The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-11-15
DEFENDs COL. j. mAn1rroN nooH.
San Francisco Newspaper Man Writes
Colonel Pom a Long Letter.

A San Franoisoo Newspaper Man Writes
Colonel Penn Long Letter.
Col. John e. Penn, of this city,
brother in-law OF Col. ], Hampton Hoge,
received yesterday the following letter
from Henry G. Shaw, member of the
staff ofthe Morning Call, published at
San Francisco, Cal:
"SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 9, 1893.
"Col. John e. Penn:
"MY DEAR SIR: 1 am exceedingly
pleased at your action in going to the
defense of Colonel Hoge, as appeared in
the enclosed dispatch printed in the
papers here yesterday. UP to his ar
rival here October 2S Colonel Hoge was
an entire stranger to me. interviewed.
him soon after his arrival and gave him
friendly 'send-off,' and on the follow.
ing day showed him around the town
and introduced him to some Of our best
people.
awaiting the departure of the steamer
for China, telegram reached here that
Colonel Hoge's commission had been
revoked on account Of serious charges
having been preferred against him, the
other reporters started out to make him
a news feature. One of them on the
Call and another on the Examiner wrote
up a lot of sensational matter, which
was calculated to bring him into de-
rision. These irresponsible scribblers
are to-day running riot in the columns
OF nearly every daily journal in the
United States. OF course it was tele-
graphed East to the prejudice Of Colonel
Hoge.
my mind would protect him all in my
He Wnrrfad hu ha
matter that he was ill for four days. l
succeeded in squelchiug all the further
efforts in the sensation mongers to do
him further harm, and before his de-
parture for the East obtained for him
ample documentary evidence. showing
that his department. here had been only
that of gentleman. 1 also gave him
an Introduction, which secured him
pass as far as Elpaso, 1900 miles from
San Francisco.
ION Monday evening last he left for
Washington fully prepared to thor
oughly refute any charges which might
be brought against him accusing him
of misconduct en- route or at this end
Observed in the Northern army during
the war and was badly wounded and
taken prisoner at Chicamaugua, but 1
have kindly feeling for all Southerners,
especially Virginia. or course I am
among the oldest reporters, having com
menced work for the New York Sun
away back in 1867, but am opposed to
the modern recklessness with which the
personal character of individuals is
attacked in these days.
II sincerely hope that Colonel Hoge
will emerge triumphsntly from his
present troubles and that 1 shall have
the pleasure of seeing him again on his
way to his post. Yours respectfully.
"HENRY G. SHAW
The telegram referred to in the letter
is as follows:
ROANOKE, Va Nov g. Col. John E.
Penn prints defense of j. Hampton
Hoge, recently recalled as consul to
Annoy, China. He claims Hoge is per-
fectly solvent, and if wrong checks were
given it was through inadvertence due
to his hurried departure. The charges
of forgery he believes groundless and
made for sensational purposes. AS to q
drunken debauch, Colonel Penn saws
the statements are grossly exaggerated
and inconsistent.
No news has been received from Col
onel Hoge by his friends in this city
and as yet they are ignorant OF his
whereabouts.