Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-07-28
THE FATAL LETTERS.

EDS. VINDICAToR.]
THE FATAL LETTERS.
TEE LETTERS THAT LED TO JOSEPH AD-
DIsoN's DEATH-HIs DEATH BED.
&C., &C.. &C., &C.
We published last week the tragedy in
Lunenburg. Below, from the Petersburg
Inder- Appeal, we give the letters which
led to it:
The following correspondence between
Miss Hatchett, Mr.. Addison and Mr.. Gar
land, will indicate the exact causes which
led to the lamentable duel between Gar
land and Addison.
Mr.. Garland is a son Of John r. Gar
land, of Mecklenburg county, late Demo-
cratic. candidate for the Legislature. He
ia twenty seven years old and of spare
build. Miss Hatchett is a daughter of Dr..
RI. H. Hatchett, of Lunenburg county.
Amended is the correspondence in full.
Tho first letter is from Miss Mamie Hatch
att. the others follow in regular sequence:
MISS HATCHETT TO GARLAND.
OXFORD, N. c.. June 25, 1882.
Mr Garland:
Before leaving Lunenburg heard that
it was reported throughout the county that
| had been fiirted with by no other than
Yourself, but as there seemed to be no GER
tailty about the originator of the report
Ia qaesti IN, merely denied it indignant
Nv as Il horrid falseho I'd emanating fl ON
the fertile Imagination of some idle mis-
chief-maker,W no for some unknown cause.
wished to wreck what | value Infinitely
more highly than life itself-viz: my repu-
tation. Not, however. until had regis
tered a vow, that if you had ever made
such an assertion weuld trace it up, if it
took my v hole life to do it. | came for
purpose and have accomplished it. / now
have it f om your own lips and you dare
not deny it. Now you know that it is the
fou,est falseheod you ever uttered ,and it Is
imp 1ssible for me to rsalizs how any one
who claims to have the first in
stinct of a mau could let p'qne and
disappointment carry him So far as
to stoop 81 low and adopt 80 base a
means Of avenging himsalf OF one who had
in reality never injured him IN the least,
aud who, from the fact Of iier icing girl,
he thinks unable to defend herself. Now,
all | wish to say is just this: l have known
for long lime that Meth, Of the words
truth, principle OF holor were To be found
kno Sledged that your .tellect vas weak.
yet N st say that for one who has been
practlcing treachery as long as you have,
You have certainly displayed less tact than |
| had given you credit for. For several months
| past | have known more of your character
| than you had any idea of, but made a re-
| solve never t., expose you or try to injure
| you in any way ia the estimation of others,
unless l knew positively, without doubt,
| that you had said something detrimental
! in connection with myself. This promise
| I have sacredly adhered to Until now; but
there is a Joint where ind urauce ceases
! to be a virtue" The climax is reached at
| last, and [ care little for the conseq uenceS.
| You know as we'll MS l do that if you
| would tell the truth have no objection to
| the whole world knowing everything that
has ever passed between us but you seem
| to be in the habit of addressing young la
dies, and. on being discarded, requesting
| them to say nothing about it. [ know
| of more instances than one, and think in
| future it would be we'll to save yourself
| that trouble, as feel sure that no one con-
siderS it an honor. | remember once that
| you swore that you would get even with
me for some faucied wrong, but you should
have had penetration enough to have seen
| that if you undertO k to cope with Mamie
Ratchet you had Sadly mistaken the girl ;
not owing to any superiority on her part,
but, Mr.. Garland, vice versa. The
tables, however. are slightly turned,
and you will not be Surpris-
ed when I tell you that you are entire
| ly at my mercy, aud it only needs a
word from myself to place you beneath the
| recognition of all honest people, and it is
onlysout of respect for your family that
have kept quiet as long as l have. do
not .2retend to say that know your whole
| past career, but | know enough to blast
your reputation forever. and if you have
one atom of respect left, either for your
self or family, you will leave the country
at once. l know your conduct in Arkan.
sas. Oxford, Henderson, and elsewhere. -
| Your hands are stained with human blood,
and your tongue with falseh0ods so foul
that no time can erase them; and am not
surprised at your being 8 fit subject for
the lunatic asylum. l wish you to remem-
Der that not Il member of my family has
| the slightest suspicion of this affair, and
God grant that they never may, because il
| they did | could not answer for the conse-
quences; besides they would blame me. and
l could never stand the modification of
having my name connected in any way
with yours. I would not for the world
take any undue advantage of you and say
things you cannot resent, simply because
am lady. ! am responsible for every
thing | say, and though | cannot defend
myself, have brothers who can. OF this
fact perhaps you are aware. Do not thiuk
| am trying to imtimidate you, as l am
perfectly fair and open in everything do
therefore [ warn YOU in time; you had
better leave, or else keep your tongue qni
| ct, so far as my name is concerned. l find
that shall need witness to any transac-
| ton with you, so in this case l shall bt
careful shall also preserve copy OF
this letter in the event of any misunder-
standing | have already said enough,
but will add here that it you will let me
alone shall never put myself out of the
way to harm you, but don't you ever dare
to speak my name again, if you do | shall
place the affair in other hands and shal
not answer for the rest. 1 hope You all
not care to live in any community where
| your true character is known, and rest as
| sured L shall not spare you. But as said
| before, If you keep quiet in the future
am willing to let the matter rest as it is
but if you want revenge, then go ahead
do your worst. [ am not afraid of you
but remember the conseq uences, for
have ruined you.
[Signed] MAMIE l.. HATCHETT.
The following letter was received with
the above in the same envelope, postmark-
ed Lunenburg Court House, June 3Oth
1882.
II. q. Garland:
Sir,--Herewith you will find letter from
Miss Hatchett to you, which she sent me
for psrusal, and requested, after duly no.
ting contents. that I should forward to
your address. If you should feel aggriev-
ed at the contents therein, which l have
carefully read and endorsed, you may re-
member at any time that l advocate her
cause. and hold myself personally account
able for her words Your having taken
the liberty of making use of my name in
this natter last winter gives me this pre-
rO2ative.
Yours, &C.,
[Signed] JOSEPH ADDISON.
m IN bnro Gourt Honep.