
a card stating that whereas he had
certainly received the money in ques-
tion from the hands of a soldier, he
had turned it over to General r. B.
Hayes, and knew nothing more about
it. This card was intended to clear
his own skirts of the crime of steal
ing from a dead man, but the oppo-
sition newspapers saw in it some
thing far more important. They put
the case about this way.
Harper admits that he received
this money, and declares that he
turned it over to General Hayes. If
this be true, what becams of the
money! Why, General Hayes stole
it of course.
1t SO happens that Governor Hayes
has some friends who are far from
willing to believe that man holding
a position of such prominence as
General in the Union army had been
guilty of appropriating this money.
and so replied to this card. Mr.. Har
per, to further clear his skirts and
satisfy the inquiries of his people,
came to Columbus last night, for the
purpose of seeing if he could not
get something that would set this
story forever at rest.
Learning that Mr.. Harper was ex-
pecting to call upon Governor Hayes,
this morning, your correspondent re-
paired thither, and soon after Mr..
Harper came in.
ANY one looking for the first time
upon the gentleman as he sat in the
cool parlor of the Hayes residence
would have been satisfied at glance
that he was one who had come upon.
q special mission. He was dreadful
ly in earnest, and quite readily con-
sented to an interview, which panned
out as follows:
"Yes, / am the Rev. w. W. Har-
per, of Hartford City, West Virginia,
who wrote the card about that de-
serter's money. | was Chaplain of
the Thirteenth West Virginia Yolqn-
teers. | am not used to being inter-
viewed, but If you will let me tell my
story ip my own way, I will tell you
ell know about the case"
Having assured Mr.. Harper that
that was just what wanted, he pro-
ceeded as follows:
MR.. HARPER's STATEMENT.
On the 26th of June, 1876, Iwrote
and published in the Point Pleasant
Register the following letter:
HARTFORD CRY, WEST Va,
June 26, 1876.