Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-07-24
Tho Troubles In Richmond.

The Troubles In Richmond.
o. the lst of July Auditor Massey addressed
letter to Judgo Christian Of tho Ilous:iogs
Court Of Richm)sl. cliag his attention 10 the
fac: that tho Sergeant of Rohmand, N. NJ.
Ice, 10 his ;cs1uas certified by tho COURT to tho
auditor, had charged a50us s. per month fer
clothing furnished TO prisoners. slShoush tho
law allowed tu. $40 pr yoar az Tho maximum,
charge, and asked tho court to co cncrato in
ordtiiog an Investigation. 10 this Judge Ch.i5
tan replied "a: he would Cooperate in auy
way within his power, and accordingly Auditor
Massey Transmitted to The curt on tho lT.h
iost, transcript from tho rcooldS, giving the
names Of lone Of the prisoners, and tho ever
charges 10 each c,se, which aggregated, 10 his
opinion, sOmo Thousands OF dollars. "a receipt
Of this paper the judge iotormnd Auditor
Messy by letter that tha; he would hand the
matter over to States ATTORNEY Geo. d. Wiso
the same morniug Nor promp! nod Thorough
iuveslig lIion," and suggested that pending the
judicial irqliry it would be bost not IN publish
his communication. Tho Same day Mr. Wise,
at the request of the Judge Ied on Auditor
Massey 10 rcferenoo to tho matter, and tho Ist-
ter agreed that it would b., propfr 10 withhold
the Information firm the press. o. the follow
irg Monday. tho l9;h ics... Mr.. Massey made
speech at the Readjus3ers' meeting 10 llarrio
souturg, 10 the course of which he ra usrt
OF his letter to the judge, and oommeotud on
the alleged frauds which Eai bean discovered.
When this became known ia Rchmood, tho
next day, reporter Of tho Sta.e called GA the
Auditor. and asked him i,r copy Ct the COR
respoudonor. but was refused on tho pruuad-
as stated 10 Judge Christians lottcr-that it's
publication might DO pr,ju3ici,I to the nuhlc
Interests. The reporter Withdrew. bu. shortly
afterwards returned With the editor of tho
State, Mr. John llampdcn Chamb. rIsyoe
who reiterated tho deuaDd for tho l,,icrs
According to tho Auditors versi,u of
the Interview. Mi. Chanbcrry,c was
'rudo. ffshsiao and iuperintns." Fail
Ing to obtain coris of tho l:ttcrs, MIR,
Chsnber!ayne iloaIly retired, AID 10 that DAYS
ISSUE Of the Slato published en aco3uut of the
affair. in which he A.cted ON MIR. Masscy's
condcc: in very sevcreurus Upon seeing this
paragraph MIR. Il. Ii. Fisher, OF the Dispatch.
address Eose 10 too Audi:o;, oaDg his
a!tcutioo to tho article 10 tho State, ard asking
for The eorrc' pordoro in question for pubIio,.
tlou, III consistent With tho public interest"
10 this MIR. Massey replied at como length, ss-
scning to the request on tho ground that tho
attack 10 tho State justified him in giving the
letter to tho press. lilo also gave his versi1n of
the interview with Mr.. Chambcrlayuo, aud sai5:
Although tho conduct Of the State was strictly
consistent aoth tho State, and entirely cxcusab!e
az tho State, and PERFECTLY harmless to anybody
bit the State, if it had been the Conduct Of
any body besides The State, should have regard
ed 1t as rude, Offensive and importintn.. But
as it was the State, AID as the State is omitted
to peculiar consideration which relieves it from
designing either rudcncss. otFensivcuess or i'm
pcruenoe, We GIN only say that it WIS peculiar
State llke-aud cast tho veil of charity over
whatever tho State says or doee." The point
OF this language lies ia tho fact that after tho
war MIR. Chambc1layno became tc mporarily 10.
sane-thc result OF a wouud-and WIGS sont to
lunaio asylum, where, after beog upder
treatment for several mooths, no vas G0ay 70.
stored to health.
On the Monday fooSins tho publication Of
this letter Of Mssseys 10 the Dispatch Mr.,
Chsmbarlsyne addressed note TO Mr.. Fisher.
of that paper asking to bo Informed
whether it was public he'd 10 the Dispatch as q
communication OF the said John t. MIS- cv. |
paid for b. him, or as a matter you (Mr.
FIshcr) desired to Icy b. fore the pubic as hay |
ing your (Mr Fshcisl approval and endorses
mont 10 spirit or statement" 10 this Mr., |
Fisher replied briefly, stating lha: the letter
had been published on tho suthoriz alton Of
Mr.. H. X. EIlysou, secretary ard treasurer of
tho Dispatch company, TO whom the matter had |
been referred. Following this, Mr.. Chamber
layue rc:iVed o,tcr from NJ. Ellyson &C.
knowledeins that he had authorized the publ |
Gallon without serious thought, but disoaiming |
any Intention to give offence, and corcudiop as |
follows: PERHAPS | ought to say, iD Justice to
myself. and to render this letter more aatisfao-
tory 10 you, that IS do net recognize the c)de
of honor, l an tho mere anxious that this ex-
PLANTATION shall be all that ooe gentleman should |
expect at tho hanfs Of another" Mr. EIIyson
is an elder in the Baptist Church and is
bound BY his profession not to fight dues.
This correspondence with the Dispatch editors
was published in the State of Thursday, in
which also appeared on editorial deuouncing
Massey in tho sevcres: terms, and concluding
as follows:
Sum it sll up, John &. Massey, sometimes
. n De