The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-15

To the people of Salt Lake City
I have just received a marked copy
of the Tribune of July g. containing
what purports TO be an account of
some recent events connected with my
life. 1t would be difficult indeed. to
crowd a larger number of falsehoods
into an equal amount of space. It is
not true that I had made any arrange
ments to elope with any woman to
Canada or anywhere else. 1t is not
true that I have had marked success
in business; that have a bank account
of any consequence; and therefore it is
not true neglected to support my
familyrto the best of my ability.
It is literally true that I have stripped
myself Of everything in the way of
property and given it to my family. I
had two pieces of property worth, at a
low estimate, $500. I decided them
both to Mrs Mabry, and then for two
years went on making payments upon
a mortgage on one of these pieces of
property until said mortgage was en-
tirely paid off. also kept the interest
paid on another mortgage during this
time and also paid part of the principal.
All this was done while I was struggling
to get started in business, that might
suitably provide for my family.
Every life insurance man knows that
when a man takes a general agency
or managership for a life insurance
company. his business generally costs
him more money for the first year or
two than he gets out Of it. By that
time, if he has been successful, his
renewal interests begin to turn the tide
in his favor I was just at that point
in my business affairs, when circum-
stances arose which do not in any way
concern the public, and which were per-
fectly honorable to myself, making it
important that 1 accept a position
offered me by another company. 1 had
this matter under consideration for two
months. During this time Mrs. Mabry
knew that 1 contemplated a change,
and knew from me why. The contract
was made June is, TO take effect July l.
I returned from Chicago, and on the
18th told Mrs. Mabry that I had closed
the contract and would go TO work for
the new company July 1. The next
afternoon 1 was i'll my Office when a
newspaper reporter came in and asked
me to.mal1e a statement for publication
in reference TO a suit for alimOny which
my wife had commenced, in which she
alleged that was going to elope with
another woman to Canada. That was
the first intimation I had that she con-
templated any such action. The result
of this ill-advised and unfortunate ac-
ton was that the little money I had in
the bank was largely consumed in court
expenses and lawyers fees, 1 lost the
results of a years work in the sacrifice
of renewal commissions, and came out
in debt to my company. according to its
Showing. about 5000. and had to begin
anew with just $3.50 to my name. I
made no effort to retain the money in
the bank I gave UP everything and
started anew. These things being true,
/ ask. is there any senblance of truth
or Justice, fairness or common honesty
in the distorted and evidently malicious
account CT the matter given in the
Tribune of July 8?
HAS SUFFERED IN SILENCE.
During the last two years nave suf-
fered much, and suffered ii silence.
All 1 asked was to be let alone. AS it
appears TO me. everything which could
injure me has been given the widest
publicity, and everything which, in any
way. extenuated my fault, has been
srnnressed or ignored.
/ think the time has come when I
should break this long silence, and lay
before the people of Salt Lake City, and
all others whom it may concern, a
statement of the main facts connected
with my misfortune among you.
do not write now for my own sake,
but for yours. do not expect-do not
ask anything at your hands Doubtless,
there are many of you, who would glad
" do anything within reason to make
life easier for me. But do not ask
this 1 do not expect ever 10 ask any
favor al your hands.
But for nearly FIVE years was a