The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1877-01-25
wHIrTHoRNE.


The whole story h. as follows, As
soon as Mr.. Whitthorne began his in-
vestigation OF Robeeon's adm inistration
that worthy, as is wont under similar
circumstances, undertook 10 buy up the
committee and get whltewashing re-
port. The members of the committee
were approached by Robcson's emlssa-
ries with proflers OF place aud patron-
age. But for the blun honesty and saw
age earncstncss Of Chairman Whit
thorne and some OF his colleagues on
the committee, there would have been
wining and dining, and tho chances
would have been that the usual bland
ishmentS would have had an elegant
coat OF white-wash. But Whitthorne
had set his hand to the work, and from
the day OF his appointment 10 the day
of his report he never turned back.
Said member OF the committee 10 me
yesterday 81 never saw man work
rs Whitthorne worked. Morning, noon
and night he was at lt. He was always
at work. lou could not even get him
to take glass of wine. From the first
To the last he never allowed his mind to
be diverted from the task lac had set
himself"
Failing in his efforts 60 Tribe or In
fluence the honest Congressman from
tennessee, Robson adopted a new set
of tactics, which were quickly. ly.recogniz-
ell and at least partially understood by
some of the members OF tho committee
at the time, although the full nature OF
the despicable plot TO ruin Whitthorne,
which was set on foot, has only Just
come out. But pending the inveetign-
ton Whitthorne, Jones OF New Iiamp-
shire aud Burleigh of Maine, became
aware OF the fact that they were und,r
a sort of surveillance. Their footsteps
were dogged. Their abOdes were
watched. Their incomings and outgo-
iugs were noted. SO marked did this
surveillance become In Mr.. Nhitthornc's
case that he was forced 10 change his
lodgings from his ground door lodgings
on Twelfth street TO q suite of rooms on
Thirteenth street, which could not he
looked into from the street. SO pointed
and obnoxious was the suivelllance of
his apartments on Twelfth street that
witnesses refused 20 testify unless he
would close the shutters, aud, finally,
they refused TO come there altogether.
Then it came to his knowledge that
some one was ransackinQ hts private pa
pers aud carrying information culled
therefrom to Robson. The members OF
the committee supposed nc the time that
they were being watched ia order that
II they should commit any indlscretion
it might be used against them. When
Whitthorne's report was nearly ready
for presentation and It's rigorous tone
was pretty well known, Robson took
fright, became desperate and adopted
desperate measures. ARepublican mem
Der, doubtless sent by Robeson, went to
Gen. Atkins, who Is a personal friend OF
Whitthorne, and told him that " lac
(Whitthorne) made "A strong report an
attack would be made on Whitth0rne's
private character. In the light OF these
recent Developments IL is clear that it
was an attempt to intimidate Mr.. Whit
thorne. The messenger OF course knew
that Gen. Atkins would take friendly
warning TO MIR. Wbitthorne. Probably
he did not expect the answer which Mr..
Whitthorne sent back, "YOu may say %
him, ''said the Tennessee Chairman, ,"that
II hell yawned three feet la 'front.' OF me
/ would still go forward and do my du-
ty." And he did, as the country knows
well.
Now two of the accomplices confess
that after Il was found impossible 20 buy
or intimidate Mr.. WhitthOrne, MurtaRh,
the editor OF the National Republican,
entered into "A contract with them,
whereby for his money, they were 20
get Whitthorne intoxicated, and when
in this condition entice him either Into
gambling-house or house Of III fame;
once inside few Of the reliable police
officers OF the district were 10 make a
raid and be sure 30 arrest only Whit
thorne. a publication OF his disgrace,
If the conspiracy had worked, would,
Of course, have ruined him and broken
the force Of his report. The con-
spiraeY, however, failed, because Whit
thorne rould not be induced 90 drink
anything, much less get intoxicated.
Murtagh has confessed 70 this coneplr-
acy.