The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-10-27
An Effort to Deceive the People
in the Interest Of PettibOne.
Bristol Courier.


That Major Pettibone's connection
with the prosecution Of those arraigned
in the Federal Court, at Knoxville,
charged with violating the internal rev.
enue laws has always been a stumbling
block in his pathway to office is a fact
well known. He is known to the people
of East Tennessee as an active, uncom-
promising, relentless prosecutor of the
unfortunate men who are gathered up
by thousands and dragged to Knoxville,
where, chiefly through his efforts, they
are stripped of every dollar they have
and cast into loathsome jails. Petit
bone and his political friends have kerr
" felt the necessity Of counteracting
the blasting effect of his course as Asst
Dist. Attorney. He knows full well
that the record he has thus made is
written in the hearts of hundreds of
voters in the first Congressional district,
and that to remove the dislike and OPP
position these men fell toward him is
absolutely essential to his success in the
present race for Congress against Bob
Taylor. To do this is impossible, yet
we caution the public, and especially
those who are now under indictment in
the Federal Court, against any attempt
to ensnare or miSlead them.
That Pettibone with the aid of certain
Office holders is making an effort TO de-
ceiye those who are now under indict-
ment in the Federal Court at Knoxville
Is absolutely certain. Just now when
he wants to go to Congress Pettibone
discovers a wonderful love for the men
whom he has been bounding and prose-
cutting for years. After years of bitter,
relentless prosecution of these men he
has at this late day, and not until he
was candidate for Congress, reached
the conclusion that the only true and
proper way to suppress the violation of
the revenue laws and promote the in
terests of society is to grant to the class
now under indictment a general am
nesty. Oh, charity, charity, how no.
bic and disinterested are thy ways!
This offer of amnesty to the violatOrs of
revenue laws is the most glaring and
shameless attempt to deceive the people
party was ever guilty. Amnesty indeed!
Remember the conditions of this am
nesty, so called. Those who will go
into the court and plead guilty and pay
all costs can have the privilege of going
home, sell confessed criminal, and is
expected, in gratitude for this, to vote
for Pettibene. Again we say to these
men, do not allow yourselves to be de-
ceived in this way. But this is not the
extent of this glorious latter day amnes-
ty. If, after you have gone into court
and confessed your guilt, you are unable
to pay the costs adjudged against you,
then sentence is SUSPENDED and you are
allowed to ge upon your individual rec
ognizance. Sentence. suspended how
long? Those who offer this glorious
amnesty do not say. We will tell you.
1t will be suspended until after Petit
bone is beaten in November and then
woe to the poor wretch who has con-
fessed his guilt, had sentence suspended
with the expectation that he would vote
for Pettibone, but failed. Verify, his
lot will be hard.
On this amnesty dodge Maj. Petiibone
hopes to ride into Congress, but we
warn the people against the ariful de-
ception. What will men gain by this
so called amnesty? Nothing but self
confessed guilt and bill of costs. This
is about the worst calamity that could
befall them if they were to stand trials
Pettibone and his followers will have