The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1899-01-14

| would geU MN PARDON, Dut ME-. lis
J. McLaurin did agree to get up
petition and assist him as best he
could in the matter.
Witness my signature this, the
26th of December, A. D. 1898
his
GEORGE Y SUTTON.
mark.
Witnesses
A. H. BOoTH,
T.. n. SCUDDER.
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this, the Goth day of December, A. d,
1898.
T. V. MoALIsTER,
Notary Public.
Did ever the genius Of Islander
descend to deeper degradation? The
false ex parte affidavit Of an litter
ate, ignorant negro sought to blast
the reputation of the Governor, and
to reflect shame upon every citizen
Of the state. An effort to cut
through the honor and good name Of
The state in order to strike chief
executive who will not bend to the
old lovee ring with it's defaulting
treasurer and absconding treasurer,
and the Y. & NJ. V. R. r. Co.
And yet this is the man who pre-
faced his insinuations against me
with the expression, ct is with pain
and regret that I say ii" Yet this
is the man selected to open the cam
paign against me- not for the State
Of Mississippi.
received this paper and affidavit
Oh the evening of the 9th of Deem
Der, after supper, but was not will.
ing to say that even the spirit Of
malice had sunk so low, on the afn-
davit alone If an ignorant negro, sup
ported though it was by the palpable
circumstances, and | wrote the next
day to DR.. Harris letter calling his
attention to what Sutton had sworn
as to the manner of his possession OF
the paper, and inquiring Of him iii
Sutton's statement in reference to
the way in which the paper came
into his possession" was true, and
what, if anything" he chad to do
with the paper" | will read to you
his reply. Here it is
MoNT HELENA, Miss, Dec. 80, 1898.
His ExcelleHcy, Governor of Missis-
sippi, Hon. A. j. McLaurin
Dear Sir-I have your letter of the
2Sth inst, wherein you advise me
that George Sutton went to Vicks.
burg last Monday, bearing a type
written form of affidavit, with alleged
instructions from me- communicated
through some third party, to sign the
same before magistrate, and that |
gave him or caused to be given him
his transportation. You then ask
whether Sutton's statement of the
way in which the affidavit reached
him be true, and what, if anything,
| had to do with the paper. For an
swer l have to say that Sutton's
statement, so far as it relates to me
or to my concernment in the matter,
directly or indirectly, is untrue,
Your mention Of clerk has led me-
to refer the letter to my son, with
request that he examine his clerks
and submit memorandum of any
thing known to him or coming to
him from clerks relating to the mat.
ter. enclose his reply, which |
hope you may find satisfactory His
statement is fortified in one point
Chat touching the matter Of trans.
portation) by a memorandum from
Mr.. West, bookkeeper, which | en-
close. By today mail l shall send
your letter to Hon. NJ. T. Smith,
with request for Information for your
use, rs to how be obtained the facts
alleged in the affidavit, and ask his
permission to send it to you.
Very truly and respectfully,
GEO. G. HARRIS.
l read now letter which Or. Har-
ris enclosed with his letter to me.
Mt HELENA, Mss, Dec. 90.
DR.. Geo. C. Harris:
My Dear Father am just now in
receipt of your letter asking sons
questions in relation to the matter
mentioned in the Governor letter.
Some time ago-I do not recall the
exact date--I was in the postotfice at
Mont Helena when the affidavit re-
ferred to came to me in large en-
velope having in the corner the ad-
dress of Miller, Smith & Hirsh,
with request for immediate delivery.
l delivered it to Sutton, and at his
request read it to him. He asked
some questions as to how he should
procead / answered saving il was
a serious business and he had better
go slow, and said l did not wish
to have anything to do with it. He
wanted to 90 at once and qualify to
the aiiirmations OF the paper This
/ discouraged.
On Christmas eve he came and
borrowed 81 80 from me He is one
Of a hundred or more who ask FOR
and get small loans for Christmas