The St. Johns herald., 1897-09-25
COMEDY OF ERRORS.
Governors Atkinson Ot Georgia
 And West Virginia.

EXaminer]
 There has never been any doubt as to the exact wording of the historical remark made by the Governor ofNorth Carolina to the Governor of South Car olina. but the people of two other Southern States are at present plunged int state of uncertainty as to what their own Governors have said and are saying.
 William Yates Atkinson is the name of the Governor of the ancient con- mon veal tn of Georgia.
 George Wesley Atkinson is the name of the Governor of the war-born State of West Virginia.
 l This similarity ofnames has produced sad state of confusion in the minds of many people and especially in the editorial columns of Southern weekly newspapers, and veritable comedy of errors has resulted. The amusing situ- atlon is further complicated by the fact that both of the Governors are married. A New York newspaper recently printed picture of the West Virginia Cover nor alongside that of the wife of the Georgia Governor, duly labeled Cover nor and Mrs. Atkinson of Georgia.
 The West Virginia Atkinson is Re- publican, gold standard enthusiast a rabld protectionist, and he has recently attracted much attention by his utter ioh h; sensational remission of the find of w. Ii. kimes, who has been fined SlO0 for i shooting at man named Ben Hall, who had invaded his domestic circle.
 The Georgia Atkinson is Democrat l6-to-l silver advocate and believer ill tariff for revenue only. He is a gentleman of the old school. who would never thInk of giving aid and comfort ta st,,'-ir~ r-;~o~e who were gathered in lief ... @, the law.
 Both mon have made many public speeches on the nnancisti anu ya4I4. questions. Somehow tbese have gotten hopelessly mixed up in the newspapers The consequence is that remote West Virginia newspapers are calling their Governor traitor to his party, ard prove his treason by quoting the free silver and free trade utterances of the Governor of Georgia. On the other hand, crossroads statesmen and rural editors in the Cracker State, having heard, as they believe, or the financial and tariff heresies of their once beloved Governor, are denouncing him as a turncoat and the perverted tool of Wall Street.
 A Georgia paper friendly to it's Gov ernor in explaining the situation says: l
 "When such things get started in the country weeklies no amount of explan- ation will stop them. They get stuck in the plate matter and patent outsides and away they go."
 Meanwhile Governor Atkinson of West Virginia has followed the Ken l lucky example and come out strong for ! the unwritten law, which demands the l staying of the despoiler of home, and . newspapers are printing with indiffer ence the names of the Governor Atkin- son of Georgia and Governor Atkinson of West Virginia as the author of these remarkable official works:
 This is remarkable case. The only regret in the matteris that Klmes did not kill Hall. He ought to have done 1t. He tried to do it, but his pistol missed fire and he shot at the scOundrel four times and, unfortunately. did not kill him.
 "Every man who has a soul in his body will agree with me that he ought to have killed hlm. Ba'lisy yetat large. He ought to be apprehended and inn prisoned for life. ] hope he will be.
 .Tf the Prosecuting Attorney Of Wood county does his duty he will see that the scoundrel is apprehended, pro- scented and imprisoned for the balance of his natural Ii fe for breaking up . Kimes' home, l remit the fine in this case. and all the costs, with more plea snre than any word that the English language furnishes me can express. "In this case Klmes did what every other man would have done under the cir except that he ought to have practiced with his revolver or double -barreled shotgun, so that when he aimed at the scoundrel Ee would have brought him down.