Richmond planet., 1896-10-24
MR.. .LAWLESS' ANTICS
Appeals TO the Postal Au-
thOrities and Threat
ems the Editor.
THE TRICK EXPOSED.
To Run Him For Congress
Whether He Will or
No.
AN AMUSING PREDICA-
MENT.
THE TRICK EXPOSED.
The Letter Not Returned.


The political situation in the dis
trict has not improved. The latest
sensation was the controversy between
Editor John Mitchell and Hon. ].
Lawless, secretary of the Common |
wealth. The latter's letter has been
the talk of the town and his ridiculous !
oredicament the source Of unbounded
comment. Editor Mitchell received
from him in reply to the one published /
in last weeks PLANET requesting the
withdrawal of his name as candidate
for Congress, the following letter:
MR.. LAwLEss' LETTER.
VIRGINIA:
Office of
Secretary of the Commonwealth:
RIcHMoND. VA, Oct. 1e, 1895. |
John Mitchell, Jr., Esq, ,
Sir:
In this mornings issue of
The TIMES l observed letter from /
YOU addressed TO me, and upon coming /
to my office / found copy of it upon |
my desk.
fnasmuch as you state 10y implica-
tion. if not in direct terms, that you
never notified me of your Candidacy
for Congress to represent tn. Third
Conversational District OF Virginia,
which is also evidenced, not only by
the handwriting in the letters, but by
the fact that you are generally known
as. and YOUR name is JOHN MITCHELL,
JR Won we'll know that the letter
from me addressed TO John Mitchell,
acknowledging receipt of his notifica
tion, was not intended for you.
This notifies you that unless you
forthwith return TO this Depart ment,
the letter now in your possession or
deposit the same in the post-office, ]
will take such legal steps as TO the
authorities may seem right and pro-
per.
Respectfully,
j T. LAwLEss,
Secretary of the Commonwealth
EDITOR MIrcHELL's REPLY.
OFFICE OF PLANET,
SI4 East 8road Street,
Richmond. Va:
Hon. J. 7. Lawless.
Secretary of the Commonwealth,
Richmond, Virginia;
Dear Sir
I'm this mornings issue of
the Times, ] observed letter frt IN
YOU addressed to me and upon coming
10 my office, found copy of it upon
my desk"
confess that ana somewhat SUI
prised at your effort TO inform me IS
TO my own identity.
NV name is John Mitchell. and
have been so known. not only by ray
friends but by many who correspond
with me. In fact, was so christened.
Letters, checks, money orders. ETC.,
come to me so made out and address,
ed.
That YOU should have confounded
the word Junior" with my name, as
such, when it is only designation
meaning, 1.-The younger of the twO,"
iSee Webster's Unabridged Diction-
aryl is surprising.
If the letter addressed to me was
not so intended, pray tell me to whom
il should have been sent.
Your request for the return of the
missive might have been proper; your
threat in event of failure to comply
with the same, unusual and uncalled
for
Be that as it may, am ready to trans
nit or deliver the aforesaid letter to
the person who is alleged to have sent
the original, providing he will present
himself at this office, and demand the
same.
JnAO is do L AIu
the only John Mitchell spoken of here,
as a candidate for congress, and the
only one requested to so announce
himself; shall presume that the let
ter was intended for me and act in ac-
cordance with that presumption.
I beg leave to state that my Ian
guage to you has been of the most re-
spectful kind yours to me of the most
arbitrary character
am prepared to meet any legal steps,
which you may choose to take. and
resist any effort to make it appear that
have been untrue to those with whom
1 have affiliated and false to the peO-
pie / represent.
l am sir,
Very truly yours,
JOHN MITCHELL.
TIE POSTMASTER MAKES REQUEST
RICHMOND PosT OFFICE:
Office of the Post master,
RICHMOND, HENRIoo Co., VA.
October 2Oth, 1896
John Mitchell, Jr Esq,
Dear Sir:
You will please deliver
to bearer, Carrier No. 4, T. J. Nc Don
aid, a letter delivered by him to yor
on or about October IA, 1855, and ad
dressed to John Mitchell, Esq. Rich
mond, Va.
This letter was mailed by Hon. J. T
Lawless, secretary of the Common
wealth and was not intended for you
/ am Very Respectfully,
VIM. H. CULLINGwoRrH,
Postmaster,
by +. p. BURKE.
Supt. Free Delivery
This reply explains itself:
ANoTHER isEJoINDER.
OFFICE or THE PLANrT,
SI4 K. Broad Sc.
RICHMOND, IA Oct 2Oth, 1895
Mr.. VIM. II. CullingwOrth,
by +. p. Burke, Esq,
My Dear Sir:
Your favor received and con
tents carefully noted. | beg leave Il
enclose copy OF letter addressed tC
1T. Lawless, which will explain my
position in the matter. insist thai
it was my letter, and intend to hold u
With best wishes. / am, sir,
Very truly yours,
JOHN MITCHELL
a..