The Portland daily press., 1880-03-04
The Stone Murder Case.
WASHINGTON. D. c.. Feb.

WASHINGION, " w., EoD 20, lOoU.
Mr.. EDITOR: By the kindness of some
friend I have just been handed a
copy Of your DAILY PRESS of the 24th
inst, containing an anonymous COM
munication from North Yarmouth, signed
"Veritas!" which is so utterly at variance
with the import of the signature adopted that
cannot refrain from asking you to publish
my emphatic denial of the principal statements
therein contained
was made aware of the fact that 1 had
enemies, malignant and selfish, in the contests
recently had in the courts of your State over
some of the property left by my late husband,
Samuel S. Dunn, but I could scarcely believe
that "breathed there a heart so malicious and
vile as the one who penned the article referred
to, and without the least foundation in fact,
justice or propriety.
In regard to the statements made of the un-
fortunate man Stone formerly a servant of my
husband's) now under sentence of death here
and in whose interest 1 have exhibited such
acts of humanity and charity as my own con-
science dictated, without fear or favor from
any human source, will say:
1st. never represented him "as being
raised in Westbrook, Me-, by my father" or
anyone else.
End. Ny husband Samuel S. Dunn, en-
ployed Stone as long as he had work himself
for him, and then procured him employment
elsewhere, at DR.. Osgood's, at his brothers. es-
tate, North Yarmouth, at Woodsum Mason's,
at Edward Goddard's, Bethel; then putting
him back again ON his brothers. estate in
North Yarmouth, he (Mr. DUNN being the
Stone worked, until he left for the South; and
1 believe the statement that, she was dis
missed because the household feared for their
lives. &c.," to be malicious, false and absurd,
and made by some interested enemy of mine,
who would thirst for another's blood if there
by they could injure me.
Sd, That Stone insured his life for my ben
eft and left the policy with me, or that / ever
saw such policy or knew of its existence or
ever was paid anything on it, or expect or know
policy, or that came to Washington ON any
such account, is also wilful, premeditated,
malicious libel and if you will give me
the real authors name of the commuca-
ton referred to, and if he is worth
the ammunition, or is of the least earthly
lie no farther with such ISLANDERS unless you
choose to peruse them hereafter in published
proceedings of Courts of Justice, to which 1
shall appeal for the punishment of SUCH miser-
able offenders.
The 'feeling of intense relief" referred to
in the anonymous writer's concluding para
graph, might be more fully shared in, by the
good people of North Yarmouth if another than
unfortunate Stone should reach the lend of the
rope.'
would not have written this much on my
own account, for believe | am too we'll known
where have always lived to require any such
refutation, but only lest the innocent might
(by my silence) suffer from such wanton at
tacks and uncontradicted calumnies, have l
presumed to trespasS thus far upon your valua-
bic space. Begging your pardon, am,
Very respectfully,
CYRENE e. BROWNE (nee Dun NJ.
We are convinced not only by Mrs Brownies
letter but also by the testimony of gentleman
we'll known in this community, and who holds
responsible official position, that tine original
communication refecting unfavorably on the
motives OF Mrs. Brown in befriending Stone,
was inspired by malice and based on either
culpable ignorance or willful perversion of the
facts. "Veritas" must for the future ventilate
family quarrels elsewhere