The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-01-28
THE BATCH OF FALSE
HOODS
Published by tile Nashville
American,
As Exposed by Il. 1. Cant.

lean OF TIE 2lsl instant see published
editorially an article in which | am
represented rs having made certain
statements in reference to the Stuart
Fout controversy, now pending in our
legislature.
lnasmuch as am grossly misrepre-
scented in the American | respectfully
ask that you do me the kindness to re-
publish the article, together with this
correction thereof.
The article referred to is rs follows {:
Mr.. r. +. Gaut, Il promising young
lawyer, of good stanulng in Cleveland,
aud Il son OF Hon, Jesse Gaut, was one
OF the clerks of the election ia Clevc-
land, Bradley county, Tenn.,. Oh the
Ind day OF November, 1850, and says
that he is Il Republican, and voted for
FOut in that election, and that the vote
at Cleveland should be thrown out, ii
II Is desired TO conform TO law and JUS
tlce. lie says that the election was
conducted in such Il s%candalOuS manner
in one or TWO districts in Bradley cOuu-
~ that it would be downright crimi-
nality to count their returns. He says
that in the sixth district of Bradley
cOunty-the town of Cleveland-Che
ballot box was not prepared according
to law IlIat il was nOC sealed ia the
presence Of the judges and clerks; and
that at the hour for dinner it was car
ried oil by one of the judges to his
home unsealed. When the votes were
counted the result showed two more
tickets III the box than there were
names on the poll-list: yet in the face
Of this discrepancy, the vote was de-
clared legal, and Fout was accredited
with his majority. Mr.. Gaut says he
thinks that it would be an outrage for
the house of representatives, sitting as
Il judicial tribunal, to allow this poll to
be counted.
Where the American got this piece of
Information I'm unable to say, for |
am quite sure that never did, at any
time, make any such statements, Meth
err did furnish, directly or indirectly
the information embodied in the Amer
leans article, either to any newspaper
representative or to any private orpab-
lie individual. In short, every state
ment in the Amer leans article is in
correctly and falsely attributed to me,
for | never made them further than
that have, perhaps, asserted that am
a Republican and voted for FOut.
On the lIth inst, there appeared in
the Chattanooga Daily Times the fol-
lowing paragraph, from which the
American has doubtless indirectly, and
through some very knowing and wise
person, derived its information in the
matter, but which misrepresents me
just as much as the Americans editori-
al. The Times article is as follows:
Mr.. Il. |. Gaut, of Cleveland, was in
the city yesterday and favored the
Times with Il short talk Oh the Stuart
Fout controversy in Polk and Bradley
counties, each claiming TO have been
elected representative.
The face of the returns show q tie,
but Mr. GaUt assures us that the elcc-
ton was carried on in such Il s~lip-shod-
dy, loose manner in one or two districts
that fOI their returns to be counted
would be downright %criminality, or
this number, in the sixth district, the
town Of Cleveland, which gave FOut a
large majority, should have been
thrown out, if any intention to adhere
to the requirements of the law is mani
tested.
Mr.. Gaut says that the ballot-boX in
this district was not prepared accord
ing to law it was not sealed, and at
noon was carried of unsealed by one
of the judges.
When the votes were added, the re-
suit showed two more tickets for Pres
idcnt in the box than actual voters; but
yet, in the face of this discrepancy, the
vote was declared legal, and Fout ac-
credited with his majority.
Mr.. Gaut says Fout does not claim
that he is entitled to his seat, but mere
~ asserts that the vote was a tie, and
asks Il new election.
The last sentence of this article is the
only one in which Lam correctly repor-
ted, and the only statement | did make
to the Times as a fact.
When called upon by the Times for
information in the SLuart-Fout case |
expressly told the reporter that knew
nothing about it, and instead Of so re-
porting me am reported as stating as
facts things that knew nothing about,
As to having expressed any opinion in
the case, | never did to any me-.
Besides, the Chattanooga Times has
only published glrbled portions of
what did say to them, and the omis-
sion Of the balance changes the whole
Of my talk and makes the article
'epresent me to the public as talking in
| very different way from that which |
lid.
1t represents mo as being democrat,
when | am, as all my friends know, a
'epublican, although not n bitter par
isan as being in sympathy with Mr..
when | am not; as meddling /
with the contest in question, when ]
I'm notand have not; aud, lastly, as say
ng thingsI never did say, and not say
ng things | did say.
| am greatly misrepresented in both
If the above articles, aud feel assured
hat you will allow me, through the
Chronicle, to make this correction. |
hall be grateful ifthe Cleveland Her.
I'D and Chattanooga Commercial will
'opy. | am, respectfully,
1Hos.I. GAUT.
Cleveland, Tenn, Jan. %, 1881,