The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-08-09
STATEMENT FROM HON. A. s.CLAY.

EDITORS OF JoURNAL.-A few days
ago there appeared in the Calhoun
Times an article which used the follow
ing language: "Steve Clay approached
men and told them if they or their friends
had cases in court and they would vote
for Atkinson, the cases would 90 light
with them Subsequently there ap-
peared in the same paper an affidavit
from Melville f. Davenport, a copy of
which is as follows:
STATE OF GEORGIA, FANNIN COUNTY.
Personally appeared before me, Larkin German,
Justice of the Peace in and for said county,
Melville +. Davenport, who, on oath, says that
Webb Kincaid came to him to solicit him to vote
for W. Y. Atkinson, and stated that Steve Clay
and George Brown had promised him if he would
get the votes of his neighborhood to support Atk-
inson that they would do all they could to get
his brother-in-aw, Grant PlOwman, who was
prosecuted in two cases, out with light fines.
Said Plowmnn plead guilty and was fined five
dollars in each case.
Sworn to andsubscribed before me this 4tL day
of July, 1894.
[Sgncd MELVILLE F. DAVENPORT.
This affidavit was published in the
Calhoun Times. But few days before
the Democratic Convention assembled
in Atlanta and on Friday following, the
Acworth Post stated that there were seven
affidavits published in the Calhoun
Times, seriously rejecting on Mr.. Brown
and myself. Only two of the affldavits
had reference to myself and only one of
them related to the charge stated in the
paper, and that was the affidavit of Mr..
Davenport what Webb Kincaid told him.
was very busy when | received notice
of this article and affidavit, but at once
took the train and went to Fannin coun-
ty to see Mr.. Webb Kincaid to find out
whether or not he had ever made any
such statement, for | knew that | had
never said word to him about the cleo
ton in anyway whatever. Find below
his affidavit
GEORGIA, FANNIN COUNTY:
Personally appeared before me Webb Kncaid,
who, on oath, says that he knows Mr.. Clay, and
has known him for years, This deponent says
that it is untrue that Mr.. Clay approached him
and solicited him to vote for w. 7. Atkinson,
stating that if he would get the votes of his neigh
borhOod to support Atkinson. that he, Clay,
would do all he could to get his brOther-in-law,
Grant PlOwman, out with light fines. Mr.. Clay
had no connection with the case and was not of
counsel for Plowman and had nothing to do with
its trial whatever. He was not even at Morganton
when Plowman plead guilty. was for Mr.. Atk-
insOn when he came out and Mr.. Clay never en-
deavOred to influence me in any way whatever.
Mr.. PlOwman was an invalid and had to be helped
upon him because of his helpless condition and
his poverty. This affidavit is given voluntarily
and it speaks the truth as to any matters be-
tween Mr.. Clay and myself.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 2sth
day of July, 1894.
N. B. CUTCHER, N. P.
1t was also intimated that Ebert Falls
had said he was controlled in the cleo
ton by getting his cases settled. Now
hear the statement of Ebert Falls:
GEORGIA, FANNIN COUNTY:
This is to certify that know 4. S. Clay, of
Marietta, we'll. He was at Fannin court. was
present at the election in the primary between
Gen. Evans and Mr.. Atkinson. / voted for Mr.
Atkinson of MY own accord and without being
Influenced by any one. Mr.. Clay never said a
word to me about voting for either Evans or Atk-
inson. He never tried to influence me in any
way by promising to help me in any of my cases.
Mr.. Brown never even talked to me about my
and paid him half the fee in cash and gave him
my note for the balance. state most positively
that Mr.. Clay never in any way attempted to
influence me in the election.
state now that some weeks ago Mr.. r. W.
Thornton, of Calhoun, came to see me and tried
to get me to swear that A. S. Clay and George
K. Brown tried to influence me in the election in
the primary by promising to help me in my cases.
stated to him positively that neither of the
gentlemen in any way whatever had ever done
such thing. He knew this when he published
the statement and that had charged otherwise.
/ stated to him that had hired my lawyer paid
him cash, and that not dollar had been knock
ed off my fines and costs. l paid fines and costs
amounting to $500. Besides, / Staid in Fulton
county Jail on the same from the United
States Court for two months and was sick the
whole time. MT. Thornton staid sometime he
tried every way he could to get me to swear his
way, but stated to him that would never tell
anything but the truth. would not swear lie
for him and he got mad and left.
| am now sick at home; there is no officer here
to and | unahlp n 90 n hut
| am willing to swear to anything in the above
statement.
lSignedl Ebert X FALLS.
Witnessed by MARK
NJ. p STEPHENSON.
The Editor of the Acworth Post made
serious reflecrion upon me without
giving me any notice and without call
ing my attention to the statement pub
lished in the Calhoun Times. | had new
er met the editor. | had never had a
conversation with him in my life, and his
serious reflection in his paper was made
just few day before the Democratic
convention met in Atlanta My atten-
ton was called to it by a friend. / felt
satisfied as soon as l saw the article in
the Acworth Post that the editor of that
paper was not responsible for it that it
came from another source, from source
where l have been attacked before in \
little paper in Atlanta run by personal
enemy.
went Immediately to see the editor
in regard to the matter, not expecting in
any way the least difficulty. | expected
to ask him all about it in gentlemanly
manner and to ask that in the next issue
of his paper he do me justice. When l
arrived in Acworth went Immediately
to the hotel and met Mr.. Williams. We
sat down in room and talked probably