Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-12-07
Letter from Mr.. Baker:
LrRrowN, Dec. A, 1886

- LEhEE $500
Mr.. Edior:@In your last issue
the public is treated to another of
those profound dissertations on fl
nance from the sage of Middleway..
/ shall pass by, as unworthy OF no.
tfce, Mr.. Grantham's very witty and
oriqtnal illusions to my former COM
munfcation, and proceed to the mat
ter in hand. 1t may be well to take
a short review of this whole contro-
versy, that the public may have a
clear view of this truly disinterested
patriot. Sometime previous to our
late election, Mr.. Grantham came
out in a communication rejecting
upon Mr.. Strider and myself in our
public capacities. The object of that
communication was so obvious to
both of us that we deemed it unworthy
of a reply. MIR, Grantham was a
candidate for Commissioner, and was
anxious to impress upon the minds of
the voters of jefferson County how
much he had their interest at heart,
and how important it was to their
welfare to elect a man as deeply
versed in financial matters as himself.
But, unfortunately for Mr.. g., the
voters of Jefferson seemed to have
remembered his past record, and
would not take the bait. In his i'm
potent rage at being defeated, he re-
sumed his attack upon Mr.. Strider
and myself; principally upon my
self. He openly accused me of dis
honesty in my official capacity. L
denied the charge; denounced it as
a malicious falsehood !; and cited Mr..
Grantharn to my settlement made
with the County Court, on record in
the clerks office. 1 still denounce
Mr.. -Grantham's assertions as mali
cious falsehoods. He either i'm
peached my character, knowing at
the time he was stating a ~falsehood,
or. what is equally as bad, he did so
without taking the pains to inyesti-
gate the matter beforehand. And
now, Mr. Grantilam seeing that he
had gone too far, and had brought
charges against me which he could
not substantiate, to get himself out
of the difficulty, goes rumaging over
my old settlements in the Clerks
office, and endeavors to conceal his
own tracks and blind the public in u
labyrinth of figures. l shall not fol-
low him in his tortuitous course. l
stand upon my final settlement with
the County Court. I did freely admit
that there was an error in the first set
Element. The account was a long and
intricate one, and not being as expert
- GoI,rn- ~ WV yynnnr0hIn RnnSnr
errors were very liable to occur. Mr..
Grantbam does not intimate that there
is anything wrong in the last settle
ment; to do that would implicate the
committee.
With regard to the s9,40Odeposited
in bank, what right had Mr.. Gran
than, rs o Director, to make public
my bank account? What business
was it of his, how I appropriated that
money? He admits that [ mad given
bond, and may have had a right to
use it. When the calls were made
for the bonds l had frequently to Dor
row money to pay them. Upon one
occasion 1 borrowed as high ASST, 900,
and paid the interest myself. Hook
upon this as the dirtiest part OF Mr..
Granthan's whole dirty proceeding.
Mr.. Grantham disclaims having
been actuated by any luminosity to-
wards me in this matter, but was i'm
PEELED to it by purely patriotic mo-
tiYes. He will find it hard to convince
the public of the truth of this asser
ton. The animus that prompted him
in this attack upon me must be ap-
parent to every one. Witness his al
fusion TO MI. Shirley's election in q
former communication. Few-out-
side Of Mr.. Grantham's immediate
retainers-beIieve that if l had sup
ported him for Commissioner, any
thing more would ever have been
heard about this matter. And l will
inform Mr.. Grantham that, had l been
guilty of the charges he preferred
against me-had 1 have had any dirty
action to cover up-he is the man l
would have supported for Commits
sioner above all others.
The most surprising part of this
whole matter to myself, and to many
others, is that Mr.. Grantham should
have had the temerity to attack the
official character of any man know
ing, as he does, that his W past pub
lie record will not bear = very close
scrutiny.
Now, as I have DO doubt but the
public is tired OF this controversy,
and as 1 have no desire to keep it up
from purely personal motives, I shall
let it drop. Respectfully,
EUGENE RAkEE.