Connecticut western news., 1883-08-22
Humphreys Lefter.-Beckley's State.
 memt.-X@M IDeMseM's Letter.
GREAT HARRINGTON, Mass. Aug, 10th.

EAunaphrey's Letter.-Beckley's state- ment.-V@M Deusem's Letter.
 GREAT HARRINGTON, Mass, Aug, 10th.
 s. C. Beckley Cuaaan, G:-The statement yon came out with, in your pa per of the 9th inst is not correct by u long way. If you wish, you can talk with MT Sheffield or one MT Strong and correct it. I shall not let it go in that way. I don't say what shall do, but you wont find me the quitter you make me out to be- B. D. HUMPHREY.
 The above letter explains itself and needs no comment from me, but wish to make the following statement in ex- planation of the article it refers to, which was published in my paper of August 8. I heard MT Van Deusen tell his adventure with the thieves who stole MT Shaw's horse, heard MT Van Deusen describe MT Humphreys conduct on that occasion. In order to give cor rect account of the adventure, l asked MT Van Deusen to repeat his story to me. He did so in presence of MT J. l.. Bragg, on Saturday August 4. l then wrote an account of the adventure just as MT Van Deusen described it but on reading it over concluded to rewrite it and put it in as mild form as possible and let MT Humphrey off as easy as could consistent with 8 reliable &C., count of the adventure. destroyed the articleI had written and wrote what appeared in my paper August 8. Before allowing my compositors, to put the ar- ticle in type, on Monday I called MT Van Deusen into my office and showed him what I had written. He said it was correct and he was willing to swear to the facts as stated, and more too # necessary. I have no desire to traduce or injure MT Humphrey, and if he wishes to answer MT Van Deusen's statement, which now publish he can have space in the columns of my paper on the same terms charged MT Van Deusen. S. c. BEcKLEY, Editor NEWS.
 To tue Editor Coa,,a. Western Ne,cs:- An article in the Berkshire Courier of the 18th inst, headed ''Sheriff Humph- rey maintains his courage" and pub
 ished over his own signature, begins at the start with mis-statement. As was an interested party and was Mar, I claim to know some of the facts, but should not trouble myself to ventilate them had not MT Humphrey chosen to cover his conduct by accusing myself and friends of elaborate falsehoods. In the first place was called to assist MT Humphrey in arresting criminals whom He had allowed to slip through his own fingers and while searching for them, questioned MT Sheffield who said he had found horse and buggy early in the morning, Aug. 1st. As I could not describe the team in full I was obliged to wait until MT Shaw arrived and upon his describing tue horse etc., his property was returned to him. The robe and blanket were missing and we knew the thieves were not far off and started in search of them. I took the path back of the Camp grounds over the hill and MT Humphrey the opposite side or base of the hill, which would have brought him on top of the mems hiding place before arrived and the chances are that some of the stiffness he complains of in his postal card to me of 3d inst would have been taken out of him. Five minutes had hardly passed before ran full on, and was confronted with the larger of the two men. I sang out for help and grappled with him. MT Humphrey must certainly have heard my shout, as my lungs are good and he acknowledged he heard the pistol shot, as several well known men of Canaan can testify to hearing from his own lips three days afterwards, yet ten days later he discovers that the pistol report, the loudest he ever heard as he himself said, was board dropped by 8 carpenter hundred feet or so away. Now what am or his friends to think of man to say nothing of one sworn in to do his duty, cost what it may to search three or four minutes in Q road way for thieves and because the parties did not come out, hold up their hands and qui- etly submit to be handcuffed, calmly drive off to place in his own state and eat his dinner leaving his brother off, cer to take care of himself and get home as best he might. Had my injury, been more severe might lain where I was, nncared for unless some good
 Samaritan with more pluck than Bar
 rington Sheriff, might hear my cry and
 ascertain the cause thereof One thing is
 certain, MT Humphrey will never be ac
 cused of rashness in attacking armed
 criminals and the only rash he is ever
 likely to be troubled with will arise from
 eating his own buckwheat. That those
 who read may judge for themselves I
 publish postal, word for word, received
 by me from him.
 | sEHoxv is thinps I want to hear from