The Evening critic., 1882-12-19

clearly denotes that II was the work OF somo
scoundrel purely for the purpose OF injuring
Colonel Fitzgerald with no motive but revenge.
We are informed that the samo article in tho
form of clipping from n newspaper tho
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. described .-N.w.FO
had boon sent to other papers besides tho
Ledd6r. Colonel II. Is BntiBned rs to who
is tho author, and hopes In duo tlmo TO gain
the necessary legal evidence TO Justify having
him arrested. Tho writer of tho article is un.
who has been engaged in the business OF max.
ing contracts with farmers throughout the
country for some articles 10 be delivered, ana
obtaining their signatures to contracts or or
dors for the articles in question, which wore
changed into notes for tho amount OF the con-
tract simply by cutting on one end OF tho
OF the words 10 read as note OF hand. This
man has boon under Indictment for forgery,
the court having decided that this form OF
motto was purely forgery, and he Is now under
'"The Leader, therefore, improves this op-
portunity to make a full retractlon OF tho ar
srot @ that i had unWItnsy a II wronsed @ and done
O gross injustice to q worthy gentleman,
Colonel N. W. Fitzgerald, OF Washington. Tho
only excuse the Leader has Is that IL published
1ustifable end. This explanation is made
willingly and voluntarily, and under no
o asr of lho to ae r9
md honorable explanation when injustice
has been done any one in our columns"
10 reC0pltulate, nHvO letters anu uOcu.
ments, all In the handwriting Of PrItchard, all
signed by himself, suf1cient to provo all the
allegations which 1 make against him IN
reference to the forged notes % ach walch ne sold
purchasing said notes, by leading mo 10 be-
lieve that they were genuine No. bafkable
notes, as no called them. / believed ut tho
time (rnislod by his false ropresontatlonsJ that
l was making safe, honest Investment,
expecting TO get good Interest for my money.
All tho allegations which have made In rc-
rI n ri n mi N r1n ant a
for the different crimes can all be proven. Ho
has been In prisons In no less than four or i've
states OF the Union. Ho has swindlod mo by
dollars.
All desire is for tho full facts to be known
by all who know me; i believe that l have,
good people OF Washington. But the frauds,
forgers, swindlers, black-maller5 and dead
heats arc expected to continue their attitude
OF unfriendliness toward me. do not desire
their respect or their good VIII.
regret that your space viii not permit my
copying In full In this statement many docu-
ments, which 1 have referred to herein. In
this statement ~ have nothing extonuated,
nor aught set down IN malice"
The foregoing statement is given as tho key
ana explanation TO my arrest yesterday on
charge OF having committed a forgery In Ken.
lucky where have never been except us
soldier during the war. of note FOR the paltry
sum OF $50. This is charged by man whose
namo never heard before, and rs II Is one of
the same kind OF forged notes that Prltchard
sold TO me, he has doubtless Induced the
complainant, upon the promise OF furnishing
testimony, as In the case have cited above,
where he forged General Dingham's name for
like purpose, to mako a formal complaint
against mo. Although ! have no doubt as to
the insufllclency OF this charge to base my ar
rest upon, propose TO go voluntarily to Ken
lucky and TO face all charges, and to probe this
matter TO the bottom, knowing 1 Will find the
villain and forger, Pritchard, as tho lying
cause OF this assault upon me,
that thus constralns me TO make
public tho facts, In q piece Of singular and
diabolical vlllainy. Pritchard has caused this
Kentucky victim Of one OF his forged Medical
Works notes TO make tho affidavit. am as
Innocent OF the charge as every other honest
man Of Washington is. Pritchard has recently
boasted that he would spend tho remainder
OF his days TO ruin me. This move
has been made TO enable him to telegraph 1t all
over the Union to injuro my business, whore 1
have clients residing In every county OF tho
United States. shall be able within three
or four days 10 mako public the means by
which he has caused this unjust and
Infamous arrest. shall proceed at
once TO face tho charge without compul.
sion, and show up the further details OF
Pritchard's damning yillainy.
N w. EITZGrR AID.