Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-10-16
Colonel John W. Woltz Closes Up His Controversy
with Hon. John Amber Smith.
WASHINGTON. d. G.. Oc. i: lss

Win dOI. john Amber smith,
WASHINGTON. d. c., Oct: is, 1882.
10 the editor Of the Richmond DisDafrh
have delayed my reply 10 The card Of
lion. ). Amber Smith, which was published
i'll the Wing of the lth instant. because of
engagements with my competitors for Con-
9ress and because ] was unable until The
present to obtain the corroborativc evidence
which desired TO accompany this state
mcnt, and that will convict Mr. Smith rfact-
ing unfairly toWards me in this matter.
On the 18th day Of September II. d. Beck
ley and myself left Norfolk, he To return to
his home i'll Alexandria and to stop over
i'll Richmond TO prepare and publish the
statement relative to the bribery Of Laws by
the Mahoneites of Dezcndorfs district. On
my arrival at Richmond ] met Mr. Smith at
the depot, who was on his way to Washing
ton. lie asked me if Beckley and myself
would speak for him. | said: ''Smith, un-
derstand Malone opposed your nomination,
and that he and his democratic readiusters
are opposing your election. IF that is true
we will help you fight Malone" He said ii
was true. | told him Bccklcv was on the
train en- route for Alexandria. and he could
tell him what had said and consult with
him. The next time ] met Bcckley he re-
peated to me conversation had with
Smith on the train, and which he now rel
terates in the following affidavit:
WASHINGTON D. C. October IT, 1882
| l, II. d. Beckley, do S0leninly swear that OH or
| about the 18th day of September 1882; and
while on the cars between Richmond and AIryan.
dria, the Hon. John Ambler Smith stated to me
| that, being convinced that Malone and his Dem
ocratlc allies of the Third district were playing
me false and that William Malone intcndedcd IA
defeat me for Congress by withholding the money
from me necessary to pay the taxes of the voters
III my district, and that il they don't furnish
money it was my intention to remain in the field
until about two weeks before the day of rlrrtion
then to withdraw and dcnouncc both Malone and
| his Rpadjuster followers, and that mean tn OK.
pose their treachcry TO the public"
K. u. RErKLEY.
WAsHlNGToS, b. G.. October Is, 1851.
Sworn to and acknowledged before me the dav
and date above written.
JAMES IL. SMITH Notary Public.
On the 29th of September Mr.. Smith. met
ME III Washington at the st. Mare Hotel.
and invited me to take oysters with him. |
accepted his invitation, and during the time
he asked me if would send Il telegram for
him to the Dispatch and have it published.
| replied would, and inquired The nature
ed, and | readily agreed to accommodate
him, because ! saw the opportunity To hi,
the Little Tycoon another blow.
invited Mr. Smith to call rron me NJ nv
room at st. Marc Hotel, where could pre-
pare the telegram.
He called an hour afterwards. and lcta.
ted the following, with the addition OF the
words Smith, in the widwo of Louisa.
learning of the treachrry of Malone. Gilmcr
and others, FASTENED to Washington to de.
feat their plans which advised him il
was unnecessary to repeat in my telegram.
"R II. HUBBARD. DR.. George X. Ciilmcr Joln
Fisher. and A. A. Splitter have been in conference
with Malone relative To the withdrawal of j. Am
pier smith as the candidate for Congress from
the Third district. These gentlemen favored the
| withdrawal of Smith and the substitution of HUI
bard, notwithstanding Iiubard's declaration FIAT
he was for Smith. Hon. John f. Lewis, having
been made to believe that Dir. Gilmcr lwho to n
great degree owes his present position to the nlu-
cncc OF Lewis was favorable to the election Of his
Son-n-law, WAS lnath To believe thas Iilmrr meant
| to prove so ungratctnl but Smith, having learned
from a confidential source in Richmond tlrt t:il
mcr, Splitter Fisher. "a George Wise rcadiuscrl
~ Company came here yesterday and iusis;c
upon Knowing from Malone whether he was =
| party In the movement to Withdraw Smith and
substitute another Malone int mated To the dele
gation his wish that Smith should be withdrawn
and some one else substituted in his stead
Last night Smith reached here and to-day held
conference with Mahohr. Henderson AMI Cor
| ham, all OF whom assured him that they intended
to stand by him is they wonlh by Wise and the
other nominees.
To those familiar with journalism il is,
unnecessary to say that the words above
quoted We're hastily written by me and af-
forwards shaped up for transmittal BY tele-
gram. They were written in my room by
me, with Mr.. Smith at my side, and he die
tated every word. read them over to him
several times, and he said it was Just what
he wanted published, and that might add
anything else thought proper. The allus-
ION to KEes. believe, | did add when !
copied and sent Off the telegram.
asked Smith his motive for PUBLISHING
such statement. He replied, Il want TO
show up the id trcachcry of Malone and
his clam He repeated TO me then what
Beckley alleges he told him relative to his
withdrawal. When he told ne Malone did
not mean TO give him money to pay the tax
es OF his friends said, He is bound to nav
them or lose their votes for Wise" Alter
smith left my room + sent to the office for 4
book OF telegraph forms, and prepared from
the original the following:
WAsII1NGToE, September o9.--A DELEGATION
composed OF X. t. Huhard, Dr. Gilmer tpost,nas
| teri John Fisher, and Splitter have been here in
conference with Malone urging him To Withdraw
Smith as the candidate for Congress and substitute
| HUBBARD JohnF. Lewis. the warm friend of Gill
mer, Will hardly believe that Gilmcr, who owes so
much to Lewis, is willing to cruelty his law
but 1t Is trne. 1t is equally true that Malone cy-
pressed to these gentlemen his Willingness TO With
draw Smith.
Smith arrived last night and to-day held 4 CON
ference with Mlhnnc. Henderson and Gorham
and they assured him that they meant to stand by
him as they would the other coalition candidates
Smith has accepted their declarations for what
they are worth. They are playing Smith false, aud
you may look ont for squalls in your district he
tween now and November
Kives may learn lesson from what is: going on
with reference to Smith
To show that Smith did furnish the infor
nation | sent. state
lst. was not aware that the gentlemen
alluded to were III Washington
I'd. never heard of r. r. HUBBARD or John
Fisher. certainly didn't know the latter
was Geo. Wise readjustcr.
Sd. Who besides Smith knew that he had
been in conference with Malone. Gorlram.