The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-10-24
To the Citizens of
Spotsylva MIA County.

While my home was under Ire W y she d
uw Oi death its-lf md my children dan
gerousIy -ich, aud ! myself, confined to
my bed with an aillcuOn which rendered
me unable TO do or say anything, h. ii.
DeJsrnette, Esq published a card and
announced his candidacy for the Attor'
ney for the Commonwealth OF this coun-
~, and rumors were set ailoat which ]
did not have and could not have he op.
portunity To d,ny Even now ! am
suffering from the effects Of my own ex-
IRENE illness and sad Bereavement under
which have been called to pass AT the
same time, think il due my sell aud my
many loyal friends that should make re-
ply to u ,eht lengthy article written by
Mr. DeJarnettelorl the purpose Of inducing
some people TO vote Tor him, Tor II should
ne remembered that this article was
written by Mr.. DeJarnette, not for the
benefit Of the people Oi the county, Dut
On,y in order To damage Inc la my candl-
dac, he was moved from selfish motives
aud not for tue public gOOd, iihe had not
b,r n "A candidate his card would never
nave been written.
am charged by MIR. DeJarnette with
not acting well my part ~ Common
Wralth's Attorney ana also with the fur
Their charge that II had acted well my
part TX Clerk uri-mond would have had
sufficient safeguard thrown around him
u have prevented the conditions in the
Clerks Office which Nj DeJarnette and
others ascertaned and reported to the
Court
lie charges To- my account aud seeks to
make il appear that | am To be held re-
-pOn-ible Tor all Of the derelictiOns on the
part Of our late Clerk prior to my ap.
pOintment 60 the Common wealth sAttor.
neyship. This of course IL absurd bnt not
more so than all the other statements OF
my opponent; il have erred at all in the
performance Of my duties ~ Common
wealth's AttOrnty OF this county il has
grown out Of the fact that upon my in
formation Of the management OF the
Clerk : oih,e placed implicit confidence
in Clerk who had been repeatedly elect
ei without opposition TO that office. and
in whom the bench. the bar and the peo-
pie oi this county, including +. III. De
Jarnette himself seemed TO have a like
n
my report ~ Attorney for the Common
wealth shows that did all that the law
OF Virginia required of me as such in re.
gard To the Clerks Office. ! will not go
into details mnntely 10 prove what
have herein said good. think the recent
investigation Of the CLERKS Office, signed
by the Committee OF which Mr. DeJar
nette WAS one folly vindicates me ia this
regard.
Now to 80. 2of Mr. DeJarnettes grave
and serious charges against me. have
Of on heard Of "a drowning man catch
log At straw This PIG lARN which
Mr. DeJarnette makes part OF his in
dictment is case tn the point, only be
got hold of the wrong end Of the straw
for In that matter | hsve no apologies
u maze Or excuses to offer. settled a
very Doubtful ease between two very
highly respectable neighbours in the inter
est Of peace and good order, and | sup
pose that there's nOta Common wealth s
Attorney in Virginia who has not often
done the same thing without any viola
ton whatever Of bis duties a. an officer
Nov, in conclusion, desire TO add that
iimy opponentcan by proofs before either
court or jury show that the taxpayers
OF this county have lost one dollar by
any Official omission or commission OF
mice pledge myself to put one hundred
dollars 10 it, place.
no lIE yOTERsO or >Pur-NLvANfA cOrNTN
Believing that have faithfully, and,
trust, efficiently performed my duties by
you, my county aud my state, A. your
attorney for the Commonwealth, | ask
At your hands q r. election.
Respectfully.
lie j. Graves.