Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-10-23
From Mr.. G. A. Byers.

lid. Reg,Ster:-In last weeks REG.
IsTER appeared an article entitled
Questions, Answers and Questions, 81
signed by W. T. O'Neal The object
OF the article was twofold, namely: as
an answer to some questions asked
through the Eagle relative to the
political affairs of this county, and as
an attack upon my character for the
purpose OF injuring me in my political
aspirations and thereby beneftiug my
opponent, the author of the article re-.
ferred to. The former will receive due
consideration, but the latter only will
herein be treated. Mr.. O'Neal terms
1t "a fair question" Whether it be
or not, | will answer, and as briefly as
possible.
The attack is made by associating
me with a woman, one Bessie Mitchell
whom, prior to last Sunday, would
have sincerely termed lady in every
respect-one who then to me appeared
as deservative of the title as any wo-
man whom know. Alas! not go now
even to me. IT'S with the deepest
regret-regret the keenness of which
is only known to him who pens these
llnes-that | admit she is not what
women should be. Instead, she, to
me, was as lily in appearances only.
That she was false she admitted to me
for the first time in letter received
Sunday, which was in answer to one
written to her by me last Friday. In
my letter demanded that she bring
suit for libel, promising my assistance
In such a suit, and at the time knew
no reason why she should not be able
to clear herself. The blow caused by
her confession can, therefore, be best
imagined.
As to my knowledge of her and in
regard to her visit to Ironton, will
be explicit and brief. knew her in
Dexter; | met her at the home of Mr..
and Mrs. Metz, a we'll known family.
At this place | saw her on four differ
ent trips to the town from Poplar Bluff,
Mo-, and Jonesboro, Ark l also saw
her on one occasion at her brothers.
home in the same town. The date,
the place, the length and every detail
OF each of these visits can be proved
In court, II need be, by witnesses and
letters. If she left Dexter ..under a
cloud" do not yet know it, nor am |
responsible for it If she did. She came
to lronton and was "called" my cousin,
but never was introduced by me to o
single person as such. When she
came to Ironton supposed that she
came from 3209A Olive street, St.
Louis, where she boarded with a Mr..
and Mrs. Snyder, the latter a music
Seacher. 1t was at this place l had
always called on her and to which
number addressed my letters, after
'he became resident Of st. Louis-at
! time unknown to me. In St. Louis
'he, to me. was an employe in the
iress department at Rarr's. As to her /!
)eing invited to a dance and leaving
ronton before she had intended to, |
will say that both statements are lies.
3oard was engaged, as DR.. Smith will
estify to, for FIVE days. terminating
saturday, but she yielded to persuasion
md remained until Sunday evening. {
Dur trip to Iron Mountain was on one
saturday afternoon, and my conduct
N that trip was such that no lady
ould criticise.
Furthermore, as to my character or !
norality, l will say that am willing :
face, and can do SO without blush, I
ny act that ! have ever committed :
rom the time Of my birth on a farm In I
'ourbon county, Kans., twenty three Z
ears ago, to the present time. III
nyone, man or woman. companion Of
lther sex, In Fort Scott, Kans., st.
ouis. Dexter, Ironton or elsewhere,
no can produce proof that have
YER been Intoxicated, have ever
nowingly visited any resort OF the
ind Mr.. O'Neal mentions on Chestnut
rect or have ever associated carnally
tth the inmates OF such resorts, The
'mpanions In the cases. II either there