Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-30

What His Friends Claim in His De-
fense.
e from he Yew York Tslegra,n.


From he Nsa0 York TslSgr01n.
The following is an extract from pri-
ate letter to a gentleman now living In
this city; ''You have, doubtless, had ac-
counts, more or less accurate, OF the scan
DIAL with which the name of our friend,
Sir Charles Dixie, is connected in the
American papers. l am sincerely sorry
for Sir Charles. think he has behaved
bravely and with great dignity under most
trying circumstances. l do not believe
nor do any of his friends believe the
charge, which the lady has already re-
tracted. AS am in a better position for
obtaining accurate information on this
subject than any Of the correspondents OF
foreign journals, YOU will pardon me II l
extend my epistle TO an uncOnscionaole
length in making you acquainted with the
true inwardness of the affair. The ex-
posures of the Pail MAI Ga
zette as you are aware, created
tremendous excitement all over the coun-
try. John Bull awOke one morning and
discovered how extremely wicked he
really is, and, putting on sackcloth and
ashes. he struck his breast, rolled his
eyes, heaved long signs and looked like
dying calf as he bewailed his iniquity in
public. You know how people who take
religious craze accuse themselves Of the
most heinous crimes which they never
committed. So it was with many persons
here while laboring under the heavy pres
sure of excitement, and among the others
whose nerves were unstrung was a Mrs.
| Crawford. She made q sort of
confession to her husband. The occur
renee of which she spoke was, contrary
TO the impression abroad, not of recent
happening, but was alleged to have taken
place more than a year ago. The matter
nrst became Whispered around vaguely
at first, but Sir Charles was clearly indi-
Gated by implication.
1t was the talk of the town before Sir
Charles heard 1t, and then in an emphatic
and dignitied manner he denied it. So
great was the shock on him that he was
Frustrated and unable to attend great
Radical meeting he was to address that
night. AS soon as Mrs. Crawford saw
the full effect OF her statement she with
drew 1t and endeavored tG induce her hus-
| band to unders and that he was a victim
Cor rather she and Sir Charles, too, were
vlctms) of hysterical extravaganza.
Urged by the political enemies Of Sir
| Charles, Crawford persisted in believing
his wIfe's first statement aud filed libel
for divorce. Unfortunately the election
will take place before the case
! Ia tried, and we may expect
to have introduced that despicable policy
| Of personal scandal in an electoral cam
paign. Your knowledge Of Sir
Charles is enough without my saying that
the story that ne offered to pay 500, 1000
hush money was pure fabrication and
| an insult TO him as a man. | think he is
a noble man If his new-fangled social as
piratlOns did not interfere with his Radi-
calism. The principal witness for the
prosecution will be widow lady who
alleges that Mrs. Crawford confessed to
her several months before the Gdzette'S
Internal story appeared. AS Mrs. Craw-
ford is the sis er OF Mrs. Ashton Dixie she
was, of course, regarded as one of the
family, and possibly perfectly
innocent familiarity might exist
between her and Sir Charles which,
| if evidence were given OF 1t, par
! ticularizIng might be very damaging.
/ The poor lady, believe, is almost heart
| broken over her folly. l met her twice.
| She is pretty as picture, sprightly, but
| truly dignitied, and, l should say, a per-
feet lady. More | will not say now.
Again ! repeat that believe Sir Charles
| Dixie innocent. No public man in Eng
land, except sturdy old John Bright, has
escaped the tongue of calumny, and how
could man of Sir Charles known opin-
ions escape. BY the way, that is great
rubbish thes are talking OF his poverty.
| You know the difference"
Regarding the financial position of Sir
Charles Dixie the recipient of the letter
says:
HE is proprietor of the Atbsneuns a
widely-read critical weekly, from which
his income is estimated at S25, 900 year.
He has also an interest in the Gardeners
Chronicle. That, by the way, IS perhaps
the only journal in the world that paid
with the first number. His income from
that source is not less than $1,000, and
perhaps $4,000. From other sources he
derives very large sum, and the whole
may be estimated at from 5000 to $780,
600 year. So he is an excellent subject
from whom to claim damages"