Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-12
COL. WELLS REPLY.
He Defends Himself and At
tacks Frankenfield.
A straightforward Statement
of His Side of the Case.
The Incident of Their Rivalry in
the Primaries.
Colonel Wells Cited His Record He
Charges the President of the Council
With Malicious Falsifying-A
Vigorous Document.

Vigorous Document.
To THE PUBLC:-I have remained
silent when my character has been as
sailed by persons who are of no sig
nificance, but now, when it is attacked
by q person who by reason of the posi-
tion he holds is given prominence,
and while the attack upon noe is couched
in language which betrays the low
origin and ill-breeding Of the person
who gives utterance to it, yet, to in
form persons who may not be aware OF
the truth, deem it best to notice the
matter in this public manner.
First. as to my being defeated at the
late Republican primaries. have this
to say, and which is the truth: At the
caucus held the evening previous to the
primaries, my name, with some twenty
five or thirty others, including Franken-
fields, was presented to the caucus, com
posed of over one hundred responsible
and leading citizens of the Fourth ward,
from which to select twenty delegates
to be voted for at the primaries on the
chosen bv the caucus as one of the Re-
publican delegates to be voted for, re-
ceiving next to the largest vote cast,
while Frankenfield, who was a candi-
date at said caucus, received but four
teen votes, no work having been done
against him by any person to my knowl-
edge, thus showing the estimation in
which he was held in his own ward as
compared with myself, at this repre-
sentative gathering.
The next day, in the afternoon, l
went to the polling place to cast my
ballot, when / was informed that
Frankenfield had been upon the ground
working since the opening of the polls,
soliciting votes, and scratching my name
and substituting his own. l remained
at the polls, but never solicited a vote,
or did anything to counteract the effect
which Frankenfeld was engaged in, but
l observed Frankenfeid working dill
gently all the remainder of the day but
tonholeing voters. He had two or three
friends and one carriage working all the
day the polls were open. soliciting votes
for himself, although he was but self
constituted candidate seeking the place J;
and as result of this diligent and indie
fatigable work on behalf of himself, he
succeeded in receiving one more vote
than l, who did not work, either by my
self or by any of my friends.
Second as to his vile, lying vitupera-
ton, have to say that he but re-echoes
the ISLANDERS of a few vile, unscrupulous
and unknown persons, thus proving his
own associations; and further, that he
is but lick-spittle to those character
less individuals.
Az to his charge when he seeks to i'm
pugn my character for honesty and in
tegrity, 1 make more extended reply,
and furnish facts to show him to be a
willful and deliberate slanderer of the
private character of citizen.
1 have lived in this community over
ten years. Since have resided here
have never been candidate for any
office of emolument or honor, but have
attended strictly to my private business.
How is it with Frankenfield? He is
known as ward politician and political
hummer. He had hardly become o
voter in this state before he became a
candidate for office, and since his first
candidacy he has made his living by
holding office, and he has had hold of
the political tit" from the second year
of his residence among us, until the
present time.
As to my record and my private and
personal history, l have nothing l am
ashamed of. 1t has beer open and is
known to the world. After serving in the
army through thirty-fve different en-
gagements and passing through every
grade to that of commissioned officer,
my service extending over period OF
nearly four years, having entered the
service while yet at college in May, 1861,
was discharged in February, 1865, on
account OF wounds received in service
disabling me from further service.
was appointed to position in the
war department, where, by attending
Columbia college at night, L studied for
profession of law. l Immediately re-
monial from the clerks associated with
me and under me, which l can exhibit
to any person desiring to see it.
l Immediately left and took up my
home in Mississippi, where purchased
property at Holly Springs and became a
citizen and taxpayer of that state. Soon
after my removal to Mississippi q va
cancy happened in the office of United
States district attorney for the northern
district OF Mississippi. was recon-.
mended to the president without solici-
tation on my part by Judge R. A. Hill
United States Judge, Governor Alcorn
then governor OF the state, members o.
the supreme court and various members
of the bar, for the position. l was ap'
pointed by the president and held the
office for the full term OF four years, dur
ing which time large amount of litiga
tion occurred in my court. When my
term expired was again reappointed
and confirmed by the senate, unani-
mously, in conjunction with Hon. B. H.
Bristow, who was made solicitor-general
and confirmed at the same time. While
was holding my second term | was
nominated for congress bv the Republi-
cans OF my district. l was not bolter
but was nominated at the regular con-
vention, and was elected as a Republican
by 5000 majority, the largest majority
ever given in the district.
AS to my standing as member OF