Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-09-14
POLITICAL.
Another Letter from John w. Wolff.

! Another Letter from John w. Wolff.
NORFOLK, VA, September ID, 1882.
| To the editor Of the Richmond Dispatch:
have just returned from visit to Northamp-
ton county, where on Monday last Colonel Mayo
and myself held joint discussion I think
convinced the more intelligent republicans of
Northampton that to longer support Malone
to endanger the liberties of the people aud while
| could make but little impression upon the sares
of Peter Carter, ! am satisfied with the result of
| my efforts.
Before leaving Washington, and while iii this
place and Northampton, | learned some facts.
which desire to place before the people that will
startle them into realization of the dangers into
which they have fallen by placing in power that
INSCRIPTIONS and malignant tyrant William Ma
hone, who nov holds seat in the Senate of the
United States
The following statement of my own of Laws
and the written proofs furnished. will show the
dissraceful means that Malone and his followers
are willing to resort to to accomplish their wicked
ends.
Some fthe parties have heen my friends but am
unwilling to see their outrageous conduct remain
unrebuked and the rights of the people ieopardized
even to save the reputation of friends.
ii their characters different from their req
"fdtomsaS to permit them to resort to such unfair
means as these Developments show then their rep
atatioaS must suffer; their characters will remain
preserved.
On the 9th of this month received the fulloy-
ing letter:
WASHINGTON, ID. G.. September t. iss!
Colonel .Iohn ". IIioIt:. Fredericksburg, Ia.:
Dear Sif,-fou will remember Tint. your 5uggcs-
ton, consented to enter the canvass and do VIVA,
could /" secure the election of Hon John f. Dezendort
Accompanied by R. D. Beckley and yourself visited
Norfolk, and there decided what course we should
pursue in the matter. You told Of the means likely
to be used to induce Beckey and myself desert De-
Hendorf ana advised us that il offers of money were
In IN
you Tor advice have been offered bribe and have
accepted 1t: ! want You to come to Washington at
Besides the offer OF money have been told by Peter
T. carter one OF the persons engaged in this matter
mat It Is the purpose OF the party in the Norfolk dis
rict 10 count out nezcndorf matter how many votes
he gets and to give the certificate election to the Co
alltlon candidate am unwilling to he party to such
infamous conduct and beg you and Beck lev TO meet
me here without delay that may decide what is best
oeSpoae the rainous conduct OF these traders in the
rights of the people.
Very truly yours, W. r. LAWS
QnicEly responding, and calling at Alexandria
i"r hrcEley met Mr.. Laws at the ST. Mare Hotel,
VINO informed Becklcy and myself that while en-
gagged IN the canvass for Dezcntlorf he was a,-
preached By Peter J. Carter, who told him he
could make ii to his interest to desert DeZendorr
ami advocate Libhys election. lie positively re-
fused to go back on what he had said in the dis
trct for DeAcndorf, but EXPRESSED willingness to
negotiate for his departure FROM the district Car
ter promptly furnished him with the following
letter t" the chairman Of I.ibby's committee:
No. 80 MATER STREET
NORFOLK, VA. September: lssa
NoM George T.. Borden, President:
Esteemed Sir.--lhiS will be handed 10 YOU Iy Mr. n
H. Laws, the gentleman was speaking To YOU und to :
"nel Libby about al the custom house.
Alr. Laws iSn gentleman, and whatever he agrees to
40 E"H on, may be assured that he will stand by it, hope
you VIII nor i To arrange matters with Mr.. Laws,
IT Is my opinion that as soon as Mr. Laws leaves that
"thrr party DczcndorfS case will he dead
Hastily yours, &c. p.J. CARTER
Before Laws could deliver the note to Bowden
he was introduced by Carter at Princess Anne
Courthouse to Judge Booker and Mr. Libby who
arranged for an interview ut the custom house ut
Norfolk In this interview, at which Potter Car
ter, Mr. Bowden, and Judge Booker were present
terms were agreed upon and Mr. Laws asserts that
General Malone was made aware Of them
Malone was to give him an otficr in Washing
ton that was to pay not less than $40 per month
Corrohorative of LawS's statement, while we were
IN conference At Washington Pill Gordon called
avs from the room, and on his return Laws says
Gordon told him that General Malone had sent
MN 10 hlm (l.aws) to say that he wanted to see
hlil' ana that he would provide place for him.
Laws alleges that in the conference ut Norfol,
Bowden and Booker agreed to pay him $500 in
consideration of which, together with the Office
ne was to.dcsert Dezendorf either By leaving the
district or by advocating the election of Libby.
Inc terms We're complied with on the part of
lne Dtloers by paying portion of the money and
E promising the rest.
had, us Laws informed me in his letter. adj
vlsed both him and Bcckley that if they were of.
fered hrlbcs to desert their principles TO take the
brides but to STAND BY THEIR PRINCIPLES.
am not prepared TO defend the moral part of
such advice, but have never hesitated to give the
same advice from the stump where suspected
that such degrading means of controlling mems
vote; were to be used.
Whom the gods would destroy they not only
make mad, but sometimes they make them very
silly, as the sequel i'll this case will show
Instead OF paying Laws the 5000 in cash, and
thereby destroying the chain of evidence of their
, conduct, they paid him one hundred dollars in
cash and gave him 4 check for the remaining hun
dred, which lives to-day tor proof OF it does) to
convict them of their crime The balance $4,000
was to be paid by the day of election. Laws car.
ried the cheek with him to Washington, and after
several Intellectual attempts to have it cashed de-
posted tin the Bank of Washington for collection
That bank sent it to Norfolk for payment Wish
ing to still further weave the web around these
bribers, who love liberty so well, and who are in
favor OF "A free ballot and fair count" induced
Laws to send the following telegram:
WASHINGTON, September y 1892
| George T.. Borien, Custom House Norfolk Va
want that to-day that could not get here How
about IL W r. LAWS
Had Laws's purchasers known that Beckey and
myself were NJ the other end of the line doubt
not but that they would havcseut very different
answer to this one:
NORFOLK, September s. 1852.
Cannot understand telegram to chairman I,ank here
will telegraph amy bank in Washington that check is
good Rimored here that you intend to return aenins,
lis. Is this so? do you TO work ,t,iare" HIVE
You seen the General yet" Answer.
| JOHN BOOKER
! Room 3, No. - Roanoke avenue
Anxious that Mr.. Booker and his associates
should fully understand Lawss first telegram, and
tina, full answers should be made to his INQUIRIES
| had Laws respond rs follows:
WAsnISCroN, September o lsss
| Io,Iohm Booker, CHsiom- House. Norfolk. Ia:
Check paid, No truth reDOrt thnt dom, ,naor O.,
act square will prove my fidelity 10 nv promises
when return. Back by Wednesdays boat Have
ii"1 seen tue General vel W. K. LAWS
The check drawn by John Booker on the Home
| savings Banks ut Norfolk, and payable to the or
der Of W. K. Laws. was collected by the Bank of
| Washington. 1t Washington. ID. G.. and paid to
Laws. who is $500 enriched by money wrung, no
doubt. from the hard worked and poorly paid !
clerks ut Washington, while the Malone campaign
fund is to that amount impoverished.
Laws maintains his loyalty to his original
pledges. He will continue to work for the success