The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-09
MIR. NEWMAN ERB,
ATTORNEY OF THE KANSAS CITY
RAILROAD COMPANY,
Pays His Respects to His Brother,
Josiah Patterson, and Answers the
Latter's Lengthy Interview.


between the management OF the Kan
sas City, Springfield and Memphis
Railroad Company, and the Memphis,
Birmingham and Atlantic RAILROAD
Company. lay what purports to be
an interview. because questions with
which the public can have no possible
interest are asked, and which no SEN
sible reporter would have pIopounded.
The statement referred 10 is, therefore,
simply card OF Col. Patterson 10 the
public. II starts out by saying that
reporter OF the APPRAL called upon
him; but would require some sub.
stantial evidence to Justify me in be-
lieviDg IL.
l regret very much to be drawn into
a newspaper controversy with refer
ence to matters in which the public
Caa have no interest. fully sppre-
cia'e the fact that the questions in
volved AZ to whether the management
OF the Kansas City road should be ac-
corded the privilege of extending it's
railroad east OF the Mississippi river
on a line OF its own selection, or
whether any railroad should be giant
ed a monopoly Of the territory, are
questions in which the public aud the
citiz sns OF many States have q deep
concern. The so-called interview with
Josiah Patterson involves personal
mat ers not bearing on the contlo.
versy in any way. To so much OF 1t
as relates TO or rehscts on me person
ally, or on the cement OF the
Kansas City road, ] desire TO Gay that
1t is a garbled and distorted statement
of the a1ts, embellished with much
that might be reasonably attributed to
the oveIheated and elastic imsgina-
ton of the lobbyist
Patterson starts out by giving an
count of the circumstances under
which Messrs. Dunavant, Kelly &
Piper built the rcal from Memphis to
Holly Springs. With it's history, which
has been often repeated in the col
umns OF your valuable paper, the pub.
lie ere familiar, and / need not further
allude to it. There 10 a statement
made in that connection which re-
quires correction vt my hands. 1t is
to the effect thtt |, as the resident
st'orney 81 Memphis of the Kansas
City, Springfield aud Memphis Rail-
road Company, caused the attorneys
OF Green, Hamilton & Co., and other
creditors, to believe that II was APP
pointed receiver, that company would
take the matter up and secure the con-
struct on OF the road, and that my APP
pointment had thereby been secured.
| here give a telegram just received
from Mr.. W. II. II. Green Of the firm
OF Green, Hamilton & Co., which
shows thbt Mr.. Patterson's statement
in that regard is untrue.
JACKSON, MISS, February s, 1885.
| Newman Erb, Memphis
Long before you had boon appointed re-
| ceiver OF the Selma road, you had gone 10
| Mr., Nett elton with me o try 10 get him to
take hold Of tho extension, acting, as we
understood, as an officer OF the road, and
thinking that. it was tor the interest Of the
road that II should DO extended Ia Missis-
sippi. After that failed, and We wanted
receiver, We asked you to take it, because
| with your well-kn0wn sentiments as to the
best policy Of your road, and your influence
with the railroad people, We hoped you could
sell whore we had failed. You had pever
| solicited the place of receiver Of any of us;
| and we were In doubt for some time whether
your relations with the Kansas City road
would allow you TO accept, but when you
Mr.. Nettloton's consent. If there is any
know il. WV ~ W. il. Ii. GREEN.
Ina here say that the burden OF
al Paiteron's writings aud utter
a1ces hitherto on the subject is, in
substance, that am not entitled to
any credit for having built the Mem
phis, Selma and Brunswick road where
so many others had failed, though
had conceived and originated the plan
which was adopted by the court at
Oxford, and under which Messrs. Dun
avant, Kelly & Piper ColtIa;ted to do
the " ork; that Dunavant, Kelly & Pr
per are net entitled to much credit, be-
cause they were simply contractors;
but to him (Josiah) is die the entire
credit, for be examined and pissed
the title to the road az attorney for
| the contractors. 1t is true that j. w.
Clapp also passed on the title; but the
Judge simply Endorsed the opinion OF
Josiah. Now for this important service
Josiah thinks he merits the las ting
grt t,tude CT the people Of Tennessee
and Mississippi; and believe he viii
not feel requited till the people of
Memphis erect colossal s'a'ue of
Josiah Patterson in Court Square. II
this be done, suggest he be repre-
ser I'd with miniature engine in his
hand, a feather in his cap, and thai
the pedestal be inscribed, "The Law
yer who Passed the Title to the Mem
phis, Selma and Brunswick Railroad"
80 that his memory may survive to
succeeding generations.
A statement OF his requiring noice
is that was invited to 20 on the mis-
sion to Richmond TO negotiate for the
pale OF an interest in the Memphis,
S,lma and Brunswick railroad to the
Richmond gentlemen because Of my
connection with the Kansas City Com
pany, for the purpose OF assuring
the Richmond gentlemen of the
good will of thai company. AS TO
this statement will quote fiom let
ter addressed to me by Mr.. James B.
Pace, president Of the Memphis,
Birmingham and Atlantic railroad, as
| fellows:
"You have never, so far MS know, stated
| that the Kansas City Company would make
| any traffic alliance or continue for any def
mite period the arrangement as to terminal
facilities
Another statement made by Patter-
so is tina. l was appointed solicitor
of the Memphis, Birmingham and
Atlantic in view of the friendly rela-
tons between that company aud the
Kansas City railroad. As to the mo-
tives which prompted my appointment
| cannot speak with certainty. l
kpow that declined TO act as solicitor
aud was induced 10 do so only u. the
solicitation and earnest request OF
Messrs. Duravant, Kelly & Piper, AID
then with the understanding that in
the event of any conflict of interest
between the two companies my first
allegiance would be due the Kantas
CITY Conn any. As evidence of this l
give here copy of letter just re-
ceived from the latter gentlemen:
MCNrHIs, February s, 1885.
| Mr.. Newman Erb;
DEAR SiR--Referring to an interview of
| Col. Josiah Patterson, in yesterdays AP-
| PEAL, we desire TO say that IL was. not In
sp,red by us directly or indirectly; and, so
| far as Il may impugn the personal actions OF
1 von mr. Mr. Nettleton, we do not approve or