The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-15
HAS FAITH IN HIS WIFE
Statement from Governor Atkinson
Reply by Camden SOmmers.

CHENILLE, w. Va, Oct. 4-Governor
Atkinson has made statement concerning
the trial of his wife, of which the IolloW-
ing are the, principal points:
II have hitherto said nothing for publica-
ton in this case except to merely state
that 1 know the prosecution was actuated
by malice and hatred. 1t is a family quar-
rel, and the public knows that they are the
most bitter disputes. l have heard every
sentence of the testimony given in the case.
independent of the law, which, in my judg-
ment does not class this case as a probable
forgery, and independent also of the fact
that in my opinion, it was error to admit
testimony on other matters which cannot
be directly connected with the crime set out
in the Indictment l am clearly of the opin-
ion that several witnesses and, indeed, ali
the real testimony upon which the case
hinged had been induced to testify for
consideration. / am led to this conclusion
by the demeanor of the witnesses while
testifying on the witness stand and by the
fact and circumstances connected WIFE
their testimony, coupled with the further
fact that the offers were made to other
witnesses or their representatives to pay
money to them or be given lands without
the payment of money thereafter, provided
they would testify against the DEFENDANT,
Mrs. Atkinson. 1t is, therefore, eVldent tna I
there was an effort being made to suborn
witnesses and i am thoroughly convinced
that two or more of them were ABSOLUTELY
purchased. I cannot believe that l am mis-
"The evidence brought out in this trial
also shows that Mrs. Atkinson, prior to her
marriage to Judge Camden, received an
anonymous letter warning her not to marry
said Camden; that at the time the Will
of Judge Camden was about 10 be proDated
various other letters We're written TO ner
threatening newspaper publication unless a
large sum of money was PAID, ana Which,
if paid, 1t was promised notnlng Would pc
said or published relative TO her; that prior
to hers marriage to me another similar
anonymous letter was sent to her threaten
ing her with other troubles, including news
paper publications. would be thrown across
her pathway The demands made in these
anonymous Matchmaking letters We're not
acceded TO nor complied with, and the re-
suit was that the vileSt of vile publications
appeared against her in newspapers.
In my honest, unbiased Judgment, she Is
guilty of no crime whatever, and most GER
tainly the crime of aiding and abetting
in uttering the forged papers charged
against her in the indictment was in no
sense proven in the trial of this case.
Camden Sommers made this statement Tor
publication: Il have no comments TO make
concerning the merits of the case beyond
nv former statement, regarding the matter
prior TO the present trial whereby I'M
scrupulous counsel and the witnesses for the
defense tortured twisted and lied about ne.
j will hereafter studiously avoid giving
them even 4 shadow of an excuse to resort
to similar tactics when the case again
comes up for rehearing. l have been ac-
tuated in this matter alone by desire to
protect the estate of my grandfather HOm
the merciless rapes of conspiring mercenar-
les and 70 prove to the world that Judge
Camden. in his declining years. instead OF
losing that sterling sense of justice and
love OF his children which had always char
actcrized the life of this noble man, was the
pitiful victim Of misplaced confidence in
those by whom he was surrounded In his
old age, and that his mental integrity,
which he retained until the last, compelled
a resort to forged processes to blacken his
fair name and steal the birthrights OF his
children. ! think the world now knows
this"