Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-22
DISLOYALTY ALLEGED
SOCIAL WAR STIRRED UP IN THE
SOUTH OVER JUDGES WIFE.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, July pa duel mar
rowly averted, former friends turned
strangers, two factions in the United Con-
federate Veterans and the United Daugh-
tiers Of the Confederacy at war are some
results OF charges Of disloyalty to the
south made against Mrs. T. J. Latham. a
Memphis society woman, by Gen. II. A.
Tyler Of Hickman, KY.
Gen. Tyler, commander-in-chief OF the
Forrest Cavalry Veterans, charges that
Mrs. Latham. wife of Judge Latham, was
a sympathizer with the Federals and that
she was never escorted to the Canadian
line under q guard of negro soldiers. as
claimed by her. These charges were made
in a circular in the form Of a letter ad-
dressed to Mrs. w. A. Collier, a Memphis
social leader, which was distributed among
the delegates at the recent state U. D. C.
meeting at Columbus, Tenn, and at the
Richmond Confederate Veterans reunion.
at the time. but recently became public
property. 1t was then that. acting upon
the request of the Sarah Law Chapter and
Mrs. Mary Latham Chapter. U. D. c., a
committee of seven Confederate veterans
was named to investigate the charges. Mrs.
Latham was first president and organizer
OF the Sarah Law Chapter and Ia now Its
honorary president. The Mary Latham
Chapter was named in her honor. She has
also been president Of the state U. D. c.
1TOD1uK OuOcT OAmCuALACS
This committee pursued its investigations
under difficulties as Gen. Tyler refused to
appear before 1t, charging that its members
were chosen so that his evidence would
stand no chance and that under the rules
of evidence, as drawn by it, the Lathams
were required to prove nothing, while he
had to prove everything.
mass meeting adopted the report Of
the majority Of the committee-four MEM
bers. This declared that the charges had
been made because Gen. Tyler had been
misled by statements OF others and that
the charges were abundantly disproved,
but Gen. Tyler was not censured. The
minority report simply stated that its sign
ers, two members Of the committee. could
jority.
Many personalities were INDUCED in, and
one statement. issued by Mrs. Latham
came very near causing duel between
her husband and Col. w. A. Collier. Con-
federate veteran, prominent in business
and social life.
A Sneak and a Coward
Col. Miller objected when Mrs. Latham
spoke of the author OF letteB to Gen.
Marcus Wright at Washington, D. c., as a
sneak and a coward He at once wrote
a letter to Judge Latham, saying among
other things: Il am personally responsible
for what my wife says or does. 1 assume
you are personally responsible for what
your wife says or does. l therefore de-
mand that you publicly retract these state
ments."
This letter was carried to Judge Latham
by j. ]. Williams, former mayor of Men,
pitts; DR.. G. b. Malone and 7. B. Collier.
In his answer Judge Latham stated that
inasmuch as he had been assured Mrs.
Collier meant no offense to Mrs. Latham
he "cheerfully withdrew this statement"
This proved satisfactory to Col. Collier
The first real outcropping Of trouble came
last year at the Forrest reunion in Mem
phis. Mrs Latham was told she would