Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-10-11

on this subject, and then did not ever
await my reply, which was mailed or
the 3Oth. at Lynchburg postoff1ce.
cannot now remain silent when sucf
means are resorted to, for the purpose
ofinjuring my fellow-townsman, Majol
Daniel. Very Respectfully.
WILLIAM RIDGWAY.
RICHMOND, VA, Sept. q, 1881.
William Rid0a0dy, Esq, Lymch6urg,
Dear sir,-From Treasurer Reynolds
and others I have learned something OF
Major Daniels connection with will,
devising an estate in which you had, or
should have had, some interest. I
would like greatly, in view of the
shameful course he is now pursuing to-
ward the Readjuster candidates, to OBJ
tain an authoritative statement of the
facts, that I could use to exhibit him in
his true character to the public.
Hoping that you will let me hear
from you at your earliest convenience,
I am very truly yours.
w. G.. ELAN, Editor Whig.
LYNCHBURG. VA, Sept. 20, 1881.
To W. c. Elan, Esq, Editor Richmond
Wing:
Sir,-Your letter. dated Whig office,
9th, 1881, inquirlng about
Major Daniels connection with q will,
roOf,) in which I am interested, has
been duly received.
beg leave to say in reply, that though
Major Daniel is the opposing counsel in
that matter, and that his pecuniar3 in
terest is in conflict with mine, yet
knowing, as / do, the whole case and
his relation to it. must say most pos
itively, and of my own personal knowl
edge, that Major Daniels course has
been characterized by the highest sense
of honor and propriety.
When my relative, the late Seth
Woodroof, was on his bed in his last
illness, he sent for Major Daniel to
write his will. Major Daniel responded
and wrote a part of the will but when
Mr.. WOodrOOf directed him to put in a
cause, making him Major
Daniel Q residuary legatee, Major Dan
iel with that modesty and sense of
delicate honor, SO characteristic of the
man, declined to do so, refusing to act
and Mr.. Woodroof had to call
in another lawyer to finish the writing
of the will.
The history of the contest in the
courts is briefly as follows:
Mr.. Seth WOodroof died in 1875.
In 1876 William Pettyjohn's legatees
brought suit against J. w. Daniel, ex-
ecutor of Seth Woodroof, to recover
from Woodroof's estate child's inter
est, in amount which interest the said
Seth Woodroof got by the will of Will
liam PettyjOhn, but which the legatees
of Pettyjohn claimed was willed to
Woodroof in fee, only in the event of
his leaving lawful issue at his death.
Mr.. Wo0droof was never married, and
Pettyjohn's legatees claimed that the
entire interest received by him under
the will of William Pettyjohn, at the
death of Seth Woodroof, reverted to
Pettyjohn's heirs, one of which / am.
The case was decided against us in
the Circuit Court of Lynchburg, and
an appeal was taken, and the case is
now pending on the appeal in Supreme
Court at Richmond.
"This authoritative statement of the
facts'' in that case you have my full
authority to use, by publication or 9TH
erwise, ito erhibit Major Daniel IN his
true character to the public" I would
further say, in reply, that 1 know Major
Daniel, and know his relations to the
suit above referred to and his connec-
ton with the will of Mr.. Woodroof,
and that there is absolutely nothing
whatever in this case, either as counsel
opposed to me, as executor to Wood
roof, or in any other way, to cast the
slightest reflection, or even the shadow
of suspicion upon him.
And in all fraDkness and jnstice, l
must say that if the Richmond Wing
and the organization it represents, rely
upon this or such like reports to COM
pass the defeat of an honest, upright
and fearless man, your undertaking
had just as well be ABANDONED NOW.
Lynchburg or its vicinity, the home OF
John Daniel, where he is known, loved
and respected by all classes, races and
conditions, is not the place to enquire
for Authoritative statements of facts,
the publication" of which would be in
furious to his character.
You might probably find some politi-
cal scribbler to make up something
against him but in the writer you find
one who, in an acquaintance of thirty
years, extending back to his early boy
hood, has never found even one man
who could rightfully say aught against
John w. Daniel. i9
Let me beg you to abandon your effort
to injure so good aud true a man, and
unite your efforts with mine to make
him the next Governor of Virginia.
You are at perfect liberty to publish
this, or to enquire further of my coun-
sci in the case, Mr.. Ed. s. Brown, OF
Lynchburg:
Very Respectfully.
WILLIAM RIDGWAY.