The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-12-19
A Card.


LETCHER, BATH Co., VA, Nov. II, 1882
There appeared in the Allegheny Sentinel a
little Democratic campaign paper published at
Govington, Va under date of November sth, an
article headed Riyercombs Record (and !
here grant the publisher the right to comment
on the character and official acts of opposing
candidates, when furnished him by what he
might consider reliable authority.) The follow
ing are extracts from that article:
In 1892, during Mr.. Rivercomb's second term
in the Legislature, his brother in law, Mr.. James
w. Bonner, at that time also Readjuster, oc-
eupied the office OF County Treasurer of Bath
county. which position he has filled ever since,
There waa County Toll road leading from
Millboro Depot to Bath Alum Springs, which
peryisors of Bath county This Board made ar
rangements with Mr.. NJ. II. McClintic well
known gentleman of considerable means. and
a Stdltnch Democrat, to receive and diSburSe the
tolls collected on this road without cost to the
county. Mr.. Bonner. the Treasurer, desiring a
share of these funds. made repeated applica-
tions to che Board, asking them to allow him to
receive and disbVrse the tolls, but met with a
refusal, being refused By the Board Mr. Bon
comb then representing this DISTRICT in Che Leg
isture, to have bill passed requiring the Board
of Supervisors to turn over this fund into Mr..
Bonners hands for disbursement as other cOj1-
tn funds acre. Mr.. Rivercomb offered this bill
in and e1giileered it through tie Legislature,
saying that it was only matter of local import
dHce, Since that time Bonner has received up
to January LIST, 1884, S7,S969 toll fund, which at
4Sk of the peoples money. If the above be as
stated, we ask the Intelligent people of Bath
county, who earn their living by the sweat of
their brow, il this is the kind Of economy they
desire. Do you want a man to represent you
whe holds, self-interest OF the interest OF a
brother in law above the interests OF the peo-
pie who placed him in a position OF trust? No!
people of Bath, we do not believe you do, and
we believe if the above be true, you will declare
by your vote next Tuesday that a public office
is public trust,' not private beneficiary.
was tho patron of bill amending the Mill
boro ana Bath Alum Turnpike road law, so as
to give to the Treasurer Of the county the re-
ceiving and disbursement of the county fund
arising from this road. The Supervisors had
given this fund presumably out of personal
preference to Mr.. NJ. H. McClintic, who was to
use it as he saw proper and pay no interest
tharefor, taking it from the Treasurer of the
county, whose duty it was to handle all the
county funds, and who was the bonded officer
of the county, elected by the people to handle
this money, and was as legally and fightfully
entitled to his commission as on any other cQqn-
ty fund, talked with gentlemen of my county
before offered this amendments to this road
law, who agreed with me as to its propriety.
This amendment to this road law was made
eight years ago Not one word of objection was
made to its passage. Came before the House OF
Delegates in it's regular order Not one word of
complaint to me by Mr.. McClintic, who handled
UIllS Iuuu, WHO WdS anu Is To UfllS uGV, my very
warm personal friend.
And although have since been candidate
for the Senate, and Mr.. Bonner has since been
reelected County Treasurer, not one word of
complaint has ever been made by the Supervi
sOss OF any one else in the county, until four
days before the last election, too late to cor
Feet this vile SANDER when it was sent broad
CAST oyer the district. The sum and substance
of this slaRqerous charge is, that have, by de-
ceiving the Legislature, secured the passage Of
an act by which have Illegally, unjastIy, anq
dishonesty taken certain amount of money
from the people AMI placed it in the pocket of
my kinsman. No more slanderous charge could
be made.
The election is over, and l cheerfully bow to
the Will Of the majority. I was born and raised
in this county; have spent long life with this
people, and never before that know of have
been charged with dishonest or disilanorable
acts, and would gladly have let this slanderous
charge pass by unnoticed had 1 not deemed it
my duty 10 myself and friends to give these
facts. And here brand the ORIGINATOR of this
SANDER partisan mental and malicious liar.
VIM. ii. UIYEReogB.