Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-07-20
!! OUR DEFENSE.


| LOUISVILLE. Ky NEW YORK. NJ =
OUR DEFENSE.
FALLING WATERS, w, Va, July 10, '89
EDS. HERALD II am again forced to d,
that which is unpleasant. dislike yer,
much to keep up a correspondence of thi
nature. especially through the publ,
press, but Mr.. Pitsnogle's letter of las
week is so full of untruths that dar,
not let it escape notice lest the public b,
misled. IS = s9t Is
1t seems needless to repeat that Mr.
| Pitsnogle's manuscript was fairly treat
ed, as this was asserted in my first letter
but he would have the public believ,
that 'sstOle I" his papers and graded
them to suit myself prior to the time O
the boards meeting. This is utterly
| false. There was not a paper touched
until the morning the board met to ex
anime same. Mr.. Lamar refused to lool
at Mr., P.'s papers, and have no doub
he had good reasons for doing so how
ever, this is his business, not mine.
Mr.. Pitsnogle says wrote letter tx
Mr.. Lamar making threats against him
offering inducements, and trying to in
timidate him, and that / also met him OF
the street in Martinsburg, and made the
same threats and offered the same in
ducements. This positively deny, and
that the public may know the truth,
here produce the only letter ever wrote
Mr.. Lamar concerning the election. Mr..
Lamar was kind enough to send this let
ter to me without my asking for it sever
al days ago, and here it is verbatim:
Falling Waters. W. Va. May 9Th. $50.
FRIEND HOLMES do you expect to return
for our first examinations am not able tC
say just when it will be but some time il
State Supt. Morgan is unable to fix definite
ly the time for holding our institute; Of course
| the examination will follow Immediately.
write this to know II am to depend upon you
Mr.. l. w. Wood would like to have your place
for the unexpired term if you cannot attend
to it yourself. told him that was perfectly
satisfied with you and would like to continue
you If you were here, and also that we had
had talk about this some time ago. before
you went away. Ii you can return, shall de
pend upon you, but If not, let me know al
once.
Prospects for election look bright Mr.. E, b
Pittsnogle is fighting me in behalf of my ap,
pointment, Mr.. Graham, of Gerardstown dis
trict, Perhaps, a letter from you would dc
him some good. II you write him (Which
getting a letter from me.
Let me hear from you right soon, and oblige
Yours truly but hastily,
d. III. DoDD.
Now, I would ask the public if there is
single threat, a syllable of intimida.
ton, or word of bribery or inducement
in it? Mr.. Lamar's saying he would
come out all right in examination liz he
ever said this at all, j is wholly unauthor.
lied by me, as my letter plainly shows.
l wrote this last clause of my letter con-
corning the election, knowing that Mr..
Lamar was friend of Mr.. Pitsnogle's as
well as friend of mine, and / desired
him not to let Mr.. Pitsnogle know that !
had requested this favor, on the ground
that it would lose its force. Twas before
the people, and it was perfectly natural
that should want all the votes that I
could fairly and honorably obtain, and
if Mr.. Lamar's influence over Mr.. Pits
nogle would secure his suffrage, or allay
his hostility, it was right.-and any
other man would be justifiable in doing
the same. 20 l}Pt' -
Mr.. Pitsnogle wants me to tell him for
the public good, how Mr.. Syster received
his letter of intimidation, and asserts
Is You and I knoic." Perhaps Mr.. P,
does, but don't. I do not know that
Mr.. Syester ever received such letter !;
in fact, don't believe he ever did re-
ceive one. meyer wrote Mr.. Syester a
letter In my life, and defy him to show
me one with my signature.
He wants to know how come to give
my sister four-years certificate illegally
This did not do. My sister had been
examined annually by different boards
in the county at the four preceding ex-
aminations and had obtained a No. GER
fIfiao 70 M oocIx oil Of
had been used by her in teaching In the
county. She taught two full terms at
the lice School, an unexpired term at
Nipetown, and part of an unexpired
term, previous to this, for Mr.. Gregory
at the school she had been attending, ali
of which she contracted for and drew her
pay legally. Before issuing her four
years certificate. State Supt. Morgan
was consulted. and his decision was that
she was justly entitled to a certificate
good for four years from date, should
she make the required per. cent. mas
much as our terms are not uniform.
Upon this, the BID. of Ex., not d. H.
Dodd, granted her the certificate she now
holds, the general average of which is
9S1 per cent.
l care not how many No. certificates
Mr.. Pitsnogle has obtained from other
counties or at other times, nor do / care
how he secured them, this has nothing to
do with the present. Last year refus-
ed. as the people of Berkeley Co. gener-
ally know, to have anything to do with
Mr.. Pitsnogle's papers, leaving his case
with the other examiners and indorsing
their action. My reasons for doing 80
was, that he complained against me on
the ground that would be Influenced by |
my brother to cut down his grade, and / |
was determined 70 show him that bore
aim no ill-will. sasssl ssal
Messrs. Lamar and Albright examin-
I'd his papers and gave him a general |
average of 81 per cent. which just secur- |
ID him No. l had he made the small |
'st fraction less on any one branch, his |
grade would have been No. 2. This year |
lis general average is 75i per cent,
which makes his grade No. 8; had he |
made general average of II per cent. |
more, his grade would have been No. 2. |
Since he boasts of his ability, would |
sdvise him to attend the State Examina-
ion to be held in Martinsburg the 10, 90,
Il, proximo. He viii there have an OBJ
of obtaining a certificate good I
or twelve years. and one which will not
,onfine him to the narrow limits of his
,wn county.
Mr.. Pitsnogle has made the very liber-
i offer of 500 for a Mol certificate that
can obtain by an impartial examine
ion outside OF my own county. I have
lever yet been forced to leave my native
county to obtain a school, but should the I
ime come that would need certificate /
o teach elsewhere. will not pay SIS or
40 to secure help ON that all important
lay--the day OF examination.
! have no money to spare. nor do in
lulge in bets never had so much as
100 In cash IN my life, bat If Mr.. Pits
logle wishes to be relieved of his sur
illus, since it is not in the form of a bet
hat he makes the offer, if he will place the
mount In the hands of Mr.. Geo. 8. Hill,
ne banker, or any other reliable person,
0 be drawn by me when all legal doubts |.