davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
JUDGE M'CONNELL'S REPLY

TO My Fellow Citizens of the Third
Chancery Division:
Since my nomination for reelection to
the Office of chancellor, rumors have
reached me of charges, circulated yer-
bally, which reflect upon my private and
official character and which are intended
to injure me before the public. Con-
scious Of the rectitude of my conduct
and record, was content to leave my
life among the people of my division
to answer all of those slanderous
charges. In view of my long public
service and the intimacy of the acquain-
lance with me of my fellow citizens, it
was my belief that it was unnecessary
for me to make public denial of every
idle rumor that recklessness or malice
might invent.
Now, however, many of these rumors
have taken the form of specific charges
published broadcast in the Cleveland
Banner. Many Of these charges are
wholly and absolutely false; and the
balance of them contain hatfield truths,
so distorted, however, as to be equally
as false.
It is my trust that for those who
know me an answer to these half-made
and half insinuated charges, is not
needed. But 1 have that pride IN my
good name and private and official rec
ord, that l am not willing to withhold
from the people who have so often hon
ored and placed confidence in me, a full
answer to every charge and every in
situation, however unworthy the source
may be from which they emanate.
Those who originate and circulate
these ISLANDERS do not charge that | am
incompetent as your chancellor; neither
do they charge that l have ever neg
lected the business of your courts or
failed to do my duty in deciding your
cases and in dispatching the affairs of
the office. They make no complaint or
attack at these points, but they stoop
to strike me where they think my fnan-
cial troubles and misfortunes will give
them opportunity to give me the keenest
hurt.
l will now answer fully and com
pletely the charges made against me.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
DEALINGS WITH LlTIGANTS AND
ATTORNEYS.

1t is charged that l have used the
power of my Office to extort loans
from attorneys and litigants by demand
ing of them a loan Of money while with
holding my decision in cases in which
they were interested and that these at
torneys and litigants have consented to
be thus held up for fear of mourning
my disfavor; that is, under such cir
cumstances have consented to pay the
bride | demanded. This general charge
is sought to be proved by referring to
a loan of $500 obtained by me, but with
out giving the name of the party from
whom l borrowed it or the time when,
or the place where it occurred. As to
this infamous SANDER, l desire to say
a grosser falsehood was never uttered.
More than this, l will add do not be-
lieve there is an attorney in my whole
division who would either attempt to
bride or consent to bride a judge by
lending him money, or by any other
means.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
CONCLUSION.

1he foregoing embraces As far os
KNOW all OF the various and sundrv fsIsa
ana slanderous publications and charoes
Indue against me. l have tried to i've
70 my tellow-citizens a candid staterssa,,t
Oh All the facts and if anything bas bear,
oinnlIIed, 1t has simply been overlooked in
TINS paper. II the same course Of slan-
I I shah De pursued in the future as has
i.e pursued IN the past, l think the pub-
that my opponent has reached The Uc cnIs
clusion that he is willing to resort 10 a.,
means and stoop to any depths. bowe,-os,.
lgnoble, TO further his personal arbft;e.a,
to be the chancellor Of your di vjsin,,
40 not believe that my fellow-citi1o,,,-.,
VIII lndOrse man who seeks 10 coin
the hlgh ONCE Of chancellor by ridins
vi slfr me IlsIortunes which have he
Iallen me by my financial troubles II
S5Onciiusloh, II Is needless to say tbat I
deeply regret the necessity of makin0 fh;s
statement. My whole life has b 80
passed among you and Il has been nv
fortune and my pride to have reca;yaS
many evidences Of your approval ana
esteem. Whether succeeded In era it.'
ing the laudabe ambition Of Atlanta.
some success in the battle Of Iifa -
attaining the distinction Of merit az =
public Official, and Of leaving nv fam
~ with competency when I am zone
this az least / hoped 10 dO-fo IesvinS
character unsullied. a name me- !.
nished and II ssch my enemies con
steal from me BY slanderous falsahooIs
they viii leave me moor indeed O.,
scious Of the reCtitude and integrity ~
my motives. since the question M 49,
raised. I am glad 70 submit Il III vor
my felloW-citizens. nv neiehhorr ana ne
irienos. II. n. MCDOWELL.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
SWAPPING JUDGE TRAINOR.

