The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-11-14
THE SECOND CHAPTER.
Mr.. AShWOrth Demanded a RetraC-
ton, But Didn't Get il.

Another chapter in the delinquent land
tax excitement was enacted yesterday in
the Office of the Even ing World Attor-
ney j. S. Ashworth called there for the
purpose OF demanding IL retraction of the
libellous Article published in that paper
on Friday afternoon. He was pa
MED by Edward Lyle, CONFERENCE.-The
attorney for Roanoke city.
MIR. Ashworth's demand for a re trac.
tion was met with n prompt and en-
phatic refusal upon the part of the man
ayers of the Evening World. Thereupon
Mr.. Ashworth denounced as falsifers
every man who had.a hand in the publ
cation.of the articles in question, and
declared that lie would hold each intlivid-
uai and the paper responsible for the pub.
licatlon of the article in such way rs
he deems fit.
Inc impression was convened by Mr.
Ashworth to a T!mes reporter that un-
less the World printed u com pete retrac-
ton Of the charges made that he would
ut once enter suit for libel against the
company Issuing the paper.
Before Mr.. Ashworth called at the
World Office the following notes were
sent by MIN to that office:
Shenandoah Hotel,
'ethhohOi a., NOV. 10, 1871.
editor of the Evening World.
Dear Sir: Late last night my atten-
ton was called to an editorial in your
issue of the 18th instant which reflects
upon me personally. You must know
that each of the four paragraphs contains
an untruthful insinuation against me.
knowing Of no sufficient reason why
you should desire to place me in "A false
light before the good people of Roanoke
and elsewhere, ask you to uncondition-
ally and unreservedly withdraw the edi
torial in question and apologize for it in
to days issue of your paper.
Kindly inform me DIT once Mt the
above address that you will comply with
this reasonable request. Respectfully.
81. s. ASHWORTH."
Mr. Ashworth received an answer to
this note by telephone, which he evil
IDENTIFY did not consider satisfactory, so
he sent the following note:
Shenandoah Hotel,
Roanoke, Va, Nov. 10, 1897.
"To the Publisher and Editor of the
Evening World.
Dear Sirs: Your communication nv
telephone and verbal.reply by my mes
senger to my letter of this morning are
not satisfactory.
You say that the article referred to
was not an editorial, but appeared in
the city department., and that my letter
Will be replied to in this evenings issue.
~ wish no evasion in this matter
Kindly let me know ut once if you mean
TO make the retrao ton demanded. Very
truly, J. s. ASHWORTH."
In response to n telephone message
from this second note, Mr.. Ashworth
called in person at the World office. and
n " ref
estng developments are sure to follow.
Mr. Ashworth informed the managers
OF the World that he did not desire to
sue the pany-that he did not want
dollar cf their money, and that if be
was forced to II suit he would donate his
recovery to any charitable institution of
Roanoke city that might lie ma med
Yesterday afternoon MIR. Ashworth
was handed the following by Clerk
Brooke, which certainly is com plete ex.
oneration of Mr.. Ashw5rth of the insin-
nation that he secured the applications
from the clerks Office by unfair means:
Roanoke. Va Nov. -, 1897.
'Mr. j. s. Ashworth
"This is to say that on Thursday morn
ing, in the courthouse, upstairs, YOU
asked me for the applications which had
been filed 10y the Bristol people. You
stated that you wished to 20 over them
and compare them with the injunction
granted and thus decide upon what
course to pursue. told you that you
could have them and that they were
downstairs in the pigeon hole where
they were kept In few moments after
ward saw you at the 1oor of the court
house with the applications and you told
me that you would take them to your