The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-05
Card from Lewis P. Williams.

Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Kindly allow me space in your paper to
contradict an article that appeared in I'll" Scrali-
tonian OF Oct. 81, right which was refused me
by that paper. ! deny that Mr.. Conncll or any
OF the Conncll faction ever gave me a cent for
printing or distributing the circular named in
that article. challenge any one to prove that
l am connected with Mr. Connell. This circu.
lar business is from wrong done me by the
mill | arragn. Fellow workmen, in orlcr to
remove doubt from your minds As to whether
Frank Spencer has uni,lstly grabbed my property
and holds it today, will give the facts and you
can Judge for yourselves.
In 1892 ! bought this property on Jackson
street from Mrs. Mott, contracting for house and
lot at $,50O, agreeing to pay $500 per year
Tia, | paid ior iour wears. Sl,2N. did not
borrow any money TO purchase this property
/ lived in the houS" for four years, paid, IA
stated above, &l,200. ON the original contract
| pulled down the old house and built a block
On February s, 1897, | borrowed about $26 or
s.. 700 from Mr.. Spencer. That time Mr.. Spencer
requested me to bring to his attorneys office
my old contract, that | paid $l.20O on, and
turn the contract over to him. His attorney
drew new contract up on the following con
ditonS: That ] was to pay 1850 per year
and me receive thc rents, $2S 4 month. The
contract was drawn by Mr.. Spencer's attorney,
Horace F.. Hand, myself and wife signed same
agreeing to pay SEQ per year. The attorney
stated that lie had not time then to give me
a copy oi tic contract, but that he would send
il to me in the course OF a lew days lie gave
me temporary lease for that time and when
he would send me the contract, WAS to return
the lease.
This was February s. 1897. From that day
to this l have never received the contract.
have tried many times, but always have been
put of. Can you credit thisP It's true and
to my sorrow, that's part Of what Spencer
has done to me; kept my contract and then tho
property. In April, 1897, ! moved away to Key.
scr avenue, not driven away as the SGrantonian
says | was. As evidence, ! rented the houses
and collected rents from Feb. s, 1897, until
July, 1897. The Scrantonian says l collected
rent for tour years, when it was not four
months. In August, 1897, my wife and myself,
in the absence Of Mr.. Spencer, who was in the
South at this time, turned the rents over to
Miss Barclay. Spenccr's sisterin.law, to collect,
with the understanding the rents were to be
applied on the mortgage as per contract,
Spencer has collected the rents from August,
1897, until now, at the rate Of S278 yer pear.
Ny contract calls for $500 Now Mr.. Spencer
knows that he has no $500 mortgage on that
property. have offered Mr., Spencer s2,7oO, not
as a bluff, and sent man to appraise the prop
erty Spencer wanted 80. 600 for y, 700 nnd three
years rent. l made him another offer OF S2,7O0
cash and man to go my bond. That he would
not accept
Friends, foes, fellow workmsn, citizens and
voters, I ask YOU all to pas your judgment on
the facts mentioned herein ] stand ready to
say also prove, TO the public the truth OF these
statements, and challenge any one to contradict
them. Also, to show you that ! am not q
deiamer Of an honest mans character, but an
honest exposer OF a man who is running for
public office and whom ! consider not a 1t
and proper person to hold Office.
Yours truly,
Lewis p. Williams
Scranton, Nov. 3.