In 1894 my opponent was a candidate
for circuit judge. l was a candidate
for chancellor. The counties of his cir
cult composed part of my division.
He had republican opponent. l did
not. He was defeated. l was elected.
| understand, whether correct or not
do not know, that he now charges that
| snapped him off in that election.
There was no necessity on my part
to do any swapping. The republican
voters had no candidate of their own
party to vote for, for chancellor, and
could therefore vote for whomsoever
suited them best, without fear. of ad-
verse comment from their party asso-
GATES, and | am very proud that A
large number of them had confidence
enough i'll me as a Judge to cast their
ballot for me. But il it is charged that
l traded off my present opponent to
secure their votes it is an unmitigated
falsehood.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
DEALINGS WITH CLERKS AND MASTERS
OFFICIALLY AND PERSONALLY.
First.

First.
1t is charged that [ borrowed money
from the various offices of my clerks and
masters. admit 1 owed money to the
office of the clerk and master at Chat
tanooga. deny that l owed money
to any other Office and this fact is shown
by the records in my bankruptcy case
in the federal court here. The debt in
question is not an original loan made
to me while chancellor
1t is the renewal of a loan made to me
before l became chancellor. For the in
formation of those not familiar with the
circumstances under which clerks and
masters lend money, l beg to make this
explanation; from time to time clerks
and masters have funds in their posses
sion, the distribution of which must wait
on litigation. Under the law. it becomes
his duty to lend the same at interest to
solvent borrowers, giving good and salts
factory personal security. Prior to the
time | was appointed to the bench, in
1891, l, complying, as other borrowers,
with the above conditions, borrowed the
money in question. My note with the
sureties thereon, was not only regarded
good by the clerk and master, but would
have been accepted by any bank in Chat
| tanooga. Hence, when / became chan
cellor in 1891, | owed this amount or
more, to the office Of the clerk and master
at Chattanooga. Then came the panic
of 1898, and the long period of depres
sion that followed. During this period it
| is well known history that many of the
best men, business houses and banks of
| this country went to the wall. Had the
! clerk and master pressed me in this
would have succumbed. and under the
| conditions then prevailing, doubtless a
| large part of the debt would have been
lost. As already explained, / sought ex-
| tension of this debt as | did my other
| debts. i renewed this debt from time to
| time, reducing it whenever l could. In
| April, 1901, was forced into bankruptcy.
| As soon as | was given my discharge /
went at once to the court house and re-
| signed those notes. Within a few weeks
| thereafter, by pledging my salary and
| through the kindness of friends, l raised
! 5000, which / applied on those notes.
| The amount of the notes was thus reduced
| from 7,395.99 to $5,170.47, the last
amount being the sum l now owe this
office. This debt is secured not only by
my own name and that of sureties, but
has attached thereto stock collateral Sc
| curity which is in itself worth more than
| the debt in question. These are the cir
cumstances under which the debt was
made and all the facts connected with it.
l regret, indeed, that / owe this money to
the office. but l have not only done all /
honorably could to protect it, but I assure
my friends it is protected and that every
cent of it will be paid I wish to add that
| from the time Mr. J. b. RapOn FIRST he
| came clerk and master at Chattanooga,
in 1888, to the time he retired from Of
fee, in 1901, a period covering not only
the collapse of the boom in Chattanooga,
but the panic of 1893, he loaned from his
Office over 100000 without losing a sin
gle cent, nor will the loan to me be an
| exception.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05

