Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-10-12

ehdeaVOflng 10 induce the three
colored republicans before mention
ed and others, by use of money, to
make affidavits that | had been
guilty Of improper conduct in the
election, But the three republicans
voluntarily gave me their state
ments, which [ hold, certifying the
facts, as [ have related them, and
utterly disproving ard upsetting
Wickliffe's allegations.
Subsequently it came to my
knowledge that WickIiffe. who be-
came frequent visitor at the Wing
Office. took one or more OF these
alleged forged tickets to that Office,
and laid them before Gen Malone
and the managers OF the Wing
paper. His absurd and ridiculous
pretensions | was told, met with no
encouragement, and no notice was
taken of the matter.
Nothing daunted he got Jack
Averett, a leading colored Republi-
can of Lynchburg, to 60 on
similar mission to General Malone
and the Wing. which met, as | was
tod, the same rebuff.
Still persisting, Wickli6e went
to Mr.. II, II. Riddleberger and
other leadjuster Senators, showed
them the so called forged ticket, and
urged that they bnng it to the at
tention of the Senate with charges
against me. He was again rebuffsd;
Mr. RidJlebergcr scornfully declin-
Ing as he himself told me. to be
made tool of by 'Hhat fellow
Wicklfe."
Yet, again icklifs made
fourth fort. He put the matter in
the hands of Cephas Davis, a color
ed republican readjuster Senator
from Mccklenburg. l mentioned
the fact to Senators Riddleberger
AMI Wood. both readjusters. and
to Senator Z. w. Early, republl'
can, telling them that ii there was
the slightest circumstance which, IN
their judgment, called for investlg'-
ton or explanation, that [ challeng
ed and deiied any proceeding. But
if on inspecting the papers in Cephas
Davis hands, which | never saw
or care to see they seemed obvious
" frivolous. then | did not wish to
be bothered about them. They re-
ported to me that the thing was
absurd, and no notice whatever
was taken of it.
Coute mporaneously Wicklife
was heard to say that if | would
stop opposing him he would not
push the u.atter; which l only
noticed by renewed and more active
dchunciations Of his character and
history. And there the matter en-
dcd.
4. It's thus made plain that the
allegations about the scratched
tickets now make in the Wing
were part OF silly and impOtent
attempt made nearly two years ago
by fugitive from justice, to assail
my good name-at a time when
the triumph OF his political assOcl-
ates led him to fancy that L being
in a minority, was in his power
The Wing was then as fsmilia with
the facts as it is now; but every |
man who had the faintest instinct
of honesty or good sense, revolted
from so vile and foolish an under
taking. And the ridiculous pre-"
tension that I had committed any
wrong or improperly, fell to the
ground Of its own weight. Then
iull power was in the hanls OF my
political opponents to deal with the
matter as they would; yet occupying
as | did seat in the Senate, l
stood ready with every evidence OF
complete innocence, challenging
and defying the base assault instiga-
ted by my disrepu;able opponent :
3. Matters have changed. | :
stand before the people as the /.
nominee OF the conservative demo 8
eracy for Governor. The election
IS near at hand. My hands are not
Is free as they were. b
And now, in fit of desperation,
he Whig-after retaining the facts
or nearly two years, and knowing
hat there is naught in them to ca st a
shadow OF suspicion on me- comes d
orth with its article endeavoring TO y
asst cdium upon me. Little COM q q
nent is called for. i
do not care TO handy epithetS u
With those WHO, for selfish purposes