Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-03-08
THE LETTER.

500 =
(CoPYl FAIRMoST. w. VA,
February 20, 1884.
Editors Of the Evening Journal, Wheel
ing, w. Va,
GENTLEMEN My attention was call
ed this morning to an article lid your
paper OF the a5th inst, headed STAIR
mont, w. Va.,' signed ssObscrver.v
Reference IL made hi The article to Con-
gresham Gibson aud Marshal Atkin-
son and TO an attack made on Atkin-
mn BY Mr.. Gibson; that "Gibson has Il
silent partner, and one who furnishes
the ammunition; that silent partner Ii
a Republican and lives not a thousand
miles from Marion County,; that he,
the "silentpartner," "recently took il
trip into the Third Distrlct," and, III
reports are true, ssseveral interviews
were had with Illicit distillers and
their friends'.; that Gibson's pigeon
holes Of his desk are full OF these pre-
cious scraps, TO be used in his political
fight against the Marshai.r
RETRospECTIvEv VIEW.
In reply to this, thereoan be no doubt
that the ssilcnt partner here referred
to, Il myself. / took il trip through that
section OF the State last fall; but I
neither saw nor talked with any oil
licit distiller'' that knew of. l was
informed by Republicans there that the
notorious letter Marshal Atkinson
wrote, changing so many citizens with
crime contained much falsehood. That
he implicated men Of middle age, whose
character was, and always has been,
blameless. That one man censured had
required Atkinson to acknowledge the
accusation false, or take thrashfng.
and that Marshal Atkinson acknoWl.
edged the accusation false, and saved
himself from corporal punishment. He
used discretion. / have this to say
with reference to the charge, that in
formation has been furnished Congress-
man Gibson by me. don't remember
that ever met Congressman Gibson; IL
! ever did. l cannot recall MIN now. 1
have not written to him since he has
been a member OF Congress, nor have l
received any letter or communication
OF anykind from him since he has been
in Congress, nor have referred to him
in any letter during this time. did
not know that Congressman Gibson had
ever made any attack On Marshal At
kinson until saw the article Of ssOb-
server Since / was "consolidated''
out Of the collectorship / have been
quietly trying to make living In my
old age. Having devoted the yigor OF
my life to the public service of my
country, for which the pay did not
equal my necessary expenses, am
now obliged to work
| am not candidate for office, and
never expect TO ask for one, unless it
Is necessary for a living, have writ
ten some articles this winter, which
have been published, on subjects that
/ considered Of general interest to the
people OF the State, without distinction
of party. Why you have lent your
columns for scurril0uS abuse Of me
am unable to understand. I suppose
1t IL, In some way, to champion Marsh
al Atkinson; but why should that be
done? When Marshal Atkinson was q
boy it was represented to me that his
father was an honest man, but in des-
titute condition with family. / pro-
cured an office for him which supported
him and his family. / have no doubt
the money that paid the MarshaPs ex-
penses when he was sent to Ohio (un-
der thick cloud to college came from
the office which l procured for his
father.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
/ supposed, until last summer, that
was ON the most friendly terms with
every Republican In the State. / was
then assailed from unexpected sources.
Not one word have uttered or inspired
through the press complaining OF party
action. Cannot Marshal Atkinson
sustain himself without trying to de.
str0y my character? Cannot / be per-
mitted to die In peace, in my old age,
with the character have earned dur
ing long life? Or does the Evening
Journal in its last extremity, and.
seeking to save itself, think IL must de-
stroy my reputationS Gentlemen, YOU
will please inform Marshal Atkinson
that am no "silent partner but that
will now give Congressman Gibson
facts enough of his (Atkinson's) gross
abuse of power to condemn him In the
estimation Of honest men. 1 shall also
give them to others. have no claims
on you, to ask you to publish this letter.
You can do with 1t a. you please. /
think 1t will be published.
Ynrra raGnanff1I1u