Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-25

own hand. then he may revef Just now in
an ecsfasy of delight. still. IL Is not for
myself that feel. but Tor
Nearer ones still.
And dearer ones yet
Than all other"
vho weye too youuQ when the unhappy in /.
cident referred 10 occurred to remember IL
now. aud might have lived and died In
blissful jgporance OF IL but tnat Mr.. haskins
mad To walt until they reached an age wnen
he would make It known 70 them ana see J,
their injury and cause their hearts TO bleed
while he reopened a wound In my own
which had been wellnigh healed by friendly
Offices from the very hasds which gave IL.
And now to the record Gentlemen now
livipg In Farmville VIII oess me ont II
beplember, 1871. was Invited by friend
10 20 10 bird supper In the room OF a gen.
tlemsn IN farmyilie: thati went win htm:
having no Idea that any gaming ofany Kind
ever had be IN or would then be carried on
there: that when got In the room the
game referred TO was going on. The owner
OF the parapherpalsa was there and began To
express surprise at my being brought there
and fear that / would expose what was
going on. Perhaps Mr.. Has kins under such
circumstances, might have thought IL his
duty TO leave snd begin prosecutions against
those present; perhaps TOOK the wrong
view OF IL. tsny rate, l said, 81 Will sat
isfy you am not going 10 take any notlce OF
played a sbolt time at game mad
never seen or heard Of in my life before.
and for about ten minutes dealt" the
game for several who were present.. and
after supper left Five months afterwards
the grand jury. at the instance OF Judge
watkins presented about thirty citizens OF
the place who. In the same room. had re-
Gently been playing the same game. In !.
Guiding the owner OF the Layout" all OF
whom were Democrats. In order TO tie my
bands as attorney for the Commonwealth.
some one Iaked up this old visit Of mine Tn
the place and got the piesentments you
publth. My trials took place with the re.
suit shown by the record; the end sought
had been accomplished and not one OF the
others was ever prosecuted TO conviction.
The final result Of this persecution when
MIR. Haskins publishes rather TO alleviate
than aggravate what he knew Will ap-
pear from the following statement:
We the undersigned citizens Of Prince Edward
county, Va. having heard that an attack has Deen
mace upon the character Of the Hon. Edgar Allan
upon n G ground That IN 1877 he was converter ol
csrd-playinv IN this county, Lereby certify that
we we're fully cognIzant Of the facts la the case,
and do not hesitate now, rs we did then. 20 de-
ncuDce The prost crtion ~ Mr. Allan a bitter
political persecution gotten up for the PURPOSE Of
driving one OF the most active ana effective Re
publicans out OF The state.
Democrats Of The county were Indicted with him
not one Of them was prosecuted 10 conviction
and That so gross and glariDg was the AZORES iid
persecution that the Governor Of the State remit
ted The penalty Of Imprisonment and Demo-
cratic Legislature released BIN from the payment
OF the fine.
We dcnonnce the raking up Of the charge rs =
renewal of the bitte- prosecutions he has suffered
In III pasi and as dOubly cruel " " comes IRON
thOs, who were then allied 10 the political train oil
II. 4. Bnghtwell joseph ". Gills. G u. Bliss
sheriff; H. Il. HcoTer, clerk fCircuil ana oonnty
(our: George W. scott supervisor; John Stew
.ari,J. l.. Harris. ". II. Wilkerson, sherih Prince
Edward county 1872; Alexander Bats, pastor
10 t.I.ft Il L
missioner ofthc revenue. :. H. Bliss. treasurer
James y. Harris, assistant commls.ione OF thc
royenuc c. II. Bliss, STATE senator y. II. tnani,
Min, House Of Delegates, Prince Edward county
John w. White. pastOr Baptist church; y. NJ
Grlgg, deputy-collector internal revenue; T.. w
Bartlett, John Evans Georss - ot W. hcong
church: BeuJamin NJ. Cox. postmaster FARM
vile, Va; X. :. Hines, justice OF the peace
Wills Branch.