and checked out gradually through some
months and by some oversight of the
bank these taxes were not paid. As
already explained my trustee has paid
these taxes iii full.
Second.
1t is charged that when the matter of
the taxes due by my estate was inves-
tigated in the bankruptcy court, the
back tax attorney testified the taxes
had not been paid and yet his records
showed plainly where credits had been
made and then erased; that this same
back tax attorney is now deputy clerk
and master of Hamilton county. The
evident meaning of this charge is that
the back-tax attorney and myself had
entered into some fraudulent conspiracy
either to rob the state of its Just dues
or TO procure for me with impunity a
further extension of time in the pay
ment of my taxes, and that | had re-
warded him for his part in the crime
by procuring his appointment to the
Office of deputy. Both Of these charges
l denounce as absolutely false. In the
first place, the party in question was
not the baek-tax attorney. He was the
deputy of the circuit court clerk of
Hamilton county. In the second place.
my first information that any such en-
try or erasure had been made came to
me when | was examined by the bank
ruptcy court. l had absolutely no
knowledge of such before that time.
Since that time | have ascertained the
entry and erasure occurred in this man.
ner: l had given the county trustee
my note for taxes of a certain year
which | promised to pay at certain
time and which l did pay as promised.
The back-tax books for certain years
We're then in the hands of the deputy
referred to. The trustee reported to the
taxes as above indicated. The deputy
mistook the year for which the taxes
were paid and thus made an incorrect
entry in his books Shortly afterwards
he discovered this mistake and he al
once corrected it by erasing the entry.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05

First

It is charge that owed taxes to the
amount Of $500, and the charge is
made in a way that insinuates the false
hood that the state and county and city
would lose this amount and other tax
payers would have to bear the burden
Of the loss. Ny taxes yearly were about
$500 to $3.50. The amount unpaid
represented my taxes for one year and
q half only, and was all a lien on land.
There were some $500 other taxes due
through no fault Of mine. Money was
borrowed on the property through bank
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
A DRUNKARO.

1t is being circulated that l am a
confirmed drunkard. All men who know
me at all know the absolute falsity Of
this statement. never felt the effects
Of whisky but one time in my life and
that was in 1864 when carried from the
battlefield at Winchester, Va, whisky
was administered to me 10 revive me
from the shock Of she'll wound Thought
by the surgeons at that time to be fatal
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
Third.

1t is charged that a clerk to whom ]
am indebted neglects his Office and openly
boasts that cannot remove him because
owe money to his office. Nothing is
given to indicate the party referred to. If
! owed a cent to any clerk and master S
Office when l failed, except to the office
in Chattanooga, l was and am wholly
unaware of it and the schedule of my
debts as proved shows the charge to be
false, and the charge being a falsehood
in part, it is legitimate to presume that it
is false altogether.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
second.

It is charged that borrowed money
from individuals holding the office Of
clerks and masters. admit that Dor
rowed money from some Of them as in
dividuals and 1 have yet to learn that it
is a crime for one friend 10 borrow money
from another, and il any. Of them have
ever complained or blamed me in my
misfortune, I have yet to learn OF it, ex-
cept from the charges Of my opponent
and from the untruthful record he has
made in his charges against me. / must
ask for better proof before / viii believe
Il.
The insinuated charge that have ever
directly OF indirectly used ANY means or
given any intimation or said any word
further than a simple request 70 induce
any such individual 90 loan me money,
Is a shameless falsehood.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
TRADING ON FEES OF OFFICE.

