The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-18
BY HIS PERSONAL ENEMIES
To Prevent His Confirmation as
Postmaster.
MOST COMPLETE REPUTATION
Me, of All Parties in Burlington Unite
in a Denial Of the Charges and
Ask His Confirmation
as Postmaster.

nominated for the postmastershlp at
burlington, will probably come up be-
fore the committee to-day.
DIR. Freeman and his friends have not
been idle as to the charges against
him. and inasmuch as these charges
have been printed in this column. 1t
seems but fair that the retutatlon OF
them. also, should be printed. Com
gresham Woodard, who IS undertaking
the case of DIR. Freeman, has received
a batch of affidavits which entirely on
set the idea that DR.. Freeman is such
a bad bad man as he has been set up 10
be by his few enemies. Moreover, II
occurs inst here that Senator Butler,
if he had been looking for good about
his fellows. instead of i'll about his fell
lows, could easily have had these atfi-
davits instead OF writing to have them
poked under his nose. The truth IS,
he has not been attending to his bust
ness. as admitted by him in the set to
with Walcott, not long ago. And Wal
colt and Hill have been suspecting that
the hanging UP of these postmaster
ships were not altogether according to
rule. and have, therefore, been calling
Mr.. Butler to his senses. BY the aid of
the exclusive information in the News
and Observer about these postmaster
ships, the people at this and the other
end have also been kept informed as TO
what was going on.
Mr.. J. S. Erwin, of Burlington, writes
to Senator David b. Hill, North Caro-
lina's champion, as follows, under date
of March 10:
II have the honor of addressing you
in behalf of DIR. r.. A. Freeman, who has
received the nomination of postmaster
at Burlington, n. G.
II was one Of the citizens of this place
who recommended the appointment of
another for this office but [ am one
who now wishes the appointment Of Dr.
r.. A. Freeman confirmed.
Il am sure that his confirmation will
meet with the hearty approval of at
least nine-tenths of the patrons of this
office.
II have seen a copy of the charges
which | feel have been very unjustly
preferred against him; and would say
from my personal knowledge of the
man, that / do not believe a single
statement thereinl and that i have no
doubt but what he will be able to thor
oughiy vindicate himself from any and
all the charges which it seems have
been rather underhandedly brought
against him.
las far as can ascertain, it seems
that the charges have been investi-
gated and preferred mainly by some of
DIR. F'reeman's personal enemies, some
of whom are his strong rivals in bust
ness.
Il have known Dr. Freeman person
ally for about fifteen years, in business
as well as society, and 1 feel that ]
should know him as well, and have as
correct a knowledge Of his general
character and department as any man
in the county. / wish to say, that II
consider him strictly honest, sober
and upright man, and that he stands
high in his profession and is much es-
teemed by the people of this comlnu-
nifty.
II also, consider him entirely cornpe-
tent TO fill the office and / trust the
committee will promptly recommend
his confirmation"
Next comes the affidavit of James r.
Albright, another prominent citizen of
Burlington, under same date.
James II. Albright, being duly
sworn deposes and says that he is now
and was in the year 1894 resident Of
the city of Burlington, n. e., and affiant
further says that he is now and has
always been a Republican and that in
the general election of 1894, he was one
of the Republican poll-holders at Bur-
lington precinct, and that DR. II. A.
Freeman was registrar and that as
such his conduct was, in all respects,
proper and fair, leaving no grounds
for complaint upon the part of this
affiant, or any member of the Republic
can party.
This affiant further says that upon
one or two occasions he wished to ex-
anime the registration book, and that
this privilege was readily accorded
Z him By Dr. Freeman, and that while
this affiant has always known DIR.
Freeman TO be an active member of the
Democratic party, he does not believe
that his partlsanship has been carried,
10 extremes or beyond the bounds of
propriety or duty to his party.
And this atfiant further says that
Dr. r. A. Freeman has been prac-
ticing physician in AIamance county
for the last fifteen or twenty years,
taking high stand among his medical
associates, and that he has success
fully conducted drug business in the
city of Burlington for quite a number
of years, and that he believes that DIR.
Freeman is fully competent to dis
charge the uutieS pertaining W eis
postoflice at Burlington in manner
that will be satisfactory to the patrons
of the said Office.
.sThig affiant further says that DIR.
Freeman is man of irreproaehable
moral character and that so far as this
afiiant is informed his personal IN
tegrity has never been questioned"
Mr.. John r.. Ireland, highly esteemed
in Burlington, swears that he is Re
publican; that Dr. Freeman has been
all his life an active Democrat, but
has always treated his opponents with
consideration, and that he is not in.
any sense an offensive partisan" Mr..
ireland further says that DIR. Freeman
is a man of most excellent character
49,