Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-09-06
He Fights Back.

We have received the following let
ter from w. G. Afford, with the re-
quest to publish. Certainly, Mr.. Al
ford, we shall be only too glad if you
can prove your innocense by this letter;
however, we leave the reader to judge
whether you have proven it or not.
Even a condemned criminal is allowed
to talk on the gallows, and sometimes
makes as strong talk as Mr., Afford
does, in denunciation of his accusers.
But he is allowed to have his say and
so is Mr.. Afford.
HAZELTON, KANSAS, Sept, 1. 1885,
EDITOR INDEx:-I see in the Index of Aug,
3Oth, personal attack made on my character
In connection with the Hazelton postoftice
matter. feel that reply is due from me.
otherwise some person might possibly think
there was some truth in it. And the article
having appeared in your columns, l venture
to presume upon your liberality and spirit of
fairness to the extent of asking you to give
this reply the same publicity that you gave
the attack, and will be as brief as the nature
of the case will admit. Hoping that may
not be disappointed, will say in the first place
| that the party originating the statement re-
garding the telegram is a liar, and can prove
it if required. And the statement that Mr..
Gamble employed an attorney is also lie
pure and simple. Mr.. Gamble stated in the
presence of a witness no longer ago than yes
| terday, that he never employed an attorney TO
| assist him. The article IL made of scarcely
| anything but falsehood, and as to my charac-
| ter, consider those with whom ] have done
business for several years fully as competent
| and possibly better qualified to judge than
| one would be who had never known me eX-
! cept what he may have heard from some po-
| litical enemy.
| So far as my opposition to Mr.. Gamble is
concerned, made him as hard fight as
| could; and there is not statement of mine
| on file at Washington concerning the matter
! but what / am perfectly willing shall be made
public if Mr.. Gamble requests it. But | had
thought land this may be for lack of brains
| that after Mr.. Gamble got his commission the
fight was settled; but this only proves my ig
norance, not my rascality, as the matter seems
| to have been transferred from the department
| at Washington to ADLER statesmen.
But allow me to say in conclusion that
have no disposition to shirk my duty. and il
all parties concerned are not satisfied l an
| perfectly willing to accept a challenge tC
open up the fight again right here at home
| But before doing that want TO state that
have always thought lin my ignorance, per
haps) that every person should be treated as 6
gentleman or lady until the contrary is prov
en- and with this absurd idea in my weak mint
have never got so low In the scale of human
ity as to make personal attack on any per
sons character until had what / considered
the very best of evidence that they were gull
ty.
OF course my low instincts and corrupt NOR
ais, with only spoonful of brains to guild,
me, may be the principal cause of my no
pursuing the other course. / might if l had
great amount of brains say that'the author o
the article In the Index was fool or a knave
and that he didn't have any brains; but tina
would only show that was liar and foo
both, for l never saw his brains and have III
right to say he has any, and 1 am willing t.
give him the benefit of the doubt just as
would any other person.
Trusting that my small amount of brains
coupled with all my other great faults, ma,
justify my acts in thus presuming to sa
what l have, l am for fair play.
w n