Morning journal and courier., 1886-11-16
The Peet Brothers, Reply-Mr. Peck
Has to Take a Back Seat.


WEST HAVEN, Conn, Nov. IL, 1885.
Messrs. L. P. and E. w. PEEr: Gentle
men-I desire to publicly acknowledge the
wrong 1 did you at the recent election by de-
priving you of the right of franchise at that
time. feel also that [ owe Hon. James
Graham an apology for not taking his calm
and sound advice, which in the confused
state of my mind 1 could not grasp at all.
He has always been my friend and had
taken his advice at that time all this trouble
wauld have been avoided. At his suggestion
1 was going to give you the benefit of the
doubt and let you vote when Mr.. Jam Peck
rushed up and said had rendered my deci-
sion; that was right and should stick to it.
AS he had asked me to be moderator
and said that I could fill the place,
that it was easy enough, and
thinking that he was better posted on the
law than I and would not mislead me, rem
dered decision against you. wish now to
state emphaticslly that my decision was
wholly wrong and that your right to vote in
West Haven cannot be justly questioned. If
I had the chance to decide again 1 would de-
eide in your favor. 1 knew nothing about
the law and was confused and misled by Mr..
Peck, who said had decided right and to
stick to it,
I have done you wrong which can new
er repair, but hope these few words will
place me in a better light before the eyes of
the world. DAVID S. CRANE.
In consideration of the above honorable
statement of Mr.. Crane, We have decided to
withdraw our complaint. The interests of
right and justice have not suffered by the re-
cent exhibition of political bulldozing of
which Mr.. Crane was the unfortunate victim.
1t is true there was a temporary subversion
of law and order, but this subversion has
only rendered to open the eyes of people in
both political parties to the fact that the
character of men in Federal offices is not al
ways upright and pure as it might be
ought to be. We are aware that in with
drawing our complaint we are not following
the precedent of our Democratic brethren in
East Haven, nor do we thereby accept the
challenge of Mr.. Peck to prosecute the case
for nickel'-a challenge too childish for
recognition. A strong suspicion that there
was an undue amount of political machinery
employed for the carrying on of the cleo
ton led us, at the very outset, to
enter upon an investigation. This has not
been without its results. Facts have been
disclosed not at all creditable to that dema-
gogue in West Haven whose voice has SO
often been heard debating to moderators
their duties and the method of accomplish
ing them. We are compelled to believe that
Mr.. Crane was an innocent tool in the hands
of political wire -puller. He made seri-
GUS mistake, but in a manly way has &C.
knowledged it and thus done all he could to
remedy the wrong It is our conviction that
to prosecute the case under such circum-
stances would betoken revengeful spirit
and one which seeks to remedy its disap-
pointment by the needless suffering
of others. We are confident that
ultimately the right will triumph;
that the day is coming when the contempt
ible act of depriving legal voters of their
right of suffrage, especially by any prelimi-
nary preparations, will not be tolerated;
and the man who descends to any such un-
demanded methods as we are led to believe
were employed in the recent election in !
West Haven will be regarded as undeserving
of the esteem and respect of his fellow men,
to say nothing of the honor which may be
conferred upon him by the national govern
ment itself
L. P AND E. w. PEET.
West Haven, Conn, Nov. 10, 1886.