In the days of my political activity,
States, never referred to this persecution,
and would never have done so put for the
present Circumstance, which forces the ne
cessity. ] should have been ungrateful 10
have done so land / do not think ingrati.
tude Is one OF my SINS. for no sooner had
the outrage been consummated than the
sober second thought OF an Intelligent and
generous community came 10 my relief
and showed their condemnation OF the in
Justice done me by electing me again 20 the
office OF Commonwealth attorney. when
received more Democratic votes than were
ever given to any man in that county who
was not in accord with that party. refer
without permission) TO Hon. ). u. witt
and Polk Miller, ESQ.,, former residents OF
Prince Edward. for the substantial truth OF
the statements Fave gwen above. as they
know the history OF the matter from their
Intercourse with the people In the county:
But need not rely alone upon them. |
received Yesterday from a prominent DEM
ocratIc citizen OF Prince Edward. whose
name | do not give because his letter Is
marked private. :" the following voluntary
letter, warning me OF the approaching
storm: go.
Ny Dear AllAn,-I heard to-day at The clerks
Office that Mr.. had ordered copy of that
old record Of the prosecution or persecution ~.
ron here; and some differences are drawn here
from that fact that some malicious person Is at
tempting 10 inture You at your new home. csn-
hut can't help feeling worried that anybody should
liz mean enough 10 try 10 bring up this old matter
10 your prejudice. The incidents Of me trial are
all fresh in my memory. and can truly say that
IneVer knew a more palpdhle attempt to make q
mountain out II mole-hill for political pnrpo~ ;.
Tue. then AMI ever have differed with ven on NJ
most every POLITICAL issue hut while would then
have rcjoced at your political defeat, was al the
ZANE tlme Disguised at the means ATTEMPTED
10 accomplish that end, and never was more Will
ing 10 render "a service than ] was some Tune
thereafter when the same game WIS attempted
because wanted to shoS my entire dl'approb1-
q.
complsh the end they sought; and an eatisfed
that the good people of the party fet very much
as I did-sym paihizcd with you, regreited the
prosecution. and that thls sympathy caused re-
action In your favor, brought You into the notice
Of our best people. and thus enabled yon - occupy
position In the esteem OF our people wbica no
man ~ Your pariv ever did or ever viii N the
lifetime OF those now living be able To atttn.
most sincerely hope that the conjecture that You
are 10 be attacked with this record Is entirely
without foundation. but should any such evil
spirit take possession Of any one by whom you
are surrounded. hope and believe that the Ia
tended wrong may be Oyerruled by Kind PrOyi-
dence and rebound 10 your good
Very sincerely and truly yours.
Three years since, when my name was
mentioned for the position OF United states
district attorney for this district. received
the following testimonial OF my good char
acter as a citizen. the first name upon II
being that OF the judge who tried the case
referred TO, and every man being politically
opposed 10 me:
disagIceing politically with Mr.. Edgar Allan, hni
knowing his abliity A. I public prosecutor, ma
QoOd character as n citizen, and his iatlliuines
Ia pnbhc irusts, desire 10 unite our testimony ~
his behalf as candidate for the DJsillOn OF
United states district attorney for the Eastern
district of Virginia. lie possesses The contdenec
We should lose good and faithful prosecuting at
torney. the Federal Government would also OBJ
r. \. watkins, j. V. Rice, +. VI. Farrar. c. T.
Chappel, Charlie Bugg. II. g.. B.rrow. Joseph
Il. Wlliaus :, H. +. Wall, Peter winston. j. =
Hart. W. II. Madison, j. Il. Whitehead, William
II. Burger, W. " III. ThacksiOn, J. VI. Crute. "
n. c. Eice, c. ID. Fleming. o. r. Wicker. u. C.
Peters. W. Morris. T.. !. Eramherl, r. ID, Car
roll. G.. II. Morris. Benjamin Holman. \. VI
Porter. John II. Rice. -. CIiborae. II. -. Miller
And now. In conclusion, let me say that
when read Mr.. Haskinss reported speech
/ waited nearly two days because believ-
ing II he had only made the remark com.
plaiped II "in the warmth OF discussion,
a. he now says, that he would have so intl-
mated In some manner TO me. He did not.
and hence my former letter Mr.. Haskin
in his rejoinder says. As this Is q public
record have not hesitated to produce it,
In reply say that with that public record
made complete, as l have now made 1t. !
"leave TO the same public TO determine y
whether 10 estops me from asserting the
views hold on The question OF prohibition.
IL 1t does, IL merely says ought to be on
the other side and In company and feeling
with MIR. Haskins. and / trust the public
M co mo n a inf iPtinn