The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-08

| employed by Mr.. Wise In bis letter TO DR.
Johnston, which ! have no recollection ol
having heard or read until was with DR.
JohDsiC6 biDself some time later. This i'm
preston Is confirmed and strengthened by
the fact that these two statements would
have been an outrageous insult n read TO.
gether, as they were not, and BY the further
fact that Mr.. Wise, bad be read them both,
would not have treated NE WITH due defer.
ence TO my representative Character as
be professed himself determined To- do.
Here is the language ~ bis letters to Dr..
Johnston:
"Mr. Bruce's representative character
slone protects him from an insult soch as
bsye offered you. / waive that point in
your favor. l explained this 10 him."
The discrepancy between iLese two state
ments Is obvious to everybody.
SupposiDg that Mr.. Wise desired 10 treat
me in the future in some way fom which
my representative character protected me
"for the present." ! consulted with some
friends as TO nv course, and was advised
that could do nothing but await the def
mite action OF the court In the case OF DIR.
Johnston and for further action on the part
OF Mr.. Wise.
(5.) Final action was taken by the Court
when DR., Johnston was bound over to keep
the peace, on Saturday, August 2Sth, about
noon. / saw by the State newspaper few
hours later that Mr.. Wise announced,
through hts counsel, that he would surren.
der himself on Monday morning, August
30tb. Wishing to avoid being dragged in
my turn before the Police Court, quilted
the city Saturday night, leaving word, how
ever, at my residence where l could be
found. Although II had no personal quarrel
with Mr.. Wise, nor any personal acquaint.
ance with him, IL seemed most probable that
a challenge would follow me from him In
view Of his prior statements, and as ], too,
had voted with DIR. Johnston In the West
moreland Club against him-my undoubted
right-and i did not wish a challenge TO
find me in the city, with a second arrest as
tine only probable issue. That Mr.. Wise
endeavored to impress me with the idea that
he wished to have some settlement with me
in the future was evident, and hence | ex-
pected to hear from him later, after the
other matter should be settled, but ] never
did. Mr.. Wise claims that | had insulted
him. lie greatly misunderstands the rela-
tons between gentlemen IL be expected me
also TO challenge him.
t6.) No written evidence OF Mr.. Wise's
reference to Mr.. Rogers, OF the Wing office,
as his friend, was ever given DR.. Johnston
or myself, as is, believe, customary In such
cases hence there may have been misun-
derstandng as to the full scope Of such re-
ference. What Dir. Wise did say to me
about Mr.. Rogers understood, OF course.
as being intended for DIR. Johnston through
me. his representative.
a. As TO the violent menaces against me
which Mr.. Wise seems to have made 70
Colonel Gordon, have only to say that
knew absolutely nothing OF them until Fri
day, September 3d, after Mr.. Wise had re.
tailed them to the Police Court when In
process OF being bound over to keep the
peace. In reply TO these threats OF persona
| violence | consider it sufficient to say that
hope ! shall always be found ready to pro-
tect myself.
hope the good people OF this community
will pardon the length Of this persona, card
called forth by my extraordinary position
that OF a subordinate who, while acting fol
his principal, has an er-p0St fdcto insul
sought to be thrust upon him by that prin
cipa's antagonist. &. NJ. BRUCE.
Roanoke county, Va, September 6. 1880