The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-01
norfolk LOCAL ! NEWS.
THE PETTIs INTERVIEW.
Cards From Messrs. Whitehead ano
Martin.

MaTtIHs ,
The card OF Msi. D. Humphreys in
the Pilot Of yesterday compells notice
at my hands. The card in question Is
based on published interview in THE
VlnaISIAN of the Goth with Mayor
Petit on the subject Of his proposed
resig nation.
On the evening OF Wednesday Messrs.
Joseph Martin and J. FL. Tanner
brought TO my department in THE VlE-
dINIAN very extended report OF an in.
tervlew with Mayor Petit on the ru-
NOR of his resignation and the causes
which led him to contemplate the samo.
AS the report was their property, not
known to me or The VIKGINIAS, they
offered II for sale to the paper exc!u-
slyely or as syndicate matter. re
ferred them to the managing editor.
AS the result of conference with
him 1t was concluded that
as Messrs. Martin aud Tanner
were tho exclusive owners of tho News
In question, so much of the report
as bore directly on the interview with
tue Mayor would bo purchased (,his
agreement excluded fifteen pages of
the article prepared by them). Pro-
vided however, that tho purportsd
interview should be submitted to Mayor
Petit for his Endorsement, and then
to be published with o simple intro
ductiou.
accompanied Mr.. Martin to the
residence OF Mayor Petit. He was
informed OF The object of the visit,
| stating that THE VlEaiNiAN had been
offered the article, prepared by Messrs.
Martin aud Tanner, aud that it would
be bought provided the statements
were correct. MIR. Martin read
the article 10 Mayor Petit, who stated
| that it was substantially correct. but
thrt he did not desire to be quoted as
| saying good many of the things ro.
ported, as it would tend to stir up
| more bad feeling aud there was enough
already. The whole matter Was talked
over with the mayor.
After the interview Mr.. Martin re-
turned TO The NIRGIEIAS office and
prepared tho interview which appeared
line of it. 1t was read to me by Mr..
Martin, o. KID by me as city editor
aud sent to tho printers.
| 1t appeared to Inc to conform in all
respects to the instructions received
from Mayor Petit and the editor and
owner of the paper. Mr.. Martin is a
| we'll known newspaper man, who has
written Tor every newspaper in the
city
l wish now 10 refer to comments in
Major Humphreys card which L be.
lieve have implied reference TO me,
rs the local editor of The VIRGISsAN,
on whom the responsibility rests for
the character OF tho matter which APP.
pears III that department OF the paper
| hls card is tissue of slandors from
| beginning to end, false in every par
ticnlar, malicious and premeditated,
absolutely wanting in Justification.
Reckless as this man is at all times
in handling fGcts, lie is more than ever
so on this occasion, With the venom
OF miserable reptile he has time aud
again driven his poisonous fangs into
the flesh of the young newspaper men
OF this city, many of whom never did
him any harm. He is q Wholesale cal.
umniator, and the character OF no
newspaper man IN Norfolk would be
safe WHO happened to incur MS dis.
pleasure, if a half dozen people believe
his insane vaporings. He ia fanatic
OF the first water, blatant and uurea-
sonable in all his statements, and in
spite OF years, which should give O
little common sense, is worthy ouly OF
| contempt. L have been the object Of
his malicious attacks repeatedly during
the past twelve months aud / stood
them til! patience ceased TO be vir.
| tue.
The report that he would DO selected
to succeed Mayor Petit III case of tho
lntter's resignation, is to me as it Is to
the community. a piece OF startling
news. No matter what may be my
opinions OF the Prohibition Council or
the Prohibition party, Maj. Hum.
phreys may rest assured that / never
thought that he could be elected to
any position of responsibility, much
less that of Mayor. The people need
not fear that this calamity may befall
| them.
! regret that his repeated assaults
| upon me through the press has made
this reply necessary. We're the news
papers read only in Norfolk / would
be content to pass by anything that
| this old man with bitter heart and
diseased mind might say. feeling con
tident that nobody would be influenced
by HIM, but Outside of Norfolk he is not
known and his malicious slunhers
| would be received with measure of
| credit. JOHN WHIrEHEAp.