Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-02-05

HE DENIES EVERY CHARGE AND DEFIEs
HIS ACCUsER.

published in the Ne,os and Courier of the 18th
inst, had aroused the keenest interest as to
what line of action Gen. Gary would adopt
in meeting the charges SO pointedly made
against him, / determined to ascertain from
Gen. Gary himself, provided he we're willing
to indicate it, the course he would pursne.
With this purpose in view arrived at Edge
field village this morning and called upon
the General. eaid to him that had come
as a. reporter of the News and Courier to
learn if he desired to say anything in answer
to the charges made against him by Col.
Haskell.
Gen. Gary replied at some length. intima.
ting that he considered Col. Haskell's letter
as covert attack by Senator Hampton, the
assertion of Col. Haskell that Senator Hamp-
ton knew nothing of his (Haskell's) purpose
Of publishing the letter, to the contrary not.
withstaDding, and, for this reason, declined to
notice any of the charges preferred in the first
portion of Col. HaskeIl's letter. He regard
ed the matters therein alleged as pertaining
exclusively to the controversy between Sena.
Hampton and himself, and he did not feel in.
clined to recognize Col. Haskells right TO
intrude himself into controversy which in
no wise presented an issue between Haskell
and himself, but which related exclusive.
" to the points under discussion between
Senator Hampton and himself. He gave me
an extended account of his own attitude as
public man during the last FIVE years,
claiming that events had vindicated his po-
litical course and denying that he had ever
shown anything like personal hostility to
Senator Hampton. The conversation then
proceeded as follows:
Reporter: Well, General, what have you
to say in regard to the Haskell letter ?"
Gen. Gary: The attack of COL Haskell
upon me is evidently a we'll planned attempt
to shift the issues and change the actors.
/ Col. Haskell has intruded himself in rude
and unmanly manner between Senator Hamp.
ton and myself, no doubt with the view of
relieving Senator Hampton and giving him
self some Importance. He acknowledge,
that he is not authorized by Senator Hamp-
ton to say anything, and certainly have not
invited him to do so, for have no cause of
quarrel or controversy with him. Ex-senator
Hampton wishes to continue the controversy
or discussion, am ready to do 80 upon any
field he may select. Whatever have stated
10 my several interviews as fact Of my own
knowlege, here reiterate that they are true;
and such facts as have stated upon the know.
ledge and information derived from others,
here reiterate that believe them to be true.
Reporter: What have you to say in rel
gard to the charges against you contained in
the latter part of COL Haskell's letter?-
Gen. Gary: As to his personal filings and
abuse or as to what he thinks the people
think of me, have nothing to say. As to
his charges, they have been made and repeat.
ed in Radical newspapers for the last five or
six years. The one numbered First, appear
ed 10 the New York Times. the National
Republican and the Union Herald. In Feb.
ruary, 1878, it was laid upon the desks of
the members of the General Assembly of this
State, while I, with others, was engaged in
the fight against the ring of fraudulent bond.
holders. l at the time rose to question of
privilege, and replied to this malicious false.
hood against Senator N. C. Butler and my
self in complete answer, which silenced the
Radical press, and satisfied our friends; but
it seems that some of our Democratic enemies
are trying to burn this ammunition second
time to our disadvantage.
As to the second charge, that | engaged
to aid in securing the approval Of the Tax
payers Convention to the REIMBURSEMENT by
the State of its first mortgage ON the Blue
Ridge Railroad to private parties, l would
say that I would have stulti6ed myself as
lawyer had agreed to aid in any such prop.
osition. The Taxpayers Convention was
voluntary body and had no legal existence
or Constitutional powers, and could not have
made such a REIMBURSEMENT. The charge
that I ever entered into any such agree.
ment, or that ever received pay for the
same, is as false as it is malicious
The third charge. that was the constant
defender of McDevitt, the Radical treasurer
of Edgefeld, is also false. never defended
McDevitt on the criminal side Of the court.
defended j. II. McDevitt, county treasurer
of Edge6eld county, in the celebrated case of
George P. Curry and Hardy Wall, plaintiffs,
vs.. Harrison Strom, Wesley Jefferson and
Doc Martin, county commissioners, and
John H. McDevitt, county treasurer, de.
fendants 1t is also false that zone of the
indictments against McDevitt was for fraud
ulently paying General Gary large sum
of county money" The only money that
McDevitt, as county treasurer, ever paid me,
was $500 for Gary Il Gary, attorneys for the
county treasurer in the case above stated.
The amount of our fee in this case was re-
ported by Chancellor Carroll, to whom it
was referred SIS special referee, to inquire
and report reasonable fee for our work in
this case ; and he reported, after taking testi-
mony as to the value of our services, that we
were entitled to a fee of $l,000 which report
was confirmed by the Circuit Judge.
The fourth charge is also false l never
did advocate that Gen. Butler should be
withdrawn and that Whittemore should be
put in his place. This is the same charge
that I answered as question of privilege
in the State Senate when it appeared in the
newspapers at that time, as can be seen by
referring to the files of the Columbia Register
and the Journal of the Senate. Instead of
trying to withdraw Gen. Butler, it is we'll.
known that when he was virtually deserted
by Hampton and others who should have
supported him, I, at his request, gave him
nv support and assisted in defeating the
Patterson resolutions, which, if they had
passed, would have placed him in the awk-
ward position of an migrate by forcing him
to take the initiative step to unseat Patterson,
whose vote and influence helped to secure
Buffers seat and defeated the Chains of
Corbin.
1 have again answered these stale charges,
which originally sprung from my Radical
opponents, and am now willing for the pub
lie to decide as to their truth or falsity.
will say, in conclusion, that have never
sold out the Stste to the fraudulent bond
holders; have made no bargains with Rad
:..1, - Cs... 49, ~.Et:o, M, rooJo