The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-02
DIR. BROUGHTON EXPLAINS.
Replies to the Attack Made on Him in
the Afternoon Paper.

Replies to the Attack Made on Him in
the Afternoon Paper.
Before beginning his sermon last night
Rev. Len. G.. Broughton made the fol
lowing statement in regard to an article
in the Times Visitor:
Il picked up an afternoon paper here
tonight and found in it a reference to
the fact that some II or 20 years ago
bought watch from Mr.. j. w. Cole,
of this city. and it was discovered that
something was still due on it.
"Of this the paper makes a good deal,
with the evident intention of hurting my
work and disparaging my influence here
at my old home. / have travelled about
a good deal-all over the North and the
West-speaking and holding meetings;
and I've been cursed and abused a good
deal, as well as. blessed and prayed for,
but this is the first time my personal
character hassever been touched or any
thing said concerning failure to dis
charge my honest obligations.
1T seems to me a very unfortunate
thing that Raleigh should have any sort
of paper to thus treat one of its sons
without giving him chance to explain
or defend himself.
II think I can establish what / am
about to say by verbal testimony of peo-
pie here in Raleigh.
1--WE never owned but three watches.
The first was nickel watch given me
by my father The second was gold
filled watch bought of a pawn-broker in
Louisville. The last, and the one | now
have on. is handsome gold watch given
me by friends in Atlanta.
II started out with a nickel watch and
I've ended with fine gold one. That's
the kind of evolution / like.
Yesterday afternoon the bill was pre-
scented. understand. at the house where
/ was stopping. but l was sick and knew
nothing about it until this afternoon
about half an hour before the article
about it came out in the afternoon paper.
Il don't pretend to say there are not
debts of fifteen years standing against
me in Raleigh. / found one only yester-
day ut Edwards and Broughton's. 1t
was contracted when / was Iat school,
time when / was in nee of money.
There may be others. | don't know just
how things stand. But l want to make
this statement: If there is anybody in
Raleigh to whom / owe cent they can
get their money by presenting their bill
to me at the home of Mr.. n. Il. Brough-
ton. where / am stopping.
II remember buying a watch from Mr..
Cole for my brother, who was young
physician just starting out in practice in
Nash county. Sometime ago Mr.. Cole
reminded me of the account but / never
dreamed that the watch had been charg-
ed to me. Shortly after the purchase of
the watch my brother died Never since
then has the matter. that | can remem-
Der, been mentioned to me. I've been
to Raleigh time and time again; I've
held meetings here; I've passed and re-
passed Mr.. Cole on the street, and he's
never limited to me that he had aught
against me. My first notice of it comes
in the newspapers. and | want to say
that | shall take the first opportunity to-
morrow TO settle the account.
Il didn't know soul in town had
aught against me- / have felt compli-
mented by the crowds that have come
here to hear me. but attributed it to no
power of mine but to the fact that | was
aching at my old home.
Though the paper has endeavored to
do me an injury, Pm now done with
the NATTER