The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01
STRONGLY EXPRESSED.
Ool. Tillman Has Something to Say and
Says it-Watts Replies.

says 1t-"atIo hopuee.
The following special from Saluda
Courthouse was published by the State
on Thursday:
Lieut.. Col. James f. Tillman is
here attending court. He was asked
this morning if he had anything to
say in reply to the dispatch which ap-
peared in yesterdays State relative to
the medal he presented at the Orange
turg tncampment. He replied: II
am very busy and have been for sew
eral weeks at Edgefeld and this place
in the discharge Of my professional
duties. I have no time to waste in
noticing such a man as young Hof-
man, nor would I do so we're ] not
convinced that he is the miserable
tool Of some one else. SO far as Hotf
man himself is concerned, he has
placed himself beyond the pale of a
gentleman and is beneath the dignity
of dog. I offered q medal for the
best drilled man in any regiment; /
never designated what kind Of medal
it should be in my circular to TIE diff.
ferent companies. Although l order.
ed of the jeweler, MIR. Fox at Edge.
field, gold-medal, which was lost in
the mail, and a second was ordered
from another house in New York by
telegraph. The latter was sent to
Hoffman, or rather Capt. B. 81. Moss,
by my clerk as soon as it arrived. As
for the statement that The medal sent
was brass, steel and nickle.plate, the
man who says so is simply a nickle.
plated liar. If it is not genuine then
I have been badly swindled, which !
know is not the case. If it is money,
this Jew, Hoffman, wants / will glad.
ly send him whatever he thinks he
deserves.
"'Another thing. while I am dis
cussing this matter, want to say that
the statement made by General Watts
in reference to the court of inquiry is
untrue. 1t was upon my sole request
to those who signed the protest that
same was withdrawn. Anything to
the contrary is not the truth. I also
have letter in my pocket from Gan
eral Richbourg, who commands the
brigade, stating that Col. Clsfy has
never been lawfully elected. But !
am done with the matter for all time
to come.'"
GEN. WATTS REPLY.
A copy of the above was published
in contemporary yesterday and Gen.
Watts took occasion to reply to SO
much OF it as applies to himself. BE
said: ".Out of justice to Maj. Clafy
Igive the following communication
from Gen. Richbourg:
Columbia, 8. c., July 26, 1897.
Ger. ]. Gary Watts, Adjutant and In.
s7tctor General, State Of South
Carolina.
"General-I herewith report that
an election was ordered to be held
or July 23d for the position of colo
mel of the First regiment s. G. V. T.,
which resulted in the election of Ma
jor K. M. Clatfy of Fort Motto.
"The vote being as follows:
R. M. Clatfy....~......~......1 141
j. 81. Tillman.. LA
B. R. Carroll. st
You will therefore please issue
commission to Major R. NJ. Claffy as
colonel First regiment infantry, South
Carolina Volunteer Troops.
"By order r. N. RICHBoURG,
BRIG. Gen., End Brigade, s. G. V. T.
"Oficial:
"Charles Newham,
Major and Adjutant General"
"Before issuing the commission to
Maj Claffy. Maj. Newham consulted
the assistant attorney general, and he
gave it as his legal opinion that ma.
jority vote was not necessary and that
Col. Claffy should be commissioned
on plurality vote.
GAS to Col. Tillman's statement
that made an untrue statement as to
the count I do not think that worthy
of notice, for I feel that the people are
capable of judging of the veracity Of
the two"