Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-08-15
Col. Parsons Fatal Letter.

The following is copy of the un
signed letter of Col. H &. Parsons
which caused Thos. A. Goodman to
shoot and kill HIM
NATURAL BBIDGE, June 7. 1894.
Geo. w. Stevens, Esq,
Supt. C. Il O. r. r Co.
Dear Sir:-Some time ago | called
YOUR official attention to what | deem
ed IA discourteous treatment of my
daughter by a conductor of yours nam
ed Goodman, who, however, stating
that he did not violate your rules ex-
cept by his cruelty of manner. Meth
ing came of it. Since then my princi-
pal inconvenience comes from the fact
that my wife has refused to ride or al
low any lady friends unattended upon
the train when he was on, if it could
be avoided, and from this has resulted
much telegraphing and changing of
plans. About the time of the first oc-
currence, | learned of a similar instance
of treatment of the aunt of a banker
in Richmond, who felt and yet feels
much as | do. Two other instances
came to my attention. One of a gen
tleman from Harrisouburg and one
of gentleman from San Francisco.
who was greatly offended, and one of
whom | believe sent in a protest. Bat
in every case he kept within the rules.
"A boor is generally honest" and
supposed he was until some reports
came to my attention which | have
taken occasion to enquire into far
enough to believe them true.
1st. A passenger on a train between
ID 81 T a1,I,r 4,
take woman into the ladies' closet,
but he begged me not to report it with
informant's name. | now learn that
the brakeman on the train saw the oc-
currence.
2nd. A servant now reports that a
coored girl at Maiden's Adventure
boosted that Goodman took her on his
train for his purposes to Clifton i Orge.
Bird L is said that he tried to induce
the wife of the station agent at Salt
Petre Cave to take trip with him,
but the letter was intercepted by her
husband and fight was barely avert
ed
| write with this particularly be-
cause | am told by one man who would
be witness against him, that he had
threatened his life. and that he has
boasted that he taught the r. u ID. an
expensive lesson for dismissing him
without cause. | presume that these
last instances were brought to me be-
cause it was known that | had a diff
Guilty long ago with this man. You
are therefore at liberty to use my name
in presenting charges, but | have made
them specific, so that you would by
your ordinary agencies first discover
their truth. Yours truly"
GOODMAN'S DENIAL OF THE CHARGES.
The following is the letter of Thos.
A. Goodman in denial of the charges
contained in Col. Parsons letter.
Richmond, Va, June Goth, 1894.
Mr.. G. G. Walker,
Asst Supt., Richmond, Va.
Dear Sir:-Yours enclosing commu-
uication concerning myself, addressed
to Mr.. Geo. W. Stevens, as superin-
tenoent, was safely delivered. / am
astonished at the cruelty malignant as
sault made upon my honor as a man
and upon my character as a husband
by the depraved author of that COM
munication. 1t seems to be assumed
by Mr. Stevens that the author of this
libel is II. G. Parsons, and in making
now an explanation of its contents,
which my superior officers have a
right to demand, | refrain from char
acterizing, as it deserves, the falseness
of the attack made upon me by an en-
envy whose hostility l seem to have
incurred solely by a rigid adherence to
my duty in the service of this compa-
ny.
The statements in the unsigned com
Al f.,Ic l.
out any foundation, except such as
may be found in malice that has no
regard for the truth and Justice.
| have not the least knowledge of
who are the parties referred to as the
Richmond Banker the gentleman
from Harrisburg" and the gentleman
from San Francisco" and l do not be
lieve the statement that complaint was
ever made by any such persons.
The dirty charge concerning myself
and woman on the train between
Richmond and Iynchburg is absolute
ly false.
The statement concerning what was
reported by a servant is simply
false No such incident ever occurred
and the writer of the unsigned com
munication either made q Wilfu lily
false statement or has been in the com
pany Of unreliable servants.
The statement that | have tried to
INDUCE the wife of the station agent at
Salt Petre Cave to take q trip with
me is utterly false. | had some trouble
once arising from my having put off
the train woman from near Salt Pc
the Cave, who | learned was not of
good character: some rumOr of this
may have reached my assistant, but it
was grossly dishonerable act in him
to make such a statement, without at
least having ascertained the truth,
which he might have done from the
station agent himself.
The difficulty alluded to by Inc was
within the knowledge of Mr.. Carlisle
at Clifton Forge, Mr.. d. B. Gabbert,
road master. and the station agent at
Salt Petre Cave will testify to the fall
sity of the libelous statements CON
corning myself.
l have never been dismissed from
the r. & u. road, and am not in the
habit of boasting about anything.
Any assistance that | can render
further in the matter, | will most
cheerfully do, and will willingly stand
any investigation should you deem
such necessary.
Yours truly,
T. A. GOODMAN.
Arrest and Imprisonment of COxeyites.
HYATTSvILLE, Md, Aug. 9.-Coxey's
army was rounded up here in gJeat