The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-31
JUDGE CLARK WRITES
WITH REFERENCE TO "A CALL MADE HIM
BY SENATOR BUTLER.
He Offers to Give List of His Visitors and OF
His Correspondence if the Public Should
Have information Concerning Them.


Have information Concerning Them.
To the Editor: Will you please publish
below a letter which have sent to omar
lotte Observer" with request TO pupiIsh
tomorrow. / am pleased to note tho'
the wilmington Messenger" (Whlch mas
the same correspondent here) omltteu
from his letter on both occasions the III,
formation as to my correspondence anu
visitors at my residence.
Respectfully, nv
.Editor of the Charlotte Observer:
aYour correspondent IN your iasI iesue
mentions as news of State lnlportance
that Mr.. Tom Devereux was making
merry that United States Senator butier
had called at my house. Both ME-.
nevereux and Senator Butler nave re-
aently called. both came on thelr own
business. both came without previous III
yitation (which was not necessary, po,h
vere received politely of course ana am
OF a loss to see why it is more improper
40 receive Senator Butler than MN. l
am accessible to any one who calls, WIN
ont regard to his party, his color, ms
ehnrcb or other affiliations. No coloreu
man has ever called who can complain
that he was not treated courteously &C
eording to our social customs ana no
white man can say that in my own house
I did not treat him as my equal.
"As your correspondent has three times
alluded to this matter intimatlng there
by either that it was highly important,
or highly improper. you will do me the
Justice to publish the facts. Mr.. RIVERS,
one of Mr. Buffers employees called at
my house seeking the Senator, who, he
said. had left the office mentioning that
he would call at my house. Finding ne
was not there. Mr.. Rivers left. Soon
after Senator Butler came. Never hav-
ing been at my house before Though l
had once invited him to meet Chief JUS
tice Faircloth and the court to teal he
knocked next door at the residence of
Mr.. E. Chambers Smith who had retir-
ed. The servant directed him to my
house. He desired some information
which could not give him and he left
in about ten minutes. There was no
one Mt my house at the time except the
family and two young gentlemen who
were calling Mr.. e. Chambers Smith
in the meantime had gone out partially
dressed and stood behind his gate post till
Senator Butler passed. AS he had once
gone to Washington to see the Senator
and spent some days in some intimacy
with him l suppose he wished to use
the opportunity to renew the acquain-
lance, but / did not understand his haste
in not dressing nor his getting behind
the gate post, though this last may have
been accidental. He reported the Sen
ators visit to my house. possibly with
out any evil intentions. 1t has been said
that he got out of his bath upon a tele-
phone message from railroad official
to watch if Senator Butler called at my
house. But the character of both gem
tlemen satisfies me that this is hardly
possible.
II have wished to give you all the facts
as You have published the circumstance
three times and it must be important.
Some months ago, / received letter
from Major w. A. Guthrie, practicing
attorney of this court, an old college
mate and a personal friend ever since.
The letter was on court business. / re-
piled to it, While the servant was car
rying my letters to the postoffice they
were taken out of his hand, the addresses
read and the fact that / had written to
Mai. Guthrie was telegraphed to and
published in your paper. l do not think
that this espionage upon my private cor
respondence and upon visitors to my
house is in accordance with high toned
journalism. l know it will not receive
the approval of gentlemen anywhere.
am satisfied that you personally knew
hout +boca prncnQ1inpS
''As to another charge, or intimation,
Of your correspondent that 1 participated
in drawing the notice to Railroad Com
missioners to show cause it is wholly
untrue. | never saw them till after they
were issued, and did not know they would
be issued. 1t required no particular
legal ability to draw such papers and II
it had, Gov. Russell is an able lawyer
and besides has retained counsel. l know
that one Of the Commissioners served
with the notice has stated that after the
publicity previously given to the charges
he thought the notice ought to have been
issued.
II have differed with you as to the
free coinage of silver, and have earn
estly advocated the giving the pubic
sona relief by lowering railroad rates III
.,..or,o,.tion to the enhanced value or mon
p pr Rnt have done this openly and
am sure you will not deem that my views .hus
On those questions outlaw me so tnat
tba nrivacy of my residence and my cor
resnondence should be subjects for the
news columns of your paper. Upon APP
,,lication lists of my visitors and or my
correspondents viii always be at your
service whenever you think the puDllc
should have information in regard to
them.
Most respectfully,
WAITER CLARK