Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-10-18
FrNoAsTLE, VA, Oct. 10th, 1881.
II. H. RIDDLEBaRGER.

Hon. II. II. Riddleberyer,
Dear Sir
AS there has been so much said about
the Blair Wilson letters | think 1t time
for me to let the people know how these
letters were gotten out of my possession
and there origin. On Thursday Sept. 9th
1881 went to the Big Lick to here
speeches of George ID Wise and Maj
DANIEL. While was at Davis Ban Room
Bob Logan of Roanoke chairman of the
Democratic committee came in the room
&said he wanted to see me--we went out
in rear Of the bar room he said Leigh vii
you stand to the letters that have been
taken from you | said have you any let
tiers of mine he said have copy of n
Letter dated on the Sd Oct 1850 signed by
Frank S Blair asked where did you get
n copy of that letter he refused to give
any more but said good friend of yours
give me the coppy-he then said have
$50 Dollars in my pocket for you given
me by DR.. Moniterio | refused to take it
but said if you will give me 5000 to
night and $500 more in sixty day | will
Surrender the original ofwhich you hold
y
them lithografed if you wante to. these
letters were taken frome my pocket
while under the influence of liquer by
Mr-A-and coppyed and then put back
in my pocket asked the parties however
not to read the letters that day until
they had then examined by persons
who knew Capt Bairs writing DR.
Monterio asked me to let him have any
letter also had of Mahones but refused
AS there was nothing in them of any
mportance--As the election is neer at
hand deem it my duty to the people of
Va to say that Capt Franks. Blair never
wrote Il line worde or syllable of those
letters, but same was n forgery put up
on him in Wythville the name of forger
| will not give, but before God and men
| am willing to bare the consequences
not being willing to sink mere tool of
others, but | regret to say-that that
party has done all he could inquire me-
that George ID Wise and John Danncil
who persuaded Me in to this act on
promises not fulfilled induces me to deal
with them as they deserve & tell what
they have az yet failed to tell And that
10 lHuJ lhNg WI " VlNhllh w DHl FioV III
three payments $3.50 cash $3.50 in thirty
days and $3.50 in sixty day-obtaineed
permission to read and publish if they
wished the letters dateed the 9Th and
the llth of Oct 1880 the last named Of
which found they had also n copy-l
regret very much to write this letter
but justice to my self and Capt Blair
require It'll say now with no witness
but God that | stand alone responsible
for every line Of this letter And futhcr
say that John w Danniel George d Wise
& DR. Monterior knew us well rs did
that these letters were never writtn by
Capt Blair that the loose conversation
and other things taking place my drum
ken condition and reluctance on my part
to give up the letters and there eagerness
was moro than sufficient to have aroused
the suspitions of far dullcr men than
Dannlcl Wise and Monteiro this whole
thing was a rascally proceeding pcrpe-
trated on II drunken man and for II Daniel
and Wise are mainly responsible
| deeply regret the wrong done Capt
Blair and would rather have lost my
arm than been party to II and never
would have been but for meen whisky
and bud company
Hoping this will remdy wrong put the
blame where II belongs, and be satsfac-
terry to the people of Va
! am
Respectfully
fOla.A.11 4