Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-11
MARSHAL SLOSS
Den0unees a. False the Statements Made
by Hewlett, the Deputy Whom
He Recently Dismissed,
And He Defends the Hon. William NJ.
Lowe from All the AspersiOns
from the Same Source.

To the Editors Of the Appeal:
HUNTSVILLE, ALA, April Glowing to
the respectable character and influence of
the newspapers which have been induced to
publish what purports to be charges submit
ted to the encouragement against me Is
United States marshal for the Northern dis
trict Of Alabama by one Thomas 6. Hewlett,
as deputy United States marshal, l feel hu-
initiated by the necessity for a reply. II the
charges were only to be seen ami read here,
where Tom Hewlett and myself are known,
would treat them with silence. In the first
place, / state tina. all his charges which are
criminal in their character, were pre-
scented by him (Hewlett) to the grand jury
of the United States Court for this district
at its last fall term, and Investigated with
care and diligence. The district attorney, as
| am informed, examined the witness two
days, and the charges were ignored by said
jury unanimously. Oae of Hewletl's charges
againstssme is that / "was in collision with
certain deputies to defraud the government
in the matter of illegal charges" He GER
tainly does not intend TO intimate that l was
in collision with him "to charge for mileage
not travelled, subsistence not furnished, and
for guards not employed" for that would be
an admission that we Hewlett and myself)
were stealing from the government. Hew-
lett was my principal outdoor deputy and
implicitly trusted by me, and if was in col
fusion with any of my deputies for such
purposes he would have been the best TO
select for his account with those working Tor
him for the fiscal year 1881 was locked over
$4,000 for such charges as were considered
illegal and fraudulent. His charge that l
am "a gambler and player for high stakes"
is something new to those who know and are
intimate with me. His charge that have
violated the law by taking blank receipts
from my deputies and other creditors of the
United States and filling them out with such
sums as l chose, is wantonly absurd and
false. i do not remember ever to have Cen
deavor.d to control and intimidate Tom
Hewlett in the exercise of his elective fran
chise." l do remember that l endeavored to
persuade him to use his influence with
a candidate for probate judge to withdraw
as such candidate and let Judged. l.. Ham
mond be the Republican candidate, but sig
nally. failed, his candidate running to defeat.
II he and a few others calling themselves
Republicans had taken my advice we would
now have a Republican instead of Demo-
cratic probate judge in this county. l had
nothing to do with the dismissal of the cases
before the United States commissioner against
the sheriff of Limestone county and his
posse charged by Hewlett. As / was in
formed at the time, the defendants were dis
charged ON account of the sudden and mex
plicable absenceaof this same Thomas Hew-
lett, who was the principal prosecuting wit
ness, and who was said to have in his pos
session the fd', the authority by virtue of
which the marshal had seized the goods,
which were taken from Hewlett and other
deputy marshals by the sheriff and his
posse. Why he was absent has never yet
been made public, although Hewlett has
been inquired of as TO The same. Colonel
Lowe never attempted, by word or act, or
otherwise, to use influence with me to have
i
| ever, until Hewlett now charges it, heard
such alleged. In these cases Hewlett en-
ployed on his own account, an eminent lawyer,
Governor d p. Lewis, as special counsel to
prosecute before the commissioner, and the
hearing was delayed for Hewlett's absence
until the case was dismissed by Commits
sioner Captain ames II. E ne, Of his own
motion, or upon motion of defendants at
torneys, for the want of Hewlett and the
proof he would make in the case. ! never
attempted, with Colonel Lowe, TO throw the
blame of irregulsrity in this district upon
Hewlett; and the suggestion by Hewlett is
an extravsgant stretch of even has pliatle |
and vivid Imagination. | never refused to
accept Hewlett's resignation as deputy mar
shall for the reason, as he charges, that it
would preeipitate an investigation, or for
any Other reason, for he never teodered his
rs-ignation; and never f. AIRED, but rather
desired, an investigation, aud L didn't know |
that Hewlett feared an investigation, or that |
to prevent one he could have been induced |
to withdraw his resignation. / never told !
Hewlett, as he charges, that | would dis |
cdarge him if he didn't transfer his political |
support from the straight Republican can
lidate for probate Judge 10 the Independent |
candidate. | never threatened to discharge |
him until about the day l revoked his |
and SO far as his Republican |
candidate is concerned, Judge Hammond, |
he man | desired to have selected as the |
candidate for probate judge is certainly as
good Republican, and as good a man. l |
never told Hewlett that | would discharge |
him until / revoked his commission, after |
asking him for his resignation, which was |
'efused. / then revoked his commission after |
IN examination OF charges made by Mr.. c. |
;. Lancaster, it,, an agent of the department
This is the ground of Hewlett's persistent
10 me. 1 have no notice Of any
charges against me lodged with the attorney
general BY Hewlett, as stated, and am amply
lble to reply to any such at the proper time.
dr. Hewlett Is young man, possessing great
owe Of notoriety in newspapers and other
wise, plausible in his manner but very
Lightly In making statements, and 1t is by no
means new to me that he has had craze for
months on the subject contained in this let
er. His peculiar characteristics are arrogance,
lack OF memory as to facts, and
ngratitude. Notwithstanding the charges
e makes against me which worthy of
office have been the subject OF judicial in
estigatiou, he seems. Incapable OF abardon-
ng thirst for some sort of revenge. Very
especially, JOSEPH H. sLoss,
L. S. Marshal Northern District OF Alabama.