Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-02-02

Jan. 81, 1881

To my fellow-citizens:
AS you ara doubtless aware on the
en- inst. was published by daily
paper of this city as penitentiary
bird. The first statement: eve
know but little of his history, but
enough to know that he was convicted
Of the crime of robbing the mail while
postmaster in certain town In Iowa,
and was sent to the pent5ntiary to
serve out his sentence
(Fact.) There was man mot of ny
name) who was charged with mail
| robbing in Iowa. But he was not
convicted OF that or any other crime,
| and some time since tho matter was
thrown out of court. The above facts
can be found of record in the federal
court for the district of Iowa.
| 2. In order to make the story
PLAUSIBLE they give my residence in
this county. at four or five years
| (Fact.) L have been law-abiding
citizen of this country for fourteen
yeare. For proof I refer to the ctI~
Zens of Clinton aud Anderson county
who were citizens Immediately after
the close of the late war, some Of whom
are now residents of this city.
3. The conversation attributed to
myself and Captain Rule is terribly
garbled and added to.
(Fact.) had a conversation with
Captain Rule two years since. He
told me then, as be states now, "that
he knew nothing about it," Neither
has he ever said to me at any time any
thing like Excepting an eye on him."
The 'clever gentleman" referred to
must be clever in the ancient meaning
Of that word. 1t will certainly be
news to many Of my acquaintances,
both in and out of the State who have
known me from childhood.
To all who have known me it is
we'll understood that I never made
any personal pretsntions to Christian
ity until December, 1870, at which
time / was principal of the Big Valley
academy, located at AndeTsonvilie
Anderson county. / have not, at any
time in life, been attached to any
Christian organization except the one
| L am now identified With.
W.P. HASTINGS.
I met the above named gentleman
for the first time in my life at Mary
Vile, Blount county, Ten nessee, in thu
month of July. 1877, while attending
= an institute held by the Hon. LeoE
TrOusdale.
ILLITERACY.
In answer to the silly charge of ilIit
eracy, I refer to my former pupils
several of whom are now carrying
. perfect certificates. granted by F. NJ
Smlth. I also, with confidence, refe
to the teachers and school men O
3 Knox county. 1.-THE schools did littl
= or no good during his administre' ion ,
, | There vas system Of institutes sue
cessfully operated, and a norma
school established before NJ. SMITH
was elected as superintendent Com
parsons are odious, but plain facts ca
be uuderst :oi j. e. 1t requires me
4. chanicai skiil TO construct q gCol
j serviceable wagon, but mule ca
I run j..
THE COUNTY COURT.
Four years since you elected tt
4 present incumbent to the office {
o county superintendent. / was the
t assailed from the same source a
J. incompetent. In December, 1877
J., after serving two years, 1T an IL
stitute held at Cedar Bluff, in til
county, the teachers present volun
d tarily came forward with re30lutior
+ of commentator upon tie succe
achieved, &c. | also hold letters
> commentator from Hon. Leon Trou
= dale. but I did not air them in IL
4 annual report.
TI