Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-10-18
AN AVALANCHE!
Card From Hon. II. H. Riddle
berger

10 me Editor ofthe wig:
In the Dispatch of this morning | find
communication addressed by Messrs.
Jones Mcdowell, j. IL. II. Figgat and
j. r. Goodwin to one A. NJ. Kelley.
A proper respect for intelligence and
gentility of Virginia requires that |
should treat the whole publication in a
way that neither of the signers, nor him
to whom it u addressed, deserves.
First. | would disassociatc Messls.
Mays and Thomas j. Wilson with this
reply and leave them toanswer for them
selves. 1t is first written of me: Rid
dleberger ,chO IL is said refused TO speak
to Wilson at WytheuiHe, met him gerry cor
daily on the street." at Fincastle. |
never saw Mr.. Wilson at Wytheville;
and when | met him on the street at
Fincastle l was going to the barber
shop, and simply said to him, "Good
morning, Leigh !" shaking hands with
him. No word passed but the common
and quickest courtesies.
So much for lie number one.
Then follows: "We had reason to
know Wilson had no money then" 10
which | need only respond that men who
investigated Wilson's finances and edit
an inHendo of this sort against me, ought
to be accepted as authority on this
point.
Next it is said. Immediately after
dark, Ridlebarger, Mays and others as
sembled at the hotel and went into the
most private room aud were closctcd
with Wilson for several hours" This
is an unqualified lie. was in my own
room, surrounded till u o'clock by n
number Of gentlemen, and at this hour
retired with Hon. Lewis Linkenhoker
and an other gentlemen, whose name |
cannot recall, they occupying bed in
the same room and retiring at the same
time. AS to the draft--before | had
heard of Wilson confession, immedi-
ately on the arrival of Mr.. Linkenhokcr,
and in my own room, in the presence of
a-half dozen or more gentlemen, told
Mr.. Linkenhoker / asaway from home
| and almost without money, and asked
him to get me some moaey for which
would give him a draft. He said he
would gladly do so, and that evening,
before / could pay my bill, he did it |
filled the draft in the office and at the
counter of the hotel and paid my bill
from the money received on 1t. This
was not the first time | had asked 4
friend to do as much since The canvass
begun, and 1t did not not occur to me
that Figgat was such suspicious bride
agent as to bring such a Transaction into
question, though had heard said that
he was the supposed instrument Of Will
sons writing to the Wing and Dis
patch.
Now, then, that wrote, dictated, sug-
gested, thought of, or knew one word of
the Wilson letter; that | Mt time, to any
person, suggested or thought Of suggest
ing consideration, either by money, ap-
pointment to office, through myself, Gen
Malone, or anybody else, In any way,
manner, or form, is Il wicked and maicl-
Gus lie, and no man, or men; possessing
any Of the instincts Of gentlemen, could
have been induced to rush into print
with such charges by suggestion or in-
clinai0n.
The invention of "Scrgeant-at- Arms"
and Colorado" wns and is n lie, and
could have emanatcd only from the most
fruitful and capable Of liars.
The letter concludes: "WilsQn, after
leaving us returned to Rddlcberger's
room, and the proof Of a bargain and
sale there is lndsputablc." At no time,
to the hour of retiring, was my room
less than crowded with gentlemen; and
Wilson came into that room but once
then only to inquire for some one, whom
do not recoleCt, and leaving with the
information that he was not with us.
For the public | want this iRdiSputd-
bic proof Knowing 1t cannot be sup
piled, brand IL rs Il base and infamous
lie, and want the responsibility to rest
with any gentleman who will assume IL.
IL is proper, in my Judgment, to say
In this connection, however inappropri-
ate II may appear to some, that never
would have written the letter If Mr..
Wilson had dictated II to me. | was of
rcred II letter Of a gentleman General
Wa!kcr) and declined TO take 10, rs de-
clincd all other correspondence Of that
private nature. | was Informed that
two letters were IN Wytheyille In the
hands of q third party, which II was
claimed had been written by Gen. MAJ
hone and Capt. Blair, aud that they
were subject to Mr.. Wilson'S order.
told Mr.. Thomas Wilson would pay all
travelling expenses to obtain those letters
and bring them TO me. For this pur-
pose he and Mr.. Leigh Wilson left Fin
castle In the same stage, The next day
| was Informed that these letters would
not be surrendered. | do not know the
roason. IL would be better, no doubt,
to have them published, and along with
them the letters which were rendered TO
me. The country could then Judge and
| say ! do not fear The consequences, 49,
Moreover, If | had chosen 10 rush into
print on mere statements, | would have
stated That prominent lawyer of Fin
castle wrote Mr.. Wilson'S unpublished
letter to the WING and the published
communication 10 the DISPATCH which
IL much more association than | had
with Mr.. Wilson. One envelope had
l1lggat on the back, and the manuscript
can be tested In newspaper office.
have as much. and Just ns much, respect
for Mr. Wilson rs haye for Mr. j. H..
H. FiggNt, who seeks his middle place
ny slgncr Of the Infamous Dispatch
communication
The public can Judge betNce me or
my letter transmitting the wilson con-
icsslon and That Of Flggat, which had
the mere association with the author Of
letters which Figgat seemed all the time
willing 10 testify were genuine and
would still have believed against the
evidence of the rcputcd author and his
own witness. Respectfully,
NJ n D,upt ,.u,.,a,,