The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-09-15
A PLAIN AND SIMPLE STATE
MENT OF FACTS.

County:
II justice to myself | feel call !
Cd On 10 say some things by " ay
Of explanation, regarding some |
jnsinnations against me that have
been currently talked.
Since announcing through the
papers to the people of the coun-
ty that | would not be a candi-
date for sheriff at this election
but that ! would be in the race
two years hence, | have had it
thrust at me repeatedly that !
had been bought off by Sheriff
McNeill, and now that Mr.. Geo.
+. Mcleod has announced him
self a candidate for sheriff | am
faced with the charge that his
announcement is a result Of a
plot between him and me to de-
feat Sheriff Mcneil and for me
to get the Office through Mr.. Nc
Le0d. | feel that such insinua-
tons are too serious to go unnotic-
ed by me; and while | had hoped
to be able to pursue my private
affairs, as the necessity of my
circumstances make it imperative
that | should do, must stop long
enough to say that there is not
one single word of truth in either
Of the above charges.
HOW 1T ALL CAME ABOUT.
While | feel a delicacy in say
ing anything that would sound
like parading nv private circum-
stances before the public-and
this explains why no reference
was made to this in my former
announcement relative to my
candidacy now and two years
from now-permit me to say, that
on account Of a very serious &C.
cident to my wife, and a critical
case Of typhoid fever contracted
by another member of my fami.
y, TO say nothing of my own i'll.
ness about the same time, anC
in view Of the heavy doctors
bills. hospital fees and loss 81
time from business, 1T very great
ly appealed to me when Mr.. r
G.. Lawrence called me into his
Office ana suggested TO me thai
he feared | would ruin myseI.
this time if | ran against Sheriff
Mcneil as he did not believe
could win out over him, and tina
defeat now meant my defeat tw'
years hence and perhaps for al
time to come. He therefore ad
vised me, inasmuch as he felt sur
that Sheriff McNeill would no
be a candidate any more afte
this election. to wait too year
and that he thought it very prob
able that | would have no oppo
sition of much consequence.
say this proposition appealed
me, when / thought of how niue
money | had to raise and Of tn
chance there might be Of defeat
in the event | should attempt tn
race. Especially did it appeal t
when ! remembered that | ha
been told only q short time be
fore, by my friend Mr.. Geo. T
Mcleod. that Sheriff McNei
would be a hard man to beat an
that | would need at least On
thousand dollars to make tn
race against him. 1t appeale
to me again, because, | was n
minded that several, whom | too
to be my friends and who ha
told me that they would suppo
me, had also taken occasion
say to me that my chances lool
ed rather gloomy, and that If
did not announce myself and g
cut and go to work, that | won
be defeated, as I need not expe
my friends to work for me whe
| was not out working for m
self. | explained to them that
thought it a little early in Il
game to make an announceme
as the people throughout t.
county knew me too well to ma
it necessary for me to leave
sick folks and get out to see t
people so soon. In closing n
interview with Mr.. Lawrent
| told him that I would see sol
Of my friends and see what tn
thought about the proposition
Lawrence suggested that |
Mr.. Mcleod. Accordingly we
Immediately to Mr.. Mcleod a
asked his advice, telling him
the mean time that | would I
think for moment of consid'
ing such a proposition withe
first consulting him. He sd
"WellBarker,I hate like the de
to think ahout VoIlr not being