Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-30
Lewiston Journal
Col. Edwards Great Mistake.

DENYING IN toto the statements of journal cor
respondents that he had said abusive things
about the g. A. r, we asked our correspon-
dents to take oath to their affirmations and to
give further particulars If they could We
have now received returns from these CORE
spondents and also additional testimony. all
forming a mass of evidence which would be
abundantly ample to settle any issue in
court OF law. This evidence shows, not that
the Col viliHed the G. A r once or twice,
but that he has done it habitually.
Following is the original statement OF
Judge Woodbury. of Bethel, one of the most
reliable men in Maine, to which he has taken
oath, and which Col. Edwards pronounced
absolutely false"
This is to certify that have heard colo. Edwards
of Bethel call the &. A. r. ga id political ma
chine run by the republican party" and a "set OF
id bunmmers."
oxford So, July 20, 1886.
subscribed and sworn to by Enoch W. Woodbury.,
before me, this day.
SIMEON W. SANBoRN,
Justice of the Peace
Judge Woodbury. has sent US the follow ing
supplementary statement, wherein he gives
thu time. place, and other interesting incidents
of his conversations with Col. Edwards, in
respect to which details mis- memory is FORTY
fed by memoranda in his diary, which may
be seen by any person who wishes.
BETHEL. July "a, 1886.
To the Editors ofthe Lewisfon journal!
The unfortunate misunderstanding between Colo
S. Edwards and myself about language alleged to
have been uttered by him about the q a. r. and
which he denies his own signature in the East
ern Argus, il not OF my own choosing and gives me
a Calm to hearing due alike to myself and the pub
lie | would not detract one word of praise his
warmest admirers NAV say OF him as kind and
IA 10
brow one laurel won in the army rs courageous
fighter. When Jefferson Davis was with our army
In Mexico he was brave and courageous soldier,
and deserved well OF hs country; but when he un-
sheathed his sword to lead the rebellion, he was a
traitor so when Col. c. ). Edwards left Bethel the
10Th day of January. 1880. to act upon the staff OF
joseph l.. Smith, who was not elected Governor OF
Name and counselled fighting to eject the lawfully
elected legislature from the State House. and un.
sheathed the very sword that he carried through the
rebellion for that purpose wherein did the two men
differ? The Argus calls upon the Lewiston Journal
to give the time and place of these utterances it al
legcs Col. Edwards said concerning the g. A: Il.
Now TO answer the question OF the Argus, Col. c ).
IL wards left Bethel the 10th of January, $780, for
Augusta, sa ing that he was appointed member OF
Gov Smiths STAFF Soon after his return to Bethel
met him ON the street. and inquired how he found
thugs at Augusta you will excuse me for not re-
pcating the profanity with which his conversation
abounded.) He said excitedy. "Gen: Chamberlain
Is traitor. The G. A. X. are a political machine
run by the republicans, they are d ID set OF bum
ners and if the party had been of my mind, they
would have pulled the state House down over their
he ads if II had killed every one of them"
In September, $780, Col G. ). Edwards was can
didate preventative to the legsl ature nomna
ted by the greenback party and accepted by the dem
ocrats (ahough 1t is but just to say that some of the
leading democrats would not vote for him). SO sure
he OF election that hi, friends on the morning
OF election offered to bet $50 that he would carry
Bethel by majority of 70 to 80 s. b. Twitcheli
the republican candidate Claiming that he would get
the whole q. X. vote. l became so Disguised
with the personal solicitations of Col Edwards to
o yote m spl when
had obtained the result of the vote before the deca
ration by the selectmen) my way to the telegraph
office met him and announced the result: IS. h.
rwltchell 2ss votes. Z 5. Edwards 2s5 votes" lie
replied excibdly, "Ju-t as l expected. The Il. A.
X. are political machine run by the republicans.
They are u set of bummers."
ENoCH W. WOODBURY..
Here is the sworn statement of a man who
gave leg to the Union cause in the late war,
a man who has as good war record as Col.
Edwards or any other man in Bethel
|, jerome O. Sanboru OF Bethel, Me-, on oath say,
that a soldier the late war, and have talked
with Col c. ;. Edwards in regard to the Grand
Army organization. have heard him say that it
was ia lot OF bummers that il did not amount TO
anything; that if it was not played out 1t would
soon be played out.
oxford S., July p. 1886.
Then personally appeared the above named Jerome
o Sanborn, and made oath that the foregoing aft
davi, Is true, before me.
J.P. HERRIcK.
That there is no malice in the statements
about Col. Edwards abuse of the G.. A h organ
cation, is shown by the following declaration
of member of Col. Edwards own regiment
much respected citizen of Bethel;
/, simeon w. Sanborn, justice of the peace. de
clare that h ave heard Col Edwards speak disre
specttuily of the 6. A. r. and their reunions. say
littcal machine. have no i'll feeling against Col
Ed ards. in whose regiment served and who wa,
= brave soldier, and with whom am on friendl,
terms bat the above is the fact.
SIMEON W. sANBoRN.
Witness. SAMUEL 5. STANLEY.
Next we give the affidavit of DIR. Goddard
an old and highly respected townsman of Col
Edwards. a msu of the first cut:
Within year was talking with Col. Edwards OF
the street near my house in Bethel. Referring tc
the Grand Army Of the Republic, | expressed sur
prize that he did not associate with them. He re
piled, II don't want anything TO do with them. The,
are a set of bummers." There the conversation end
ed. Knowing they were an honorable set of men,
was greatly surprised. Z. GODDARD.
State of Maine, oxford S., July %. 1886.
Personally appeared the above named E. B. God
dsrd and made oath TO the truth Of the foregoing af
davi; by him sign, before me.
A +. HERRICK, Justice of the Peace.
We reproduce the following statement Of
Geo. B. Haskell, esq. OF Lewiston. who is
now 10 California, one of the best known
soldiers in the ranks of the Maine G.. A. r
LEWISTON, July |.
This is to certify that in conversation with Col. C
$. Edwards on the cars two or three years ago,
asked him if he belonged to the q. A. X. He re
piled that he did not and said the Il. A. r. men wer,
"a set of bummers."
GEORGE B. HASKELL.
Besides these gentlemen. several of the
Colonei's neighbers and one of his near rela
tives have told Journal correspondent tha
, they have heard the Colonel make this talk
Col. Edwards has made serious mistake
He should have acknowledged saying thess
indiscreet things and apologised for it. in
stead of impeaching the verscity of men o.
honor aud standing. We would think, too
that the Colonel would have hesitated abou
going to California with men to whom he hat
applied these epithets.