Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-16
The Blair Letters
CARD FROM w. LEIGH WILSON REAssERrreU
THEIR GENUISENEss ETC


CARD FROM w. LEIGH WILSON REAssERrre8
THEIR GENUNENEss, ETC.
The excitement In political circles In Virginia
over the publication of two letters alleged TO
have been written by Capt. Frank S. Blair. re-
adluster nominee for attorney general. to w.
Leigh Wilson, readjuster republican. seems TO
be on the increase. In these letters the colored
race Is spoken Of In the most disparaging man.
ner; Under date OF wyheville. Va, September
IA, w. Leigh Wilson has Issued the following
ION Monday evening last I learned for the
nrst time that Capt r. = Blair had publicly
stated that the letters written Nv him 90 me.
anu dated respectively on the Sd and 18th OF
stated that have been paid money 20 produce
the letters. As soon as heard Of this denial I
took the first train for WhytheviIle and arrived
here on Tuesday evening at $50 O'Clock. / i'm
mediateiy wrote to Capt. Blair the following
-" Mhytheville, Sept. Is. lSSl.-Capt. F.s.
Biair:-l am here to prove that YOU are the
author OF the letters read by Capt George ID.
Wise yesterday. and will be pleased TO meet YOU
In the morning and give Won the henefit ~ |.
public denial in the face OF the peoule Of your
own town. l hear you propose 10 leave whythe-
vile 10 night and write to ask YOU not 10 leave
before you see ME. Very respectfully,
w. LEIGH WILSON
$40 this letter Capt. Blair made no reply.
have remained in wytheville all day Wednesday,
and have stated on the streets TO every one 1
met that was ready 10 prove the genuineness
OF the letters so far rs was concerned, but
neither Capt. Blair nor any of his friends have
given me an opportunity to do so. / believe
those letters are genuine and here assert that
they are genuine. say this because have re-
ceived large number of letters from Capt.
Blalr-perhaps fifty-and they were never de-
MED or questioned. and the two now for the
ilrst time denied were parts Of a running cor
respon dence. and fitted in too well TO be spu-
nous. The handwriting of all the communica-
tions received by me from Capt. Blair is the
same as far as have been able TO Judge I
was at Salem when heard of Capt Blair's de-
NAL, and came from there directly to Wythe-
vile. My trunk, containing nearly all my let
ters was at the Yellow Sulphur Springs. SO
that was not able TO get at them without los
ing a day, but found at Salem two other let
tiers from Capt. Blair. which friend of his Mr.
Jos. +. Hurt, carried to-day to Capt Blair. and
he pronounced them to be genuine"
Wilson here publishes two letters. which are
admitted TO be genuine, in which Blair ac-
knowledges Wilson's services in working up
delegations In his interest for the congressional
nomination, and refers to money drafts which he
had sent him. Wilson then continues:
u will produce other letters as soon as 90
TO the Yellow Sulphur and have access TO nv
trunk. Now, In conclusion desire TO say that
the letters denied by Capt Blair were received
10y me IN due course of mail; that they were so
received ut the time they bear date and have
ever since been i'm my possession until last
Thursday, when delivered them to Capt Geo.
ID Wise at Big Lick; and hereby declare that
any man who SAYS or inttmates that they were
not so received 10y me- and at the time is a falsi-
iier further declare that any person who says
that have forged oruttered those letters know
ing or believing them to be forged letters il
falsiiier. and the person or persons who have
said or may hereafter say, that | ever received
any pay or consideration of any sort for sur
rendering the possession of those letters is q
falsiiier and villain. Ii Capt. Blair is willing
to submit the question of his responsibility for
these letters to a iair test challege him TO sue
me for libel, and will find ample security TO
make good all the damages he may recover
Nv. LEIGH WILSON"