The Osceola times., 1884-08-16

about the matter, and my only con
nection Herewith came about in this
way: About June 18th. letter was
received by the Post Master at Quin.
cy, signed by J. a. Mc'Alister, ask
ing where he (McAllister) could get
"a copy of the Ballew trial" The
letter on the inside was addressed
to "Col. Strong, Atty at Law" and
the envelop to" Post Master, Gum.
cy," and on the side 'for Col. Strong
The letter referred to the pamphlet,
saying he desired very much to get
it; aP. S. to the letter requested the
L. NJ. to assist in getting the letter
to Col. Strong, sc. The Post Mas
ter sent the letter to me with this in
dorsement thereon: "Gen. Hamil-
ton, can you send one of the pam
phlets issued by Mr.. Ewing, or send
his address on enclosed Postal, NJ.
Piggott." | dropped Mr. McAllis-
ter card telling him that the man
who had those books lived at Lima,
in this county, and that if he (McA-)
would write him and enclose 80 cents
| thought he could get copy of the
book desired. Il found out after
wards that was mistaken in the man
Mr.. Richards address, it is Marce-
line) also said on my card that
if saw Richards in town that |
would try and get copy of the book.
A few days after, | git a card from
Mr.. McAllister, saying: sour Court
holds next month 4 greatly desire
the book History of the Ballou triaD
! by then. Please assist me IN any
way you can to get copy sent to
my address 81. A. McAlister Osce-
la Ark by that time 4 will remit
by return male. will give you par
ticulars when more at leasure. Please
hel p me-Many thank for what you
have DONE"
Shortly thereafter met Mr.. Rich
ards in town and told him had a
card from a man in Arkansas who
wanted to get copy Of the Book =
"'he Ballou Trial." that | did not
know the man. Mr.. Richards said
that he would send me a book, and
he did SO and | mailed it to Mr.. Nc
Alister. | had not sent the book
when | received McAlister's card,
and his reference to the term of Court
soon to meet, and his desire to have
it "by that time" confirmed me in
my already settled inference that he,
McAlister, was Il lawyer, aud was en-
gagged in some murder trial and
thought that he might get something
out Of the book to assist him in the
case; and SO, supposing him to be a
lawyer, ! thought ! was doing only
an act of PROFESSIONAL CouRTEsY:
and such courtesy as should have
extended to any lawyer in any State
had he written to me, and such ms |
would have expected to have extend
ed to me, had asked it. This to-
gether with the further fact that Mr..
Richards made no charge to me for
the book, cau'cd me to write upon
the book with my compliments to in-
dicate not only the professional cour-
tesy, but that he need send no money
back.
While ] have had a copy of the
book for years | have never read it
through.
Had ] known of your residence
there, and the very dishonorable use
which McAlister was going to make
OF the book, would not have sent it.
In the light of what has happened |
am free To say, that the manner in
which McAlister procured the book,
and the use he has made or tried to
make, of it for the purpose OF injuring
you and getting himself into your
place as Principal is most DlsHoY-
oIABrE, and ought not to be coun-
tenanced by any honorable man, or
in any respectable community; and
| sincerely hope may not in the
end injure you
The author of the book was J. II.
Dudley, now long since dead, who
| am informed was very ignorant
man; he went in debt for the print
ing of the book, and run off and left
his securities to pay for the same, sew
eral hundred dollars. Personally |
don't know what he knew of the case,
but do not think either from knowl-
edge of facts or in any other sense he
was competent to write up the case.
From my knowledge of you while
here at Quincy in connection with
the defense of your Brother, and the
examination here and his taking
away under requisition, ] am free to
say that if there is any reflection up
on you in that book, that it is who'll
ly unwarrantcd. You will remem-
ber that | was a partner of Mess.
Warren & Wheat who were your
counsel at that time, and | aftcrward
became, and was for many years, a
partner of Mr. w. G.. Ewing, the
then prosecuting attorney. Your con-
duct during that terrible ordeal was
that of a LADY and a NOBLE and DE
VOTED SISTER, who dared to stand
by your brother, even unto death:
and for such devotion no criticism