Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-06-08
New advertisements.
Personal.

efence, would REFER MIN 10 the EultoIs vi
your very good paper who required that |
should appear under that head, and l did not
much care, since was not especially DESTROYS
of appearing in print at the expense of others.
In reference to Mr.. Vim. Frazier's denial
(Which will insertJ Of that clause of my let
ter (which he did not correctly quote.) | will
simply re-assert what first said. che appealed
to my cou nsel, Gen. John. Echols, and with my
appreciation as small personal allusion as pose
slble was made to him" Thus he writes:
Editor Vindicator:
In the advertisement published by James A.
Frazier in your issue of May 4,h, there is ONE
statement which would seem to rest on other
authority than the name OF the writer only, and
therefore demands NJ. notice 1t is the astound-
ing charge tat prior TO the argument lin the
Alum Springs case) had appealed to Gen
Echols to deal lenently or tenderly with me,
that he, the advertiser, had approved of his do
ing so and consequently his counsel bad been
as forbearing towards me as possible.
denounce this whole statement as false in
substan, and form, in gross and in detail
and Gen. Echols will not avouch its truth in
any particular in the least degree"
: The following letter speaks for itself:
Law Office, EoHoLs, BELL l. CATLETr,
Staunton, Va, May 28th III.
Jas. A. Frazier, Esqr.,
Rockbridge Alum Springs,
DIR Sir:
Yours of oath
inst. was reed on 25th, and would have been
answered at once but That was quite unwell
on that day. and on the next day [ was called
from home by business engagement Instead
of answering your questions AS propouuded,
think 1T best to give 5ou brief statement of
the incident referred to by you, according to
my recollection In January last, when the case
of Frazier l. ais. vs. Frazier &c. - was argued
before Judge Mel aughlin, !. as your counsel,
concluded the argument. Just as was about
to commence my argument. MI. VIM. Frazier
arose from seat within the bar and indicated
his desire to address the Court. His counsel
q. NJ Cochran, Jr Esqr., went to him and
| interrupted him, and they held short confer
| ence together. Caot Cochran then cane to
me, and we stepped back to the rear of the bar
| when he informed me that Mr.. VIM. Frazier
seemed to be labcrng under the apprehension
| that unpleasant or harsh comments might be
| made upon him and his conduct, particularly
| according to my recollection, in reference to
| the unkind relations, which, in the view of
| your counsel ct the trial OF the case in 1863,
| the record showed, existed between him and
| you mot4er, and that he desired in advance to
disclaim any improper feeling of hostility in
this connection. at once assured Capt Coch-
| ran that so far as was concerned Mr.. Frazier
| need have nc apprehension f any unIind per-
sonal alluson to himself from me n the closing
| argument my colleague, Mr. Southall, in the
opening of the case having already disclsimed
| the lmputation of Intentional wrong to Mr.
| Frazier.
| Capt. Cochran then approached Mr.. Frazier
| again, and, after few moments, he, Mr.. F.,
announced to the Court that in Difference to
the advice Of his council, he would d. cline
to say anything further, l info med you
| of what had passed between Captain Coch,
md hoH pppyno tiov
| with MIR. VIM. Frazier, and understood you
to fully approve Of my course, and, during the
preparation OF the cause for trial, | know that
YOU expressed desire to avoid all personalities
aud unkind illusions. return your letter as
you request
am, truly, &c,
JNO. ECHOLS.
I would fain throw around Mr.. Frazier a
| mantle of charity, and believe he was laboring
'nter f distracted state of mind when he
penned that denial.
Mr.. T again seeks to draw the name Of that
| pure and upright man Hon. Lucas P. Thomp-
SON into his impure tling, by re-a5sertiDg
hat he had ruled i'll his behalf, which is er
| roneous and untrue ia every particular.
| though twenty Yeas after wards Mr.. Frazier,
| who wishes 20 essa brish claim of $50 0Ov
| against me, and High Mas er Comlnis soner
| f1endren, II very lengthy argument in W F. 3
behalf (stylea repoFt) to holster up, came into
| court with an aft avit aft ming what no one
| else had ever known, and would h We you be-
| iieve 5his learned Judge had decided point in
| voving thousan is of lars. and the rights of
| = dozen persons, without line or scratch of
| his pen recording the fact; for afIer diligent
| search. eren Judge Mclaughlin could find no
| hlng to sustain this most astounding and SpU
rious attempt to make up record against me.
AS to the remaining honorable gentl nun, who
acted in the case, Cleaned from his first letter
he was preparing ashield of their garments for
shelter, in case he found his match, though
must confess | did no. EXPECT SO inglorious
retreat. after SO bombastic all advance. How
| base in Mr.. Frazier 10 Hing the Judiciary In my
face when he knows the law forbids my critic
cisng their action isn't this his object think
ing Fwould thereby prejudice my case before
the five learned judges, at whose bar will soon
! bring him. Should ii have that effect promise
him there is another Judge, inexosable and
just, at W. ose bar this case will finally rest,
where | LOOK forward with 'Hope, equal in
faith,'' that the wrongs he has inflicted upon
my mother and me will be avenged; for be
says vengeance is mine" As to resting my
case with the good people of Stanton, | say
yes, OR any other, save the residents OF the FIJI
Islands, as only people of their nature would
stab you when dom, b lieving Christians can
muster no language strong enough to condemn
the indecacy and unmanlpess OF Nj, Fraz er's
Appearing in print, when he not only had me
down but 'hrotted and that their undivided
opinion will be, his senses could only have been
p'er.mtstered by his vanity. In concluding
his advertisement he speaks of my letter as
RECKLESS assertions " Doubtless Re would give
fortunes (it he pt ssessed them) to delude you
Hto this belief, But why did these ipcontro-
vertibe truths appear at ali? To defend my
dead father from this unnatural brother, who
wonld seek to asperse nj good name won
der (when he attempted it, if this scene, that
happened many ears ago, and which memory
brings back with painful and never fading
distinctness TO me, did NOT rise up before him:
when brave, pure man lay dying, and around
his bedside, weeping wife, soon TO be widow
ed, wondering boy, aud brother SO called)
aud with fathers love and care for the un-
protected fuiur. of his child in the extreme mo-
ment Of death, extracted froal his brother a
solemn promise that he would be faithful aud
inst 10 his widow and hild, and carried the
comfort of that sacred pledge with him to
Heayen--a pl dye that has lain broken at the
feet of Vim Frazier from that moment TO this
In conclusion, as to the length OF my letters,
Iwoulo,sa they m ust necessarily be longer han
his, for, rs get, have no judicial mantle to
throw around my shoulders to protect me from
the darts of him. who having driven me from
my property denied me ell its comforts, and
deprived me Of the ad santagss of an education,
would now rob me OF tie only boon have
left-the good name Of my father, and it was
to save this appeared in print at all, and
trust all who believe in what is just, and | feel
every father. who loves his child, and knows
not what day he may be called on to couGdo
his little onss 10 cold unthinking world, will |
not think have said too much
J. A. FRAZIER,
Rock Alum Springs, May goth II: