The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-06-21
Reply 10 Clark VI. johnson
BRooKHAvEN, Miss, June Il, ~.

| BROOKHAYEN, MISS, June IT., ~.
70 the Editor of the Comet:
My attention has Just been called to g
communication in your last issue, signed
| by Mr.. Clark NJ. johnson, of Crystal
Springs, wherein he denounces Il sketch
which appeared in your paper of April 18th,
and written by myself 'as slanderous in
Utmost every particular, as fHr as it felatea
to his Grandfather, Father and himself, -
whom he says ''it was erH7satly tHtevd7 to
represent
Now, what is SANDER? Webster says,
defamation, caIumny, false reproach, ut
terance of injurious reports against an
other,' etc. The law says, defamation by
words Sp05.en. the utteraace of false, malls
cious and defamatory words, tending to the
damage and derogation of another. Bowler
says, written or printed ISLANDERS are
libels," and if this be true, written and
printed hbels are ISLANDERS. Now if this is
so, 1 would ask Mr.. johnson if I have
written or printed a libel?
Did call his name, or that of his family
in the article referred to? And, inasmuch
as I did not, how is h slandered? And if
fertile imagination has caused him to sus
bect 1 referred to him or his family where
is the libel?
There certainly must be something to
Justify such an imagination, and if so, it is
neither slander nor libel.
Now, in self justification, will state tits
a license which every sketch writer has, to
gain facts, or to create tancies, and locate
them in any section Of the country he may
see proper, so long as he gives fictitious
names. It is also the privilege of the
reader to imagine the characters refer to
him or to his neighbors, when. in fact, the
real characters may reside hundreds of
miles distant. Charles Dickens evidently
knew Micawber and located him in Lon
don, England, yet what English or Amere
lean city has not its Micawbor
The story upon which the sk. tch above
alluded 10 was founded. was tu}t me- somo
years ago by gentleman ti.ua rN leld vt
Copiah comfy, but now, if living non
resident Of this State.
He mentioned no names, nor do re-
momomber that he located the story as 1
did, in my sketch; in substance, however,
| have only repeated his tale except have
omitted many incidents which I deemed
unnecessary to introduce in a newspaper
sketch.
Mr.. Johnson is right in saying | know
nothing of his early family Nor do I
know but little of his late family, Nor did
write .ho sketch TO iniure him or his
family. Nor DO I know the sketch relates
to HIM except in one particular; and that
was a portion of the ''courtship, which a
member of his family once related to me,
without any solicitation on my part, and L
certainly did not think it slar3r If 7 Woye
it into my SIX etch, for know uo. whether
it be the truth or n falsehocL
As far as Mr.. Johnson's aar record is
concerned. I know nothing, aId care less
but did know a man by the name IF John
Clarkson. who tillcdmy description exactly
Regarding myself, Mr.. Johnson mas
made false statement, and believe know
ingly so. l am not, nor ever was, a tomb
stone agent, and as far as patriotism is con-
ctInod, I am not afraid to compare war
records with him.
And in conclusion, l will r.ilcrate,
never intended Islander upcn him, or his
family aud was not aware the coat fitted
him until l learned he WAS trying to wear
1t. am sorry to have offended any one
10y what | intended as a harmless article;
but it is written, aud there 1t must remain.
L. ID EATON.