Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-15
THURSDAY. DECEMBER Is. 1892.
The Pious Colonel.

FRAME GRay. the former business man.
ager of the New York Mai and Express, is
suing the pious South-hater, Colonel SHEP-
ARD for breach Of contract.
Whether he is entitled TO recover may
be matter of doubt with those who have
heard the testimony; but the plaintiff has
certainly made a shocking erpOSe Of some
of SHEPARD's business methods.
This be has done by exhibiting in evil
dence letter from SHEPARD TO him en-
closing SHEPABD's check for $1,000, to be
used Gas he positively swears) in com
missions" 10 be paid certain public Off
GERS (Republicans) who had city adver-
Using to give ont. Try them" said
SHEPARD, "they are weak and yield east
ly;" but GRAY alleges that no himself re-
fused to yield easily that is he re-
belled against offering the bribe-and that
in consequence OF this act of insubordi-
nation the relations between him and the
able and pious Colonel became strained.
aud that despite a contract which entitled
him GRAD to two years further en-
ployment at 900 per annum, he was dis
missed from the service of the Nal AID
Express by the Colonel aforesaid.
The Colone! for his part makes many de-
malls and various explanations of the pro-
posed bride. Not one seems satisfactory.
In the light of the accounts Of the trial
which have appeared in the great New
York dailies, SHEPARD Is placed in most
unenviable position for a man who opens
his newspaper columns every morning
with a Bible text. After his libelous at
tacks upon southern veterans We had be-
gun to doubt whether he was truly val
orous colonel; now we are forced 10 fear
that his business methods are not to be
defended by any text he has so far brought
10 the attention of the public, and we be-
lieve that. verse by verse. he has printed
the greater part of the Old and New les
taments in his newspapers columns.
We doubt, too, if GRAY is good man.
Indeed. it is actually proved that he in
dulged in violent exDletives in SHEPAgD's
Office. Some of these indulgences the
New York papers have had TO describe as
blaukety blanks, thus -. We
judge, therefore, that GBAY has been
guilty of the use of language unbecoming
q business manager in the presence OF
pious colonel. So it may well be doubted
whether the jury will give him verdict.
But no matter whether it does or does
not, Colonel SHEPARD, editor of texts and
reviler of the South. will have to spend q
goodly portion of his remaining years ex-
planning what he meant when he wrote TO
GRAY from Bar Harbor the following:
"COmmissions are not generally paid until
the bill Is collected Fifteen per cent. is the
usual advertising commission. In some rare
occasions higher rates may be paid. Undoubt-
edly % per cent. consideration would be very
satisfactory. Do not have any trip-up. Do not
use the check until necessary. You may have
$4,000 added to the bill. Try them. They are
weak and yield easily"
SHEPARD solemnly declares that the
them" whom he told GRAY to " try"
were not public officers, but advertising
solicitors who were understood TO control
this advertising. But no matter. To cover
in these commissions the sum of
$40, 900 was ito be added TO tho bill ~! He
also alleges what may possibly be true
that GRAY has been trying to extort set
Element of his (GBAY's) claims by holding
this letter in terrOrem over him.