But the meanest and most contempti-
BILE Islander and falsehood of all is that
required Mr.. Ragon when clerk and
master to give me a part of the fees
of his Office. 1t does seem to me thaC
having exhausted the powers of imagina-
tion to blacken my character and to bring
me into ignonomy and shame, they might
have spared Mr. Ragon. He, at least, is
innocent of the crime of running for
chancellor against Judge Traynor
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
OTHER CHARGES,

The above constitute the charges made
against me in the Cleveland Banner.
But that paper says there are other
grave charges which are openly being
made against me, and, in Chis, that
paper is correct. Other grave charges
my opponent or his friends are making
against me and such as l have heard
will now answer.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05

in God and the hereafter, and in an hum
BILE way, / have done what | could to
contribute to its support and encourage
ment. In the building Of one church
of this county, gave $500, 10 another
$50 and to many other churches l have
church in this city gave 500. Ger
tainly this is not the action Of scoffer.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
A GAMBLER

1t is also said 1 am a gambler. /
have played cards for amusement all my
life, having learned 70 play from my
father when a small boy at home, but
the charge that / gamble is untrue and
is false as the heart Of the man who
tells ~
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
A Sc0tFER

II Is charged that I am a scoffer and
that on one occasion In this city I treat
ed a Cumberland Presbyterian minister
with disrespect and made light Of his
religion. I never did such a thing In my
life have the highest respect for
religion as must every man who believes
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
Fourth.

Neat the erfent of ny failures snd
the ertent Of the loss sustained BY ny
creditors.
It is true that my liabilities exceed
$4,000 as charged. It is not true that
my creditors have received OF viii re-
ceive "only 10 cents on the dollar"
turned over to the trustee all Of my
property, property which, / assert. at
a fair and conservative estimate Of
value. e now in excess Of my liabilities
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05

Full and Manly Recital of the Facts Leading up to His
Bankruptcy Proceedings which we're Forced
Upon Him Over His Earnest Protest-Re-
assumes Obligations with Ample Sc
curity after His Discharge from
the Bankruptcy Court.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
CHANCELLOR uCCONUELL answers HIS TRRDUCERS. >

Him Com,cs
o hM
h ta Cruel Islander,
nsHgae
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
MY FINANCIAL FAILURE.

It is set forth that during the last
twenty years L have received at the
spublic crib over 100000, but not
withstanding this 'princely income"
have creditors in the sum of $4,000
and more whose debts 1 have asked the
bankruptcy court to pay.
In connection with this the words are
put into my mouth, Let the people pay
their taxes into the comptroller's Office
to pay my salary and will receive the
emOluments of office and refuse to bear
its burden" Thus am | charged either
with fraudulently Withholding from my
creditors that which is theirs, or with
having wasted and squandered my sub
stance at their expense. Each and all
of these charges l deny. l declare them
to be absolutely false.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
Fifth.

But my answer to the charges jusr
referred to would be incomplete did l
not again refer to the charge which has
been paraded in glaring headlines that
my family and l have enjoyed a prince
ly income at the public's expense" have
already specifically set forth my income
from 1887 to date and the sources from
which it came. 1t is only necessary for
me to refer to items in che charge which
| have not yet mentioned First, it is
directly asserted that thirty years ago,
was made clerk and master at Chatta-
nooga that l held this office for zen
years, and that during this time l re-
ceived an annual income from the office
OF $4,000, making a total of 100000.
Ibis charge is a falsehoOd to the extent
OF more than two-Chirds of the amount
stated. My income from the office dur
ing that time, after paying Office ex-
penses, did not exceed an average of
$1,000 year. This fact could have
been easily ascertained from the records
OF the office, if the real facts had suited
the purpose of the publisher.
In this same statement Of items Of
prlncely income it is stated that Mr..
Erwin as clerk and master &C this place
of 5000 a year.
The fact is Mr.. Erwin was not APP
pointed until March. 1901 He has held
Office for only one year and the records
Of his Office will show that his income
will not exceed $1,000 after paying Of
nee expenses. In fact, most Of his fees
will not be payable until some time in
the future and the actual income received
by him during his fiscal year will hardly
exceed $1,000.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
second.

That the falsity Of the remainder OF
the above charge may be best under
stood / desire to briefly explain the
canses leading to my financial failure
and then the extent Of that failure and
the extent Of the actual loss my credit
ors have sustained, OF win actually sus-
tain.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
First.

