The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-09-15
A Clumsy Forgery.

A Clumsy Forgery.
At Big Lick, Roanoke county, last week,
George D. Wise, Esq, in addressing an au-
Gience in the interest of Maj. Daniel and the
Conservative-D Democratic party, produced two
letters. alleged to have been written in 1880
by Capt. Frank Blair, Re-adiuster candidate
for Attorney General. The letters themselves
Dear upon their face the evidences of a want
of genuineness and the further evidence that
if Blair wrote them, he is an unmitigated fool.
Immediately on seeing them in print. howev-
er, Blair pronounced them forgeries in every
respect. and SO denounced them in bitter
terms They are as follows: ~
WYTKEvILLE October IL, 1880.
". L. Wilson, Esq: rs'1all.
Dear Sir,-You ask me what think Of the chances
OF success in the coming election. II we can carry
the negro votes with will be all right but they
are up for the highest bidder. You can't trust
them in politics any further than Won can with vour
,ncke hook AFTER Won are ont Of sight tt woui he
better for Virginia If we could get rid of such a
class; but as long as them in voting, all
is WE'LL / was never in favor OF the clause In the
Constitution which let them in citizens but since
they have turned out as they now are, we must do
all can to control the negro in the election; try
to hold on to them by telling them that the Admin
istration at Washington wishes them to vote with
the Readiusters Now, my friend, don't be uneasy
about the Republican ticket. They will have votes
enough without Virginia. Let the Dam Democray
go to hell and carry Hancock with them. All we
want is to carry our ticket. Then We Will be mas
ters of the grounds. Work night and day; watch
the negro, for he is very tricky Let me hear from
you soon. Your friend, :fsiuA
wYTHEvILLE October 8, 1880.
w. Leigh Wilson. Salem, "a:
Yours Of the LIST to hand In reply will only say
a In In wal wifi no
We must beat the Funders this faul. All depends
upon this election. If we are defeated 1t is FORE
fine talk. They are simply teaching the doctrine of
honor and honesty, and will say here that honor
cratic party. was never with them and never will
be, but that must be kept dark. All Is right up
here. Work and we will carry our flag to victory
Our watchword must be war to the knife the hilt
FRANK s. BLAIR.
At Wytheville. ON Monday last, Capt. WISE
Maj. Daniel and DR.. Monteiro, spoke in behalf
of the Democratic Ticket, and the letters were
again read AT the same time, but to differ
erent audience, Capt H. Fl. Riddeberger and
others spoke, joint discussion having been
prevented by failure to agree upon terms Be-
fore the regular speakers had taken the stand,
Capt. Blair read the following paper: ~
'sOn Saturday last, while In Richmond En-, route
for Buckingham, to speak, was shown letter pur-
porting to be written by me to w. L. Wilson, dated
18th October, 1880 (Which is now ready and on next
day, at Petersburg, I saw another letter. Of date
October s. 1880, purportng to be from w. Leigh
Wilson "a copy OF which Is now ready proceeded
promptly to my home here, where to-day have
seen and examined both the letters. In order to
put these letters beyond all question, declare
most solemly and sincerely that did not write or
dictate line or syllable of either of said letters;
neither the style nor sentiment embodied In these
letters is mine; and need but appeal to any Of
my acquaintances who know my handwriting that
the letters are gross and unblushing forgeries.
need but read some voluntary af1davits of persons
intimate with my writings: .t
WYTHEyILLE VA, Sept. II, 1881.
We, the undersigned, have examined the two let
tiers alleged have been written by Capt F. s. Blair
to one Leigh Wilson, in October, $780, exhibited
to by Hon. Geo. D. Wise, and we declare that
writing Of Capt Blair. We are we'll acquainted with
Capt. Blair We are well acquainted with Capt
Blair's handwriting, and can make this statement
Attorney at Law;
u. G. MILLER,
Judge Of smyth county,
VIM. C. PENDLETON,
Editor Patriot and Herald;
GEO. W. WARD, JR.,
Judge of Washington county;
RoBT. SAVERS
Member House of Delegates from Wythe;
D. A. STCLAIR,
Wythevlle dispatch;
W. G. STCLAIR, y 4.
Editor Wytheville Dispatch;
8. P. BROWNING,
Chairman County Committee;
]. M. PAINTER, M. D.; p
8. R. SAVERS, M. D.:
JAMES P. McTEER,
Judge OF Wythe county;
q. W. CoRNETT, =
Judge of Grayson county.
vIRGINIA-WYTHE CoUTY-To W.T.
This day the persons whose names signeod
ally appeared before in my county aforesaid and
made oath that the statements therein contained
are true and correct. IS
Judge of the Comfy Courts Of Wythe and Pulaski
counties.
VIRGINIA-WYTHE CoUNTY-To- Wit: &C.,,
This day personally appeared before me- R. E.
aforesaid, Judge Jas P. McTeer, and made oath to
the fact set forth in the writing above which he
has signed his name to this 18th day of September,
1881.
[signedl R. L1NDAMooD,
Notary Public for Wythe county, va.
''Now in the sight of heaven and with all Of the
solemn1ty of an oath recorded there, repeat that
either Of the named letters I will let a fair and
Just people determine whether this mode of warfare
is to be approved. F.S. BLAIR"
The following telegram received by Capt
Blair on the day Of the speaking was read by
Capt. Riddleberger.
SALEM, VA, September 18th.
To F. S. Blair, Wytheuilke, Va:
Wilson boosted here that he could get three hun.
dred dollars for the letters, and on last Thursday
night exhibited fifty dollar bill and other money
He had but ten dollars the day before so he said
lS1gnedl c. M. WEBER.
Especial Telegram to the Whig.] tAt
wYTHv1LLE, VA, September 49,
Dr. v. G. Huff, cashier of the Farmers Bank;
George R. Dunn, cashier of the bank of the Lynch
burg Banking Agency; William B. Foster and Jas.
Rider, clerk and deputy clerk of our courtsall be-
longing to the Observation-Disclosures party-say
they saw and examined the two letters said to have
been written by Blair to Leigh Wilson, and that they
are not in the handwriting of Blair. Blair has
transacted much business at both banks, and has
Rider, who have filled their respective offices since
the war. G..
These affidavits and statements leave it be-
more transparent than the Morey letter for
gerry upon Gen. Garfield last year, and will
have different effect to that which was antic.
pated by their production. We haye no
doubt but that Capt Wise believed them to be
genuine, or he would not have read them. But
impartial men will readily recognize that
when gentlemen of the high character pos
sessed by those whose names are signed to the
affidavit, and Capt Blair, in the most solemn
manner, pronounce the letters forgeriee,
there is no escape from the conclusion that
they are such.
This fact being established as clearly as it
can be well done, the effect must be necessari
ly greatly in favor of the party sought to be
injured; because there is sense of justice
with the people, that will seek the most avail
able methed to, express their indignation at
such shameful wrong. In the shape the
statements we have given above place the con
troversy, it will be worth ten thousand votes
to the Re-adiuster ticket.
A Bad Example
The force of example is very great however
humilating the effects OF the example fol-
lowed may have been. We had the Morey