The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-29
AN EXPLANATION FROM MIR. IRE
LAND.
SEATTLE June %. 1894.


SEATTLE. June %, 1884,
To rHE EDrroH-Dear SIR: rely upon
the weiI-known American sense of fair
play for your permission TO correct,
through your paper, an erroneous impress
sion arising apparently from misappre-
hension Of my attorneys statements as
reported In your issue of this date under
the title, "IreIand is free"
Justice to myself and family will not
permit me TO rest quietly under the impu-
tations attaching to the treatment in
dicted upon me at the instance of utterly
irresponsible parties in the province of
Manitoba For more than ten years /
occupied responsible position in the SER
vice of the Massey Harris Company. linn
tied, the largest agricultural Implement
business concern in Canada. and at all
times enjoyed the utmost confidence and
respect of every officer and member there
of, as well as of all good people of VIM
nipeg, the business headquarters of said
company in Manitoba In May, 1893. at the
earnest solicitation of one Richard Syl-
vester, of the firm Of Sylvester Bros,
dealers in agricultural implements. and
upon their offer of superior inducements
in the way of salary, I entered the service
of said firm as manager at Brandon.
Manitoba. Shortly thereafter / discov-
cred that Richard Sylvester, the principal
member of said firm, was captious and dis
agreeable in his relations with the mana
ger, and had during the four years pre-
vious had five different managers, all rea-
sonably well qualified, the last of whom
before myself he had arrested upon
criminal charge. which. upon hearing.
proved frivolous and was dismissed upon
the evidence of the prosecution.
/ remained in this position until May Is
last. During my term of service, namely,
at about o'clock on the morning of Feb
ruary 8, 1894, the warehouse containing the
machinery took fire in some unknown way
and was, together with the machinery
therein, consumed. 1 was at the time at
my home with my family. where had
been continuously since 6o'clock the even
ing before, and was aroused by the alarm
OF fire.
Immediately telegraphed the intelli-
gence to Sylvester Bros. at their head
quarters in Ontario, and on the arrival of
Mr.. Richard Sylvester /, in conjunction
with him. did all possible to ascertain the
cause of the fire. The insurance compa-
We
amounting to nearly the value thereof,
without question.
After the fire remained in their service
for more than three months, until the
middle of May, 1894, at which time, Mr..
Richard Sylvester having informed me
that they could not longer pay me the
salary agreed upon, quit their service. /
then decided to remove to the Puget
a - -. r.
the opportunities justified it, and accord
ingly closed up my affairs at Brandon de-
liberately and leisurely, announcing my
intention to depart openly and generally.
and after public advertisement sold my
effects at public auction, excepting my
wife's piano and a few household effects.
which / shipped. To the knowledge of
all our friends and acquaintance / en-
barked with my wife and children for this
region.
The first intimation ever had that the
least breath of suspicion attached to me
in connection with the fire mentioned was
on the morning after my arrival. when
was taken into custody at the residence of
my bro ther-in-law. Mr.. w. III. Mccullough,
and thence conveyed to Seattle and incar-
cerated in the county Jail in company
with convicted criminals OF every hue and
cast of character.
/ took with me from the Massey Harris
Company and the city of Winnipeg the
highest esteem and best wishes of all con-
nected with that company and all good
citizens of that city, and throughout my
entire life l have never suffered the least
reflection upon my character for honorable
manhood and business integrity. came
to this region with that untarnished charac-
ter and reputation for business integrity.
fully intending to establish myself in busi-
ness and relying mainly upon my social
standing and business reputation for my
ability 10 do so. l am met Mt the thresh-
hold of my enterprise with this humiliat-
ing and degrading indignity, ana my wife
and little children are put 10 shame and
grief without any other authority or justi-
ffcation in law or fact than the ten-word
telegram of an irrespon sibIe country sub
ordinate in Manitoba signing himself
Government Detective. and acting. as
am informed, in the employ of said Rich
ard Sylvester. | am confronted with this
calumny at my entrance into the home of
my adoption.
| earnestly request that in justice to N.Y.
sell and family you will give to this the
same publicity that the proceedings
against me have received, and also to the
fact that. while ] do not propose to sub
NIT tanely to irregular, unwarrantable
and unjus,iiiahle apprehension or extra
dition, | have no fear of lawful proceed
ings and invite the most searching investi-
CATION, fully intending TO remain here
within easy reach of any and all lawful
process. and that it is my weil-considered
and deliberate determination to seek by
all lawful means redress for the injury and
indgnities which have been inflicted upon
me. and full vindieation of my character
and good reputation.
trust that this request is no imposition
upon your sense of common fairness aud
justice. CHAkLEs f. IRELAND.