Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1894-1895, 1895-11-29

On Wednesday, October 9th last, a
representative of the INDEPENDENT
happened to be in the hardware store
of j. V. Ashley & Son when Samuel
Burns of West township came in to So
licit contributions of money or mer-
chandlSe for the family, consisting of
wife and six children, of j. +. Hoover,
formerly of Marshall county but now
of BijOu Hills, ). ID. On the afternoon
of the same day the INDEPENDENT pub
lished the story of restitution embracing
some of the causes which led to it, prac-
tically and substantially as related by
Mr.. Burns. This story touched incl
dentally upon the doings and character
of the man who had neglected his wife
and children and finally deserted them
and left them practically and al
most wholly dependent on charity for
support.
Mr.. Burns was not alone on his mis-
sion to this city in behalf of Mrs.
Hoover but was accompanied by two
other gentlemen from that vicinity and
merchants and others were asked by
these gentlemen to make donations ac-
cording to ability and inclination to
relieve the stress of proverty that rested
upon the unfortunate mother and de-
serted children. To this time the IN
DEPENDENT had been perfectly ignorant
of the existence of such man .as j.
Edwin Hoover so that what was said of
him was said entirely with referense to
the conditions by which these solicitors
had been prompted to go out and ask
aid at the hands of strangers for the
wife and children of the said j. Edwin
Hoover. We were told at the time that
Hoover was in South Dakota but knew
nothing more definite of his where
abouts until about October 80, when we
received letter savoring of blackmail
and making most arbitrary demand
When this letter came to hand there oc-
CURED to us the possibility of having
through insufficient or inaccurate IN
formation, done Mr.. Hoover some in
justice in the matter and it became ap-
parent that, in justice to him and to all
parties concerned, more thorough in
vestigation would be necessary. Mr.
HOOyer's letter is as follows:
BIJOU HILLS, So. Dakota. Oct %, %
EDITOR DAILY INDEPENDENT:
/ have just received a clipping
Sumably from your paper; Which is
grossly libelOuS Now in the beginning
1 want to say, L have no desire to
neither will engage in newspaper
controversy. An editor always has the
advantage and can abuse people greatly
if SO inclined.
1. l have not deserted my children
but would be glad to get and educate
them, and have gwen the proper per-
son legal written notice to that effect
2. The many dollars l have given
them you do not know-nor probably
never will hear about.
3. l withdrew from the church you
named because L had joined a certain
so called "Secret society of Plymouth
which was against the church rules.
That l dissipated and fell from
grace, is made out of whole cloth.
>. Ask my successor In office, Mr.. s
III. Joseph. of your city. If l did not
promptly turn over every dollar OF
township funds.
8. If this does not satisfy you / can
present you his receipt to that effect.
Z. You cannot be well informed
about township affairs or you would
know better than to use the term
when exposure threatened etc" as
was for five years resident of the
county after promptly and to the hour
settling up the townships affairs.
3. Where then is your straw man
"danger of exposure etc.? | taught the
Sligo school in West township three
terms in succession after my term OF
Office had expired. If | had been the
man you made me Out-cOuld L have
held the place and that too without
a single word of complaint to the of
ticialS.
8 left Indiana, April IL, 1895, anC
sent for and received recommends since
here from the County Su ,erintendent
of Schools and Township Trustee, as tC
my work there and prize the sam,
highly, though they are members of al
opposite political party
10. Three months after the mutual
separation of myself and wife, ! wa:
elected Township Principal of schools
West township, Qf you know what tina
Isl without dissenting vote and hel(
same until close of the school yea
April II, 1895.
IL. "YOu say as soon as the legal pro
cess could be completed" L secured
bill of divorce. This is a lie out o
whole cloth. Write the clerk of Court
Brule county, South Dakota, if i hav
ever even applied for one.
IL. Now In conclusion | have no de
sire to belittle any one las / could do
but would rather take a REASONABLE
amount of abuse than reply.
You are not at liberty TO publish thi
article in part, unless you publish it al
If you cannot do this | shall in du
time instruct my attorney to bring sui
fCT libel. In writing this do not under
stand me to waive any rights whateve
legally or otherwise. Resp.
j. EDWIN HOOVER.
Copy retained and witnessed)
n. Ii. Find stamps for 10c. enclose