The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-08-23
MIR. Boleman,s Reply to MIR. Todd.

BoLEMAN, s. C., August 20, 1888.
Mr.. EDITOR: Please allow me space in
your valuable paper to reply to the COM
munication ofMr. r. w. Todd, published
in the INTELLIGENCER Of the 10th inst.
dislike to continue this controversy, but
as the facts of the case have been so skill
fully disguised, and the real truth of the
matter so ingeniously evaded, am COM
PEELED, in self.defence, to make some addi
tional explanations.
About four years ago when Mr.. Todd
was candidate for reelection to the
Office of School Commissioner, and just
upon the eve of the election, he publicly
challenged at the Bank school claim of
mine to which one Trustee had affixed
another's signature, and in such way,
as I thought, as to reflect unduly upon
myself. However, Mr. Todd promptly
approved the claim, and w. S. Wool
bright, Esq, to whom it was intrusted,
negotiated it at the Bank and brought me
the money on the same day. Mr.. Wool.
bright also delivered very discourteous
and insulting verbal message that Mr..
Todd had sent TO me. wrote to Mr..
Todd that he had reflected unduly upon
action of the Trustees, and that I thought
the practice with the Trustees of attach
ing,each others name had prevailed with
his sanction, as well as with that of his
predecessors, for many years. 1 also init
mated to him that it was likely an effort
on his part to gain popularity at my ex-
pense. Mr.. Todd replied with long let.
ter in which be begged me to consider, as
be had been misunderstood, and insisted
that he had intended no reflection upon
me whatever. accepted his explanation,
and here that matter was dropped.
In the subsequent election I gave Mr..
Todd my hearty support, as can prove
by the teachers as well as by some of the
Trustees of this Township, his positive
assertion to the effect 'sthat have never
ceased to disparage his official conduct
to the contrary Notwithstanding. But a
few weeks before the recent primary cleo
tion, as the public know, report was
extensively circulated to the effect that
Mr.. r. w. Todd had stated that I had at
tempted to perpetrate fraud at some time
while he was School Commissioner. 1t
was also stated that Mr.. Todd had threat
ened to indict meif l persisted in active
opposition to him. Tt was told here until
some of my friends began to blush-even
my lady friends began to express them
ruin me-" aud, that s'they could not
believe that I intended to commit a
crime" Just allow me to add hero for
the benefit of those whose sympathies are
so neatly wrought up: don't Ge alarmed.
Mr. Todd uiU likely postpone the matter Of
indictment '.oU, at least, antit after the election
Is orcr. Well, it occurred to me that Mr..
Todd was the proper party and the only
one that could eXOnerate me- and / could
see no improprioty in asking him to do so
publicly. Accordingly / asked Mr.. Todd
as courteously as 1 knew how, to publish
statement that tho runor was falso. and
that he was not responsible for Its clrcu-
lation. The card containing this request
was published in the INTELLIoENCER of
the 2nd inst, and by reference To the same,
it will be seen that it contains no charge
whatever against Mr.. Todd, nor anything
that can be construed into such unless,
indeed, it be a construction Of Mr.. Todd's
own ingenious mind for a purpose. But
why, I ask. did Mr.. Todd not comply
not simply state that the report was
untrue? His public statement to that
effect would have been satisfactory to mo.
1t would have put quietus upon his
ardent supporters, and ended the whole
matter. AS Mr.. Todd now has the cheek
to attempt to make capital out of it, it Is
not only justice to myself, but it is due to
others that | make this matter plain. Mr..
Todd insisted that ! should have waited
until after the election, and ntimates that
I bad nothing at stake. l did, however,
havea a reputation at stake which | value
more than any County Office. whatever
be Mr.. Todd's opinion about such mat
ters. But why should l have waited
Did 1 foresee that he would not kindly
vindicate me ? Aud, in that event, I sub.
NIT it to the candid judgment OF my
readers if it would not have placed Mr..
Todd in better position, as q candidate,
before the public. But he says that he
would gladly have furnished private
statement like his card, ito be used when.
ever necessary Mr.. Todd can't be sin.
cere in that suggestion. He has already
displayed too much ingenuity in this dis.
cussion to talk SUCH nonsense He knows
full we'll that i could not have quashed
that slander in twelve months with a rri.
vate letter. But the card to which Mr..
Todd has reference was published in the
T,,.,o] of }l,a orJ ;put oud I,o 1,oc