The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-11-07
RESPECT rid
TO AssAILA!IT 8
Editors q Telegrapn.

Editors of Telegram
You well know (and well deserve9
reputation for fairness and justice
in striking contrast to the notorious
/ w unfair attitude of the Daily n Jews,
makes me confident that you VIII
! give space in your widely read paper
to the following letter That low Dem
ocratic sheet with an apology to
! that. partly published in the lower
regions Of building in Glen Elk
| in its Saturday issue made an tn-
warranted and untruthful attack up-
on a negro police officer and two
citizens of the same race, one of
whom is the undersigned.
The statement as published in the
News was tissue of lies ably 90
written by one evidently well yersed
in the art of lying, and published
with malice and forethought."
Probably I should preface my
statement of the facts in the case
with an apology to those Of my
friends who know the character of
the sheet, for having read it, or, af-
ter having read it, for paying heed.
to its rawlings, but shall crave par
/ don on the ground that friend. called
my attention to the article referred
to and I simply take notice Oft and
reply in defense of an officer who
has made one Of the best records
ever made by an officer in the history
OF the force.
On Friday night last, accompan-
led by friend who had with me
me witnessed the performance at the
opera house, was passing through
Third street and in the vicinity OF
Merriman's store, encountered a
group of young men, probably five
or six in number. We were discus
sing the play when our attention
was arrested-by vile language eyl-
IDENTITY addressed to us by one of the
men. He was intoxicated, and by
the wav. seemed to be the only one
IN the crowd in that condition. We
thought for moment that we must
be mistaken. but looking around saw
that the ruffian had advanced few
feet and was addressing us. Still
unwilling to believe that the strang-
er (for such he. proved to be) meant
his insults for ms, we returned. and
asked why he insulted us. He did
not disclaim any intention insulting
us. nor did he apologize, but inter-
iected two or three coarse jests and
evidently seeking to provoke a quar-
rel. At that juncture his compan-
ions turned and left him, moving
away fifteen or. twenty feet, one or
two of them tolling us as they left
to Fpay no attention to him as he
was drunk"
I have never yet learned that
drunkenness was an excuse, or rea-
son. for insulting peaceful citizens
bent upon their own business, so we
went in search Of an officer and
found Mr.. Lewis. To him we made
our complaint and he placed the
man under arrest. He was charged
with drunkenness and disOrderiy
conduct. and before Mayor Shields
in the morning he confessed to be-
ing drunk, but denied being disor-
DERBY. 7 appeared against the
prisoner and the mayor believed my
statement. Thank God the News
editor is not the Mayor! And |
think the mayor should thank God
Just as Previously that he is not as
small as that same editor. The
News stated that S'Harkness-the
man arrested-was not near a
drunken condition" Hardness con-
fessed that he was drunk. Which
one lied? The News also stated un-
truthfullv that the negroes were
drunk. The inference is that if a
colored man resents the insults of a
ruffian, in the opinion of the News,
he must necessarily be drunk-ol
insolent. The law is for the equa.
protection of all, and he who APP
peals to the law for that protection
to which as a citizen he is entitlece
rather than engage in street brawl