The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1902-09-12
A Letter 10 the Publie

LtllcI 10 Inc Public
The object of this letter is twofold
namely, To state briefly, first, NV atti
tude towards Mr. Joel Hillsman'
connection with the unfortunate occur
renee at the Normal School a few week
ago; and secondly, the motives thai
have prompted me, after prolonged i'm
VestigaliOn ana most careful consider
alton, to retain him in my employ
ment The first of these may be dis.
pensed with by simply stating EN-.
phailcaIly what Is already generally
known, that no one shared To a great.
er extent than ! the general feeling of
Indignation rightly evoked by tins
dissacefu affair, and no one was more
eager than l 10 see the proper punish
meut inflicted upon those engaged
therein. But the second requires more
consideration. At the time this offence
was committed Mr.. Hillsman had been
iu my employ about ten months. He
had long since proved himself TO be n
young man of exceptional business
qualifications. His character was
above reprOach; his honesty and truth
fulness unQuestlOnable; his industry
and faithful attention 10 business most
satisfactory and striking. In short.
he had every qualification TO merit the
unIeserved confidence of his EMPLOYER
and this | extend him without hesita-
ton or doubt as To the result. As
would be expected, then, was dumb
founded when | learned from his own
lips OF his participation in a deed so
contradictory 10 the nature of one
d "a
gentlemanly qualities as he. NV first
impulse, of course, was to ask for his
immediate and unqualified resignation.
but tins he volunteered without the
asking. lie realized the seriousness of
ms act from the 6rst, aud even his
harshest critic must admit that since
that time his earnest endeavOr to make |
every reparatlon in his power for this |
deed Of violence has been highly credit. |
able and most commemorate. His |
humiliation and sorrow for this thought |
less act-which / am satisfied was |
prompted by no malicious intent
whatever-have been most pathetic.
So earnest and sincere has been his
effort aud desire to wipe out this single
stain from his character, and TO be
given an opportunity TO prove him
seifstill worthy Of the public confidence;
50 fearless his courage and so honorable
his action 10 face the world squarely
ana confess his deed, in the midst of
and remOrse. and in the
lace of ruin, trusting simply and sole.
~ 20 the mercy and fOrbeaTance Of the
public to give him a chance TO live
down this misdeed and prove himself
a man OF character, that /, for one.
could not withhold my admiration.
Now, then, in the face Of such facts /
a. these, when thus young man has re.
pented Of his deed thousand times
over; when his demeanOr has since
been honorable in the highest degree; !
when every opportunity TO make re-
laration has been eagerly grasped;
when his humiliation and bitter re- I
morse have been sObbed out in comfort. !
ess tears Of repentance, and when he
'leads to the bar Of public justice to be
hown no greater mercy than a mere |
nance to prove himself man, | say
a the face of such facts as these, shall
he sentence Of the public, with whom +
le rests his case, be mercy and justice, l
II shall unfOrgivlng prejudice rule, and
stfacism and ruin be the portion of q
nan deserving help and sympathy ? u
lie stands before his accusers awaiting 4
Is sentence. "He that is without sin \
mOng you, let him cast the first .
tOue.n
As for myself, | am more than will
lg to keep him in my employment, b
nj To eXtend 10 him helping hand. n
therefore, ai,er consulting the majority -
our leading and most influential i
len, both Of the town and country, and al
he highest in authority at the Normal il
choOl "a regard To this matter, and
avlng been unanimously advised to
IKE the stand have, it gives me great la
easure TO announce that Mr.. Hills "
IAN will remain with me, in order 81
nat he may prove 10 the public what
tanner Of a man he is, and his II
attitude for the kindness shown him M
this matter is only exceeded by his
'rr0w for his deed.
1 earnestly solicit the continued oil
'ironage and support Of my friends, al
'th ia the town and country, in my or
Tort To rescue a deserving man from NJ
m aud ! bespeak for you, one and ~
henceiOrth the same courtesy and 10
'pect that have always characterized TO
" place of business. Respectfully iii
Ibmltted, w. p. RICHARDSON.