It is true I have suffered reverses,
that have met with financial failure,
and now that I have reached the de-
clining years Of life. when men most
hone for and need a competence, l am
without means. But poor as l am,
deny that / sought bankruptcy. l was
forced into bankruptcy against my will
and over my most earnest protest and
after / had done all in my power to
nrevent it. This fact is well known to
every lawyer at Chattanooga; it is
shown by the record Of the federal court
here and Il could have been ascertained
by the slightest Investigation.
Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-06-05
His Course Honorable and
Fair in Every Particular
The Fasi Of the Charge that He Had
People and then Refused Pay Clearly
His Competitor, in whose Behalf these Charges
Trumped Up, of nsnceriy-A Statement
Every Citizen Understand

at a public sale will bring this much
nor that it will bring so much if forced
upon the market, but that, according
to the usual methods of fixing values,
namely the price obtained where the
purchaser is able to buy and wants to
buy and the owner wants to sell, this
value is in excess of the extent of my
liabilities. The trustee appointed by
the bankruptcy court has been in charge
OF my property about a year. When he
took charge, l was owing ab0uC two
years of delinquent taxes; also some fire
insurance. These were under the law
preferred claims, and have since been
paid in full out of my estate. | also
owed some debts secured by collateral.
These debts have been paid in full by the
creditors in question taking the collat-
eral at its agreed value, Forty thousand
dollars (S4O,OOOJ of my debts have been
paid by sale Of the Mcconnell block to
creditors. This property is an Office
building on Seventh street of this city,
distant from Market street, the main
thoroughfare 100 feet. 1t cost me in
1884 and 1886, $4,000, when the CITY
had a population of only $4,000. Later
| refused $4,000 for it. 1t paid me
from 1886 to 1890 a yearly rental of
5000. / think today it can be fairly
said to be worth $4,000. In the same
way, other property of my estate has
been sold. thus liquidating $4,000 ad-
ditional The report of the trustee of nv
estate shows that during the past year
he has paid off in cash and with prop
er1 over $4,000 of my liabilities and.
in ldition, has paid off in cash, a large
p" of the court and other expenses in
c It to the administration of this trust
pay the remainder of my liabili-
5 still outstanding. the trustee still
IS in hand for this purpose property
which has been appraised at S16.967
and, in addition, 1892 interest in 1900
acres of Cumberland county coal land
of which the title to 10000 is believed
to be good, The above facts all appear
from records in the federal court at this
place and can be easily verified by any
| one.
The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-11-21
The Official Canvass.

The county board of canvassers COM
pleted its work Tuesday. Their figures
show the following pluralities:
Governor, A. T. Bliss, 553.
Lieut.. Gov, Alex. Maitland, 1886.
Secy. of State, Fred NJ. Warner, 1472.
Treasurer, Daniel Mccoy, 1454.
Auditor Gen., P. F. Powers, 1906.
Atty General, G. A. Blair 1458.
Supt. Public Inst, Delos Fall, 1923.
Comr. Land Office. E. A. Wildey,
1851
Members State Board of Education,
p. H. Kelley. 1854, l.. L. Wright, 144S.
Justice Supreme Court, w. L. Car
penter, 1853.
Congressman, J. w. Fordney, 1876.
State Senator A B. Cook, 1856.
Representative, G. A. Ward, 532.
Sheriff, d. j. Gerow, 1879.
Clerk, J. Y. Martin, 1869.
Treasurer, A. H. Northway, 1858.
Register, j. d. Royce, 1910
Pros. Atty, A. E. Richards, 773.
Circuit Court Commissioners, N. r..
Walsh, no opposition, w. j. Parker,
1893.
, Coroners, H. L. Monroe, 1850, R. T.
Bruce, 1907.
Surveyor, E. F. Joslin, 1914.
The vote upon the constitutional
amendments was as follows Indeter-
inmate sentences, yes 1850, no, mi;
relative to publication laws, yes, 1896,
no, 2173.
The official canvass will be published
next week