The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-02-25
The Dunham--shaw Matter.


Chas. Dunham's reputation by false accu-
sation and by the arraignment Of that
gentleman on charges 10 which there was
absolutely no foundation in fact, has
already been noted In THE ARGUS. The
prosecutors of Mr.. Duuham. however.
have reckoned without counting the cost,
and instead of injuring Mr.. Durham. have
served to place him ia stronger light than
ever as one who was entirely blameless IN
the matter. That there may be no mis-
understanding, and in order TO give as
much publicity as possible to Mr.. Dun
hams vindication, we produce herewith his
letter, and also some afidayits bearing on
the case which need no explanation. The
| letter below is in answer to Mr.. Shaw's
charge. Here it is:
Mr.. EDITOR: After writing tie letter
that appeared in your issue of the 18th
inst, | was informed that Mr.. Shaw had
repeatedly said that Jacob Arnett and
myself held or iammed against the door of
the depot to prevent persons going to his
aid when in distress. | thereupon added
| postscript saying. there was no truth
whatever in the charge. In the same is
sue was published MIR Shaw's letter, in
which he attempted defence Of his con-
| duct In it he states. In the most iavora-
| BILE way he can for himself, all the facts,
land things that are not facts), claimed by
him as iustifying him 10 making the charge
he did at Plum Greek, against Jacob AR
nett and myself.
| He says: In favor of their committal
was urged their conduct at the station
house, and the fact that Sam. had intro
duced Scott to them, and the four had
been seen together occasionally during the
day" = their being seen with Scott
YES not unlawful or of itslef suspicious 1"
/ These were ali the claimed facts aud cir
lcumstances urged IN support Of the charge
as Mr.. Shaw has put it himself. What a
showingl It is puerile aud eontem ptible'
But he has grossly perverted the truth to
make this showing, The proof did not
show that We were seen together occas-
sionaliy during the day except in the hotel
1 ossce, 2 public place. and always 10 the
presence of others Nor did it show
ever spoke with Scott, except TO Iecogni4e
him when introduced, only as | of my
own motive testified to q passing remark
on one occasion. Why did not Mr.. Shaw
state the truth about it2 Because he
meant to so state 1t that it should be un-
derstood that "the four" were privately
e6nse.ying together during the day. lie
knew that was false. that there was no
such testimony But Mr.. shaw himself
says in the passage just quoted that there
was nothing suspicious seven of itself in
our being seen together. 1t was suspi-
eious only when taken with something
else, is whst be means ! suppose. What
else had he to put it with, as he claims 2
Our charged conduct at the depot. Ia his
letter be says las he, (Baird) tried to open
the door Durham and Jacob Arnett
liammed against it but he pulled it open
and rescued me as stated" [ have before
said this statement was a falsehood. a
simple fabrication. ! knew it 20 be false,
lie, and the evidence as written down by
a disinterested person shows it to be IN
true, as the Editor Of the Republic. and
many others who have examined it know.
1t was meyer so sworn by anybody, aud it
it lad been it would hapo been eb,piugciy
false. But to put the matter beyond cavii
even. and to cut off all avenues of escape,
wrote to a se1t.epan at Plum Greek and
asked him to call upon thessitn6sses who
testified in relation to what occurred at
the depot, Mr.. Baird, Waterman, and Mr..
Smith, operator, and get their statements
IN relation to this matter. | have them,
and they are to the effect | expected.
They are fat and explicit contradictions Of
! Mr. Shaw's statement. Mr.. Baird says
that he did not swear that Jacob Araett
or myself iammed against the door, and
that if be had it would have been false, as
we did not. Mr.. Smith says that we were
! a6t within several feet of the door when
Baird opeaea it. aQd that be knows We
did not do anything to prevent anyone
going to the aid Of MIR. Shaw, and that he
"a
| hand you herewith. and ask that they be
published il connection with this letter,
When this falsehood about our tanning
against the door is eliminated from Mr.
Sbaw's statement of his defence, we have
lett only the fact that Scott was introduce
I'd TO US and that we we're together at the
hotel, but always 10 the presence Of others
and in the public office or perhaps dining
room. What a complete vindication of
bis conduct he has herel And this is bis
own showing with the falsehood taken oat
Mr. Shaw knew the statement that we
iammed against the door was false,
Mr. Shaw is lawyer, ana knew abso,
lutejy that al! the claimed facts stated by
him as grounds for urging our e0to initial,
leaving 10 bis false story about our jam
ming against the door, were wholly iDsufh
cient, and would not fairly raise even a
|
story out, there was absolutely nothing
But senomber this is Mr., Shaw's own
statement of his defense thet am exam
lining. What story! What defeuse / /!
| 1t is true that Mr. Shaw 10 seeking tor
motive for his destruction says he was the
sole attorney in this suit against the Arm
cts. That is true. but what of it2 Is
there no other attorney in all this broad
land who could carry on the suit as well
as he? What boshl He says there is
extreme hostility between him and myself
Yes, and in that fact is found the motive
for his making this false charge when he
knew he had no evidence to support it.
Now | submit that in his own statement
of his defence, there is not single fact or
circumstance stated that [ haYe not given, |
and not one that in the remotest degree |
tends to prove any charge against Jacob |
Arnett or myself. Mr.. Shaw knew this
when he made the charge. and that he |
could not hope to sustain it. Why then |
did he cause our arrest? There is only |
one answer. 1t was solely to crafty bis |
personal malice, and i'll will toward me
There could be no other motive. If he
had honestly entertained suspicious against
US. but knowing he had not the evidence
to support them in court, and did not