The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1895-10-17

4 LAO tnCh NCnt vi W cey - @H0t6ht
of being a candidate any how, but
had not fully decided. He said he
had received strong assurances of
support from men all over the county
who knew all about theletters, and he
was certain he could be nominated
and elected in spite of any objection
on that account. / replied If he
thought that way he most assuredly
had poorer opinion of the people of
Lincoln county than / had. then
reviewed the considerations mention
ed in our last interview, which should
influence him, and reiterated the
great reluctance with which i would
publish the facts if he went ahead.
He left saying he had not fully de-
cided, but that if he determined to
become candidate he would an
nounce in both of the county papers
and make the best fight he could.
A week or two after this interview
his announcement appeared in the
Times and the following Saturday he
came around to see me again and or
dered it in THE LEADER, paying his
subscription and announcement fee,
and telling me if could not say any
thing complimen tary of HIM tocall at
tention TO it and say that he would
run on the record he had made during
his present term.
Now few words more about the
letters. A few days after Supt.
Smiths second visit and inquiry about
them, little son of DR.. Watts came
to me on the street one afternoon and
said his father had sent him to my Of
fee for the letters he had let me have,
but he failed to find me there and
would like to get them. 1t was but
short distance to DIR. Watts Office
and l went by before going to my own
Office for the letters to ask him about
it. He explained that he was going
to Jackson that evening and wanted
to carry them with HIM to show them
to man up there. told him that
had never copied them as he had Civ
en- me permission to do, and would
like to have them back ON his return,
and he promised should have them
back. l then went on to my Office,
telling him he could get the letters
when he called or sent for them. By
this time the suspicion suggested it
self that If | gave up the letters l
might never see them again, and as
soon as l got to my Office l began
copying them. | had not quite finish
ed copying the first, however, before
DR.. Watts called for them in person,
saying he was going off on the $40
train. He waited for me to finish the
one was OH, however, and renewed
his promise to let me have them all
back on his return. That is the last
have seen of the letters, though l
have not less than three different
times since asked him for them or to
be given an opportunity to copy the
two failed to copy.
In conclusion l wish to add few
words of personal explanation. AS
has no doubt already been gathered,
| have made this statement. just as
the conscientious and faithful journal
list often has to do, contrary to all of
my personal feelings and inclinatlons,
and as duty conceive owe to the
public. | have no candidate tor SUI
perintendent of education whose in
terests l wish to advance, but it is of
such paramount importance to have
man at the head of the educational
affairs of the county for the ensuing
four years who is above suspicion
and reproach, felt it would have
been nothing short of criminal for me
to remain silent and allow Supt. Smith
to succeed to the office without ac-
quainting the people with the facts
herein set forth. | have avoided all
denunciation and abuse, and have
simply given yon the facts in a plain
way for your deliberate consideration,
and leave you to draw your own con-
illusions. A portion of them are
strongly suggestive of political deals
and conspiracy against the peoples
interests that will no doubt develop
themselves in due time. For lack of
space l have omitted minor cOnveTsa-
ton and circumstances. Possibly, II
part of what have stated will be de-
MED by the persons chiefly interested,
but wish to say there is not a mate
rial assertion that have made that l
would not be willing to go upon the
stand and substantiate under oath.
With this leave the subject with
you. b. Il. HOBBS.
1t will be observed that Mr.. Smith