Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-09-27

THEM.
|WYTHEvILLE, VA, September 10, 'S1.
Editors Disp0tch :-Our town and
county have been in state of great ex-
|citement for the entire week In regard
Ito the Blair Wilson letters. Captain
Blair was in Eastern Virginia, but re-
burned home on Sunday, Hth, to meet,
las his friends said the charge that he
lever wrote such letters, and to brand
the forger. Monday morning, 18th (our
County Court day,) Captain Blair
sent by friend request to Captain
Wise to be allowed to see the letters.
Captain Wise answered that he could
See the letters by calling at Gene
|ral J. A. Walkers Office. Captain
Blair, Mr.. Robert Crockett, his law
partner, Colonel Robert Sayers, and
probably q. haif-dozen other Of his
friends called. Captain Wise handed
the letters to Captain Blair. He and
|some of his friends read the letters, and
mediately left the room without say
|inga word. General Walker turned to
Captain Wise and said: "They don't
SAY whether the letters are genuine or
|uot." Captain Wise got up, went to
the door and called to Captain Blair to
come back, and when he came in said
ito him: "Captain Blair, you requested
Ito See these 1etters-you did not say
they were genuine or not-I am going
Ito use them, and would be glad if you
would give me an answer" Captain
Blair replied, II will answer you at the
proper time" Mr.. Crockett then said,
Blair assented to it, and, looking At
p
they are not in my handwriting" Cen
|erai walker replied, "I win swear they
|are in your handwriting. /" Captain Blair
|hnd his friends again withdrew.
This took place in the presence of
|General Walker, General William Ter
|ry, r. w. Terry, DIR. Monteiro, w. L.
|Yost, Colonel Robert Sayers, William
|Pendleton, your correspondent, and
perhaps dozen others.
The following certificate has since
been prepared, and will speak for it.
sell:
WYTHEv1LLE, September II, 1881.
We, the undersigned, do hereby GER
|tify that we are familiar with the hand
writing of Captain F. 8. Blair, and that
I've have seen and carefully examined
the original letters purporting to have
been written by Captain Blair, to w.
Leigh Wilson, dated the 3rd and 11th OF
October, 1880, and the same read to the
|public by Captain George d. Wise in
Ibis speeches at Big Lick, Wythville,
land other places. and we give it as oul
opinion that said letters are in the hand.
writing of Captain F. 8. Blair.
Given under our hands the day above
written. &
JAMES A. WALKER, Atty at Law
WILLIAM TERRY, Atty at Law
w. L. YosT. Atty at Law:
= A. M. DICKINSON, Atty at Law;
g. J. HoLBRoOK, Atty at Law;
BEN. w. TERRY, Atty at Law;
f. III. MCGAvOCK.
s. G. GLEAvEs, M. D.;
r. N. PENDLETON,
THOMAS J. BOYD,
e. III. UMBERGER. Sheriff;
WILLIAM GIBBoNEY,
JOHN A. Cook, Printer.
Some time after the above took place
|Df. Sayers came to General Walkers
office, on behalf of the Readjusters, to
See about q division of time, saying they
knew it was Major Daniels appoint
ment, and they wanted to know hi
terms. A proposition was made them
Igiving them an equal division of time
they to lead off with one or NOR,
as they thought proper. This
they refused to agree to. Afterwards
General Walker stated to Riddlebergel
and others that they (the Democrats
would let them have any terms they
wanted-to come on and have discus
sion, and they could just state theil
own terms. They refused to do that
Sections Hall was in a few momentl
|flled with some of the best men II
Wythe county and . few of the fair sex
captain Wise opened in q speech o
nearly two hours, and was followed BY
Major Daniel in speech of two an(
lone half hours, and all agree that Their
never were two such speeches made IL
aold Wythe before. I will not attemp
to give you even q faint idea Of th,
speeches. The ReadJusters spoke OF
the street. Captain Blair. opening tn
meeting, said, ''the Wilson letter.
we're forgeries that he did not writ
nor dictate one word or line of them
and there was not one line nor sylla
Bile of them that were his in style or IL
sentiment." Captain Blair spoke abou
ten minutes. Riddleberger. Pendleton
"a negro, Newberry, and Colonel Sayer
spoke. did not hear them, and car
tell you nothing about the speeches.
Wilson arrived here on Tuesday even,
|ing's train, and hearing that Captain
Blair was going to leave town tha
might for some Of his appointments, wrot,
the following note to him:
WYTHEvILLE, September Is, 1881.
Captain r. S. Blair: / am here tc
Ipro owe that you are the author of the let
tiers read by Captain George d. Wis,
yesterday, and will be pleased to NEE
|you in the morning and give you th,
benefit Of . public denial in the face o
the people Of your own town. I heal
Iyou propose to leave Wytheville to
might, and write to ask you not to leav,
before you see me.
Very respectfully,
w. TEIaH WIIsoN.