Sunday Washington globe., 1902-06-15

statement from which we quote only an
opening paragraph or two:
I'm the SUNDAY GLOBE of June there
appeared, over the signature Of Albert M.
Raymond, a communication addressed to
Commissioner Ross, in which occur certain
statements which, in justice to myself as
well as to others concerned, feel it to be
my duty to deny. Were Albert M. Ray
mond as well known to the people of East
Washington generally as he is to the writer
OF this article and few residents of this
section of the city whose attention has been
called to the record he has made during the
past year or two, any attempt to refute his
statements would be wholly unnecessary.
Unfortunately his true character is not
known, and hence, as a means of checking
his false and slanderous accusations l ask
you, not without reluctance, for sufficient
space in your paper for this communication
MY acquaintance with Raymond began in
arestaurant where he posed as the man who,
on several occasions had downed the District
Commissioners 1 saw him often after that,
but felt no particular interest in his alleged
attainments as an official pugilist. once
employed him to draw up deed. For
which | paid him ten dollars / subse-
quently learned that a hundred honest men
in town would have done it for half that
sum- But that is neither here nor there; /
merely mention the matter as an item in
the general count against this man who has
made his living by means which fairly
we'll kept conscience would repudiate.
Tin his letter to the GLOBE Raymond
says, referring to the erection by me of a
frame building at 7I8 Nineteenth street,
which ] deemed necessary in the conduct
an
something rotten about it, and possibly /
told you that when I asked Luscombe how
he managed to inclose It with a frame
building he replied; II kept the inspector
drunk until l got it up, and after that he
was afraid to squeal." denounce this as
a falsehood of the whole cloth variety
Raymond knew when he made the state
ment that it was untrue-knew that it was
simply link in the chain of blackmail
which he has been forging in East Wash
ington for months"
Mr.. Raymond has evidently read the very
lengthy reply of Mr.. Luscombe as may be
inferred from the following letter to Com
missioner Ross, which he heads An Award
of Vengeance
WASHINGTON, D. c., June Z, I902.
HON JOHN w. ROSS:
DEAR SIR: Find inclosed clippings of a
libelous article published over the name Of
c. r. Luscombe which you know are alb
solutely false. The article savors of con-
spiracy and is, apparently, the outcome of
his interview with the major few days
ago. The manner in which the majors
name is suppressed throughout the article,
even to the extent of substituting Colonel
Biddle's name for his own as being the one
who tore the regulations from the permit,
not only betrays a guilty conscience, but
desire to avoid Suspicion that might result
in saddling responsibility for Luscombe's
act upon himself.
'rhe whole article is based upon the plot
ting and planning between Captain Cross
and Luscombe to which I recently called
your attention. as having taken place in the
latter's shed when, as then informed you,
se promised to Exit with the major to allow
him to write the matter up and assured HIM
that, what he would do to Lieutenant Daley,
Williams and myself would be plenty
Now Mr. Ross what could be clearer
evidence that Cross fixed things with the
major to do as he threatened than Lus.
combe g vile article scandalizing Lieutenant
Daley, Private Williams, and myself by the
most malicious falsehoods ever uttered. If
a house should burn down on a day in the
future set by me, it would be no clearer
evidence of knowledge of arson than this
carrying out of his threat, through Lus.
combe, is evidence of his having planned
the article, evidently fe-zOgfiteH By another
person. And I want to tell you, Mr.. Ross,
as one who claims 20 be an attorney, that If
the circumstances leading up to this maliei-
GUS publication, were as well known to a
jury of any twelve sane men on earth, as
they are known to you, they could not fail
to convict Major Sylvester, Inspector Ash
ford, Captain Cross, Roger Williams, and
others Of conspiracy, in aiding and abetting
Luscombe, by encouragement to commit
this malicious offense. Indeed, sir, would
consider you some kind of a fool if yon
could not see that the whole push expected
TO pull ont of this thing with their tracks
covered by making scapegoat of their dark
skinned Italian dupe.
Possibly you are aware of the fact Mr..
Ross that I have been resident Of the
District since 1869, and almost continuously /
so for the past twentv.six years. line up
with its oldest inhabitants and ] defy your
character wrecking chief to show that dur
ing my long residence here / have con.
Quoted myself otherwise than as a law /,
abiding citizen, without so much as a scratch
against me in the way Of a misdemeanor
much less a charge for crime, therefore I
do not have to submit to the vile treatment
of which / am being made a victim by your
spiteful, dalfe chief and other unprincipled
understappers Of the Ashford type.
Here is an uncovering of the plot, here |
is the award OF vengeance held out to Lus.
combe, provided he would publish the IN
famous article subieeting the writer to pub /
lie hatred and derision here is a confession
from his own lips-a confession, the truth
Of which cannot be doubted, considering
the drift Of events, and his anxiety to avoid |
being enforced to comply with the law re.
garding his gasoline engine
A few days before its publication, Lus- /
combe passed my wife and I on his bicycle /
and as he Stacked up he drew from his I
pocket some manuscript and with vain
glorious flourish and the look Of a demon
he shouted This is what does you up with
the Commissioners Ashford and the major
told me that after this is published your
name willbe mud and that they win allow