Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-11-05
A pITEoUs SPECTACLE.

PHI EOO0 OFEGt AOl~L.
In our last issue we unmasked the
editor of the Statesman in the matter
OF his accusations against Mr.. Burns,
late a surveyor of roads. In his is
sue Of Tuesday of this week the said
editor endeavors to sneak out Of the
predicament in which he had gotten
himself by claiming that the editor Of
the Herald, Mr.. L. c. Gerling and E.
w. Van Metre 1--WE quote from the
Statesman verbatim)-
.'All three informed us, without so
licitation, THAT THE CHARGE WAS
TRUE. THAT THE MAN WAS PER-
soNAL FRIEND or OURS AND THAT
HIS NAME WAS john BURNS. "
The following note explains itself:
MARrINsBURG, w. VA,
Nov. 2, 1898.
EDITOR HERALD: We notice in
the last issue Of c. W. Boyer's paper
the claim that we told him that Mr..
Tohn Burns was the man who pur-
chased a COW with a road order Of $50.
We want to say that the allegation IS
absolutely untrue We never told
him anything OF the kind. 1t is
Simply another of Boyer's infamous
lies.
TSigned. i. w. VAN METRE.
l.. {. GERLING.
To which we wish to add, as stated
last week, that we had no knowledge
OF the identity OF the individual re
ferred to by the Statesman until Mr..
Burns told us that he was the man
against whom the accusation rested.
Now, if Boyer's statement is true
why did he not defend his personal
friend2 Why did he keep quiet until
after Mr.. Burns had come to us and
after we had cleared him of the charge
of theft made and published by Boyer
Why did he tell Mr.. Burns that the
Herald had made the charge-had
published Mr.. Burns name to the
world as a thief-when our files prove
the contrary? His explanation fails
to explain.
Having tried to squirm out of the
one scrape and evidently seeing that
he hid ANONYMOUSLY failed, this sweet
scented political retormer that he is
comes prancing up with another;
that the man who did buy $he COW
with the order is a Republican, a
'hinchman of the ring.
But like a prowling cayote he snaps
and runs, failing to disclose the name
of the alleged "hinchman. Were
there spark of manhood in him he
would name the mar whom he brands
as a thief and see that he was carried
to justice. Brought face to face with
his detestable inlquities, having in
augurated a campaign OF SANDER and
falsehood, it seems his only hope Ct
success is to continue pell-mell to
perdition.
He will meekly swallow this just
as he did the hauling over the Goals
Ludl OuGIlu Olullu gave nm q n"
days ago, when he was told to his
face three different times that he was
a liar and also that he was no man If
he did not resent it. When one falls
so low in the scale of morality as c..
w. Boyer has fallen, there is no tell
ing to what depths of degradation he
will descend. He stands at the bar
OF public opinion, tried, convicted,
condemned. Posing as a molder of
public opinion, as an instructor of the
young in matters touching their eter-
nal welfare, we can imagine no more
piteous spectacle. A reproach to
journalism, blot upon the escutcheon
of fairness and honesty, disgrace to
his party and the community in which
he lives, much as he has maligned
us, it is with sadness we expose his
misdeeds. Our only reason for so do
ing is the duty we owe to the public
and those whom he has attempted to
traduCe.