Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-10-24
AN OPEN LETTER
Addressed 20 the Honorable h. M.
KfAnAw.

AN OPEN LETTER
Addressed 20 she Honorable h. M.
Wfdney.
SIR-You are reported in the public
prints as saying before public meeting
held in the Academy of Music, in this
city, on the evening of Sunday, October
14th, 1888, substantially as follows:
says, in reporting your speech: "The
speaker Judge R. A. Widney) had heard
that Cuddy got a watch, presented by the
bankers and business men OF the city.
He wanted them to understand that
there was one bank that did not sub
scribe for that watch. He was not buy
ing watches for that kind of man. He
would rather buy piece Of rope for
him."
Twas absent from the city at the time
this report appeared in print. On my
return my attention was called to the
attitude in which your words had placed
me falsely and to my injury before the
community. You will doubtless remem-
er that some days thereafter met you
I'D called your attention to the facts
srein recited. You will also recall
ne fact that you acknowledged
o me in that interview that
Of your own knowledge you knew moth.
ing at all in my life calling for the use OF
such language, or indeed, OF any thing
derogatory to my character.
then, as had right to do, and as
had right to expect you would do, de-
manded that unless you could substanti-
ate this inference drawn from your
words, you would do me the justice to
publicly, that is, through the papers
of this city, retract what you had
said and place me right In the
eyes of my fellow men. I have up
to this time waited with patience
for you to do an act which every manly
instinct, every righteous impulse, every
consideration of truth, justice and honor
between gentlemen always impel one
man to do another in like circumstances.
Up to this time l have waited in vain.
To this moment you have not shown q
spark of that manhood, a germ of that
righteous sentiment, grain of that love
Of truth, the possession of trace of that
honor, each and all of which impel gen.
tlemen to do all possible to right wrong,
to undo an injury unjustly done or un-
Willingly inflicted. The inference
fairly derivable from your language
is that am an infamous criminal. Only
to such is the use of the rope properly
applied. I challenge you to point to any
crime l have ever committed which
would merit this or any less punishment.
Whose blood shed in private fray or in
public riot, confusion or unlawful execu-
tion, is on my hand? What widow, or
phan or other have I robbed? What
scheme of swindling in land deals or
otherwise has my name ever been fairly
used in connection with?
Now, sir, you pose before this com.
munity as religious man +; you are held
up to us as an example in these respects
You stood and uttered your charges
against me in the name of morality, in
the interests of right and truth, before an
assembly reputed to be highly moral,
devoutly religious, conscientiously truth
full. Your charges, sir, were baseless,
your statements were falsehoods, your
insinuations were unjust, the innuendoes
flowing from them grossly injurious.
And in the presence Of this community
in which we both live and where we are
both well known, l hereby call
upon you for proof of what you infer.
Point to the crime l have committed,
which merits an application of rope; or
in the event of no proof of such nature
being forthcoming, then l emphatically
demand of you in the public prints OF
this city full, complete and explicit re.
traction OF all you have said or implied
touching any defect in nay char
acter. Should you fail to furnish proofs
of my crimes, or not furnishing them,
to retract your utterances, then I say
In spite of the position you occupy, in
spite of all your moral pretenses and
religious professions, you must stand
hereafter, in the sight of this community,
in the mind of those nearest and dearest
to your own heart, and before the bar Of
your own conscience, if your possess one,
as q wilful, cowardly and malicious
falsifler and defamer Of character, and
as lacking in manliness, honor. justice
and truth. Yours, etc., 7. ]. CUDDY.