The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-14
VICTIM OR VIPER.
Two Views Of the ACCUSE.
tions Against Coy
ernor Atkinson's
Wife.
HUSBANDS FULL CONFIDENCE
Former Husbands Grandson In-
dulges in Hard Names and
Foul Charges.
HUSBANDS FULL CONFIDENCE

GLENVILLE. w. Va, Oct. IA, 1851
Governor Atkinson, who has hitherto kept
still about the trial of his wife, has made
statement Of which the following are
the principal points,
Il have hitherto said nothing for pub
ication in this case, except to merely
state that l know the prosecution was
actuated by malice and hatred. 1t Is q
famlly quarrel, and the public knows that
they are the most bitter disputes. I have
heard every sentence of testimony given
in the case independent of the law, which,
in my judgment. does not class this case
as 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 connect
ed with the crime set out in the indict
ment. I am clearly of the opinion that
several witnesses, and. indeed, all of the
real testimony upon which the case
hinged, had been induced to testify for
consideration.
Il am led to this conclusion by the de-
on the witness stand and by the fact and
circumstances connected with their teS-
timony. coupled with the further fact that
their representatives to pay money to
| them or be given lands without the pay
ment of money thereafter. provided they
-
| Atkinson.
1T is. therefore. evident that there was
! an effort being made TO Suborn wit
nesses, and 1 am thoroughly convinced
| that two or more of them were absolutely
purchased. l cannot believe that am
'I want to say further, and it seems to-
me it was brought out by the testimony
elected in this case. that al thoroqga
| relative of the late G.. D. Camden was at
the bottom and instigator of this pro-
stThe 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 to be
| probated various other letters were writ
1 ten to her threatening newspaper puph-
| cation unlessIa large sum or money was
| paid, and which if paid, it was promised
| nothing would be said or published rela-
| tive to her; that prior to her marriage
| to me another similar anonymous letter
was sent to her threatening her wluh
other troubles. including newspaper pub
| lications, which would be thrown across
her pathway. The demands made in
| these anonymous matchmaking letters
were not aeceded to nor complied with
t and the gf5a1t appeared against
| of the probate of Judge Camdens
will also at or about the time on ner mar AZ,
riage with me, the man who inspired al
/ these publications is well worth 10 pc
/ Camden Semmers, the aforesaid grandson
| of Judge Camden, the individual upon
/ whose testimony the Indictment against
| Mrs. Atkinson was solely found, and
who appeared as the principal prosecuting
| witness in this case.
| .'In my honest, unbiased Judgment Sne
/ is guilty of no crime whatever, ana most
| certainly the crime of aiding and abetung
| in uttering the forged papers charged
I against her in the indictment was IN no
sense proven in the trial of this case.
| Camden Sommers made this Statements
| for publication
| IT have no comments to make concerns
| ing the merits of the case beyond my
| former statement regarding the matter
| prior to the present trial, whereby un-
| scrupulous counsel and witnesses for the
defense tortured, twisted and lied abour
| me- 1 will hereafter studiously avoid
| giving them even a shadow OF an excuse
| to resort to similar tactics when the case
| again comes up for hearing.
| Il have been actuated in this matter
| alone by desire to protect the estate
| of my grandfather from the merciless
| rapes of conspiring mercenaries, and to
| prove to the world that Judge Camden,
| in his declining years, instead of losing
| that sterling sense Of justice and love or
| his children which had always character
| lied the life of this noble old man, was
| the pitiful victim of misplaced confidence
| In those by whom he was surrounded IN
| his old age, and that his mental mteg-
1 rity. which he retained until the last:
1 compelled a resort to damned forged
| processes to blacken his fair name and
| steal the birthrights of his children y
| think the world now knows this