Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-08-07
Communicated. }
Mr.. Melvin's Statement.


Mr.. Melvin's Statement.
Editor of Evening Capital:
regret very much TO be drawn into
a newspaper controversy about any
matter, but in justice 10 myself feel
that now | ought 10 say something
from nv standpoint in regard % the
recent occurrence between DIR. GeorEe
Wells and myself.
NV entrance into the Office OF the
Clerk of the Circuit Court on FRIDAY
afternoon, the day the affair happened
was solely on business with the once
A short time previous thereto, now
eyer. my attention had been attracted
To a statement in the Baltimore sun
attributed TO DR. Wells, and IN which
NV name was used as scounsel 10 the
Supervisors of Election, which state
menl astonished me on account or It's
being so VIGOROUSLY incorrect IN SO lar
as il referred TO the Supervisors anu
to myself, as is shown by the RECORDS
In the Supervisors office. This state
ment was that charges had been pre-
ferrde against certain election oinclais
byEDr. Wells and Others but that the
Board of Supervisors upon the advice
of the counsel, Mr.. Ridgely +. Mel
vim, positively refused TO entertain
them - Whereas. il is an unquestion-
able fact, aud a matter Of record, that
in every case where charges were pre-,
ferred notices were duly sent out ana
day set for hearing OF SAID
charges. at which hearing Or. Wells
himself being present nearly the whole
time, the charges were July cohsla-
cred The Board Of Supervisors de-
lea aud altar tina
charges had been entertained, that un-
der the law they could not be sustain
cd.
There is a vast difference between
entertaining charges and sustaining
them. could not believe that Dr.
Wells had gone out of his way 20 have
published a statement so manifestly
unfair and incorrect concerning one
from whom he has always received falr
dealing both personally and as coun-
sci to the Supervisors. Therefore,
when incidentally saw him III the
Clerks office Friday inquired wheth-
or he was the author OF that state
ment, hoping TO hear that it misrepre-
sented him lie instantly fiared up
and i'm an angry tone, altogether UNI
called for, declared that he was.
then told him it was very unfair to
me and to the Supervisors, that IL was
untrue and that, as he had gone out
of his way to have it published, 1t
was deliberate falsehood. While L
was thus addressing him and being
practically forced TO the climax by his
malignity, Dr. Wells SIS manner changed
from that of a merely angry man TO
| that of one highly excited as well.
On the other hand, it instantly occurred
| to me that perhaps / had gone too FAR
| in some waY and must retain my com
posuTe in order TO avoid disgraceiul
scene. at the same time resolving to
resort TO no violence, especially IN
view OF the fact that DR. Wells is a
man nearly three times as old as my
| slef anu no larger. l consider that
| physical encounter between us would
| necessarily have resulted to his disad-
| vantage, perhaps seriously.
Under the circumstances, therefore,
| refrained from Tetaliating, when
DIR. Wells laid hold upon me. and said
| that l would not strike him, but would
| leave the Office for the time being
| without resistance. | realized, of
| course, that the office was a public
one and that had right in there on
| business, but at the time it was SIM
| ply a question of an actual rough and
| tumble fight, with all the regrettable
| consequences or temporary submission
l in order to avoid no telling what.
| There was one thought that certainly
| never occurred to me ana that was that
/ myself was in the slightest danger
physically My concern. rather, was
for my antagonist beg to state fur.
| Their. i'm justice to myself, that | am
absolutely and entirely free from any
/ fractional entanglements, aud that both
| privately and as counsel to the Board
of Supervisors. my sole endeavor has
| been, and will he, to follow the
straight path of duty irrespective of
the effect of my actions upon any par
ticular faction of the party. l am
constrained to say, in conclusion. that
DIR. Wells recently formed luminosity
towards me is largely due to his
chagrin at my not uniformly and al
ways acting in accordance with his
own political views and desires, as
counsel to the Board of Supervisors,
no matter whether l considered his
views right or sometimes undoubtedly
wrong ana contrary tolaw.
RIDGELY =. MELVIN.