Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-07-08
JUDGE BRANNON.
He Makes Explicit Denial of the Charges
Made Against Him.
IL IL IL u -.

hc nakes tApiiCit btniat Oh inc Sharscs
Made Against Him.
10 the Editor tt he Register.
WESTON, July I, iSSL-ln your paper Of
the 4th inst communication of AN In.
quirer," ingenious in appearance, calls for
answers to hypothetic charges, which |
shall repeat in substance, and answer in
tetail:
-. 1t is charged that, during the long
struggle which the Democrats Of this State
had to obtain their civil and political rights
the days of registration and iron clad
oaths-Judge John Brannon was conspicu-
Gus only through his silence; that during
the dark DAYS Of that heroic conflict he
stood aloof, wrapped in the originality Of
lis own solitude, doing nothing in any
way, shape, form or fashion, to disenthrall
his brother Democrats from the chains that
bound them.
is this true, or is il a vile political slam
der?
1t is the latter.
1t is fairly to be inferred from this that !
was not a victim Of the proscTiptive laws re.
f,lrcd to- and so, not being victim, was
dcrclict in not asserting or employing some
power TO relieve against prescription. This
j. mistake ! was South during the war,
a member Of the Virginia Senate. My
property wGs seized and every part Of i of
l.rgiblc chaeel character cOnhscatcd and
sold, aud my family driven from their
home across the military line to me After
lie war, under the proscriptivc measures
referred 10. was not allowed 10 make q
living, y my profession Twas not allowed
10 Lold .ny ulicial trust or appointment
ohCrcbr could net in that behalf. There
raS one POSITION which seemed open TO me-,
and that was to become q member of vestry
If church oil God, aud that | reached
md became the President Of the Board. To
5e allowed TO FIJI that, gave me hope, and
10 be allowed the prayers Of the oh.rth, II
not allowed TO work, gave me stronger hope,
10 be able to hold church position ohcered
re, and it was to me Ike Il cod water brook
10 n weary traveller in
4 Thirsty Land.
Sow, as to my alleged supneness, when the
woke was on us. ! deny the charge. What
did do to rescue myself and othersH ]
claim, it then occurred 10 me that by
an effort in certain direction, We
might get the Legislature and have the pol
i,ics Of the State changed, and the incubus
removed.
presented my programme to the Hon.
ThoS D. Farnsworth, late President OF the
Senate. He could vote--l could not. lie
agreed to cooperate and We went to work,
and the Legislature, az / anticipated, was
ours by one vote. Farnsworth and myself
have frequently congratulated ourselve, but
we have not boasted or paraded our work.
Nv apology now is apparent. Again, when
proposition for call for constitutional
convention was pending before the Legisla-
ture, realizing that the shack!es could only
be entirely removed by constitutional pro.
vision. | went to Charleston, and some Of
the most essential provisions Of the bill as
passed, were
Drawn by Myself,
and every effort / could employ was en-
plCyed in behalf Of the bill Again, when
he Flick amendment was under dis
cussion in the House Of Delegates, it was
fcrcely opposed by leading Democratic
debators. | went 10 Wheeling, and did all
in nv power to carry the measure. The
Hon. Frank Hereford and myself laborad
hard and constantly for TIE measure He
knows with what success. ] need not state.
Mr. Howard, Of Mason, will coToborate
this statement. Who did more 10 olsen
,hralI' my brother Democrats from the
chains that bound the'nY During the
whole period OF our sorrows ! was active in
organization for relief II was de"med at
that time best for those who had been
South not to engage in political diEcgs-
sions. Ny duty was performed.
Seeond-It is charged that ] bo!ted the
regular Democratic ticket in my own
county in 1882. This is not true 70
the extent stated. withheld my
vote from candidate on the
ticket for the House Of Delegates.
! felt justified; my party did not expect
otherwise The party recently in the largest
Democratic County Convention, held for
years, without dissent instructed for rae FOR
Congress, with fall knowledge in respect 70
this matter Ill 1t is charged that bis
action in the celebrated. case -(ejeetmeni)
called the o. T. Wood case which inTolF-
ed the homes Of I20 families representing.
say. 400 votes) Of Braxton coEnty, was
such as 10 lose the support, for all tBie 10
come, Of the Democrats Of Braxton.
And in support Of this charge it is slleg.
cd that prior TO 1879 some Wall street spec
ulators Of New York become the ostensible
purchasers Of a tract Of 10000 acres Of
land. claimed to be situated in Braxton
county, the decd showing on its
face the consideration 20 be zone
dollar in hand paid That
suit was instituted in the Federal court bs
O.E. Woods and others against John Ar
meptrout and one hundred and more OF
Braxton citizens for the recovery Of this
land. That on the trial Of this ejectusnt
case exJudge Brannon, under eircum.
stances well known TO and often discussed
by the parties concerned, appeared as one
Of the counsel ofthe Wall street spectators.
That ms appearance in this attitude Was q
source Of surprise and disappointment 10 his
old friends and neighbors, who, for and bs-
cause Of certain representations made TO
them. thought tbeT had reason 70 believe
he would appear FOR the defense. That. in
bis speech before the Court on the occasion
of,he trial be went out Of bis Nay TO de
nouuce these citizens Of Braxtcn as squat
ters."
TIE Answer.
Wall streAspecalstors had nothing % do
With the property. The late DR.. Willard
| Parker and others composing The Eitle
| Kanawha and Elk River Petroleum
and Mining Company owned the property
for which they paid over one hundred ihous
/ .,d dollars the title being In q. z. WAd
and others. trustees ! was empioJef bJ