The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-02
| to by him and by me, I feel II my duty to

From the bottom OF my heart i hope ant
trust you never did, but owe II TO you tc
let you know what has occurred touching
you between Mr.. Witt and myself. The
statements have made TO Mr.. Witt were
after due reflection. I have no disposition
to amend or modify them. IL you wish to
communicate with me further on the sub
iect, my home Is now in Ashland. leave
the city at O'Clock and return at $3.50 A.
NJ, taking and leaving the cars az Elba.
Communications between $50 A. NJ. and 3
Z. NJ. will reach me at my office. Res pect-
fully, JOHN S. WISE.
In reply to the above OF the 22d from
Mr.. Witt, Captain Wise sent the follow
ing letter, dated the 22d, but really sent the
2lst:
RICHMOND, August %, 1880.
Samuel b. Witt, Esq.
Dear Sir,-Your letter by Mr.. Montague
has been duly received, and Is satisfactory.
| wish TO say few words as 10 DIR. George
Ben. Johnston. am not aware that any
friend OF mine ever mentioned the subject
OF the Westmoreland Club TO him or that
he ever made such a statement as you reftf
to. | have never sought out any member
OF that Club to inquire how he voted, nor
will |. Two have approached me, and /
have tried to insult both. The others, their
aiders, couDsellors, and abettors, have de-
nounced in public and in the public press
as edwards, and so esteem them now.
mean, OF course, the fifteen who blackbaIled
me. l heard the report you allude TO con-
cerning DR.. Johnston after had met him
several times and exchanged salutatlons.
My impulse when heard il was to inquire
OF him as to its truth, but on reflection and
consultation decided it would be not only
violating my rule, but was doubly embar-
rassed by the fact that his name was not on
the list OF those voting. | would have been
in q most absurd position had iDterrogated
one who did not vote, when had asked no
one who bad done so; besides, it was mere
rumOr, and no one had vouched for its
truth.
II DR.. Johnston voted he concealed his
name. But whether he did or not, il be
aided or connived at that dastardly stab in
the dark, have denounced him in the pub
lie press OF the city as a coward, and stand
ready to prove him such.
Could have asked him personally would
have done no more save that what have
done in public, and what would have done
would have been private.
No man ever cbafed more than have done
over that which stabbed him aud tied his
hands at the same time. l would TO God
that one OF the dastards would stand forth
like man.
feel gratifed at your disclaimer Of any
disrespeclfu illusions TO me at Mr. Smell
ing's. Respectfully, JONI S. WISE.
The following reply was sent to Mr. Wise
by DR.. Johnston:
RICHMOND, VA, August "a, 1880.
Mr.. John s. Wise:
Sir,-Your letter OF the 23d instant was
handed me yesterday afternoon by Mr..
Hobson. In the exercise OF my nndoubed
right TO vote for or against applicants for
membership in the Westmoreland Club I
voted against you. Subsequently Mr..
Thomas Seldom, at the Richmond Theatre,
asked me il had voted against you, and
answered that had.
] subsequently stated at the Richmond
Club. in answer to an inquiry, that l had
voted against YOU. cannot recall any other
conversation have had on the subject eX-
cept that the fact has been mentioned to
some personal friends who made the inquiry
OF me.
| am thus explicit in stating facts because
desire that there shall be no misappreben-
sion in reference 10 them. Having thus
stated my connection with this matter de-
mand full retractioa Of the insulting Ian
guage used by you in your communication
to me and its enclosures. Respectfully,
GEORGE BEN. JOHNSTON.
The reply to the above letter was Is fol-
lows:
RICHMOND, August "a, 1880.
DR.. George Ben. Johnston:
Sir,-Your note is duly received by the
hands OF Mr.. e. Morrell Bruce. Mr.. Bruce's
representative character alone protects him
from an insult such as / have offered you.
waive that point in your favor. | eX-
planned this to him. | decline to retract
the insult offered you, and reatfirm it with
full force and effect. Respectfully,
JOHN 5. WISE.
Mr.. Wise stated TO the Court that Mr..
Seddon was not a representative friend OF
his, and that he had not seen Mr.. Seddon
since his interview with DR.. Johnston
that he knew Mr.. Seldom well, but only
saw him at long intervals. He also called
the attention OF the Court to the fact that
DR.. Johnston disclamed ever sending a
message to him. Certainly he never re-
ceived it..
Mr.. Wise then said that after reading DR..
JOhnstOn's letter he Immediately wrote q
reply, which was read out aloud in Mr..
Bruce's presence, and also made the follow
ing statement to Mr.. Bruce:
Mr.. Bruce, Iaccept this communication
at your hands, but in doing so l wish dis
tinctly to state that your reception by me
should have been OF different character
from that which now accord you. In de-
ference to your representative character
waive for the present my right to treat you
rs otherwise would"
At II O'Clock Tuesday night Mr.. Wise
left the city, having addressed the following
to Captain Asa Rogers:
Captain ASa Rogers:
Dear Sir,-If DR.. George Ben. Johnston,
Mr.. Morrell Bruce, or any one else, desires
meeting with me, arrange time when and
place where fully. give you carte blanche.
Yours truly, JOHN S. WISE.
Richmond, August "a, 1880.
Mr.. Wise remained out OF the city until
Tuesday the 3lst. He stated that his rea-
son for doing so was because, having re-
ceiyed DR.. Johnston's note after his arrest,
he thought probably DR.. Johnston wished
to continue the correspondence, and that IL
DR.. Johnston did not, he thought Mr..
Bruce might want to pursue matters on his
own account, II he did not feel a delcacy
in his own matter before bis principals was
settled.
Mr.. Wise also said in court that he re-
turned from Ashland on. Tuesday morning,
August oath, at 81 o'clock, and was in his
Office from that time until after IL O'Clock,
when he went to the Wing Office, having
heard nothing from DR.. Johnston. On his
return in short while a note was handed
him with q. statement that a gentleman
wanted 10 see him on important business
and would return at p. NJ. He recognized
the name as that OF G.. Morefle Bruce, one