The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1896-07-24
Reply to Rufus Knott.
Editor La. Populist

Dear Sir-I had hoped for the
sake of the general peace of the
ward, that | would not be called
upon to seek the columns of the
public press again to answer the
vituperation of a charlottesville,
but the ''boss liar" of this ward,
one Rufus Knott, has forced ME
into print in self defence.
As will be seen by the following
certificates, l am justified in call
ING him the "boss liar" if moth
ing harsher, and that if his letter
had had only local circulation. i
would have treated it as the Irish
man did the "Johnny boss" that
kicked him, i. e., considered the
source" but as the facts are not
generally known in the Parish and
State, it behooves me to disprove
his innucndoes and to show to the
pubic the manner of person he is,
by the testimony of men, good and
true, who have known him from
boyhood several of whom are
closely related to him by the ties OF
blood and marriage.
am exceedingly sorry that nc
has forced me to expose him, on
account of his wife and children
who, am happy to state, enjoy
the esteem and respect of the entire
community and are in no way re-
flected upon in this article.
/ am also gricved and astonished
to see that the Enterprise, the or.
gan of the ''pure and undefilec
Democracy" Of the parish has con
verted its columns into a sewer
pipe, and allows itself to be uset
as such by deluging its readers will
any filth which may eminate iron
disraputable and vile sources, ant
poured through its columns.
would advise the lady proprie
tress to put the editorial helm into
the hands of persons who hav'
some respect for decency of thcil
publications and a regard for hel
pecuniary interest.
Perhaps the Enterprise is no
aware that there is an unwrittel
law in this ward which makes tn
person who repeats anything ema
mating from Kufe Knott, subject t.
a fine of ten (lO) gallons of Scr
ghum syrup and five (5) bushels o
corn to be donated to the widow
and orphans of this ward, and a
no person is excused on account o
ignorance of the law, the prope
officer will proceed to collect tn
| fine and remit to the treasurer o
The Widows and Orphans Relic
Society, of ward 5.
This fellow begins his diatrib
by referring to my letter in you
paper some time since, in which
exposed the s'stufiing" of the Hor
ton box in 1892.
l will say that the fact had es
capped my memory that he wa
one of the commissioners of tina
box in '92, 'when l wrote the art
Gle referred to, but as we are toll
upon good authority that the ''wick
ed fieeth when no man pursueth,
he has made tacit acknowledge
ment of his completely, and that
he did not actually assist in th
dirty job, he at least, like Saul Q
Tarsus, s'stood by consenting."
His next, was in reference
a certain horse which / rode
Natchitoches in January of '9s
this is refuted by a voluntary Gel
Ltiicate of the owner of the horse
To whom it may concern.
This is to certify that Prof. j
+. Selby had my horse in Januar
of 1892, and returned said horse i
much better condition than whe
be got him, without a cent of e,
pense to me, and further, said Sc
by has been living within half
mile of me for five ~ years, an
l have found him to be goo
neighbor and an honorable man.
(Signed) A. 5. JAMES.
July 9Th, 1896.
His next innuendo refers to m
. connection with the church, Sal
} day school, &C., and indirectly ~