The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-08-17
NEWSPAPER MEN SGARsLE THE
WORDS OF THE ABLE sJURIsT
AND PUT IN WORDS NOT TO BE
.EouNplN TIL E MlsslvE To, SEN
AToR WILEY.
INTERESTING 1D0ggNIE n ]
WAS FIRST MADE PUBLIC IN AD.
DRESS MADE BY JUDGE MASON
BEFORE THE HAYES AND
WHEELER CLUB IN GRAFTON
IN 1875.

d q = .7 -
The recent reference to Judge Goh
as a probable candidate for United
States Senator reviyes an Interesting
event in his history. Thestory ofthis
incident together with statement
from Mai. Armsy, were first given to
the public in an address delivered by
John w. Mason before the Hayes and
Wheeler Club" of Grafton, in August,
1875, when Goff was the Republican
candidate for Governor. The address
containing these letters was publish
ed as a campaign document. We have
been shown one of these old docu.
ments by Judge Mason, copy the fol-
lowing which we publish not as po-
litical items but as the recital OF in.
teresting events in the life of one Of
our most distinguished citizens.
Gen. Gotf was during the war q Ma
ior of the 4th West Virginia cavalry;
on the 29th day OF January, 1864, he
was captured near Moorefield, and
taken to Richmond where he was held
as a prisoner OF war until the Sd day
of NAV. 1864, when he was informed
that he was held as a.hostage for Maj.
Armsey. The first news that reached
Richmond in relation to Major Arm.
sey. was that he was to be shot, and
Major Goff was notified that in case
Armsey should be executed he would
he also. Major Goff remained in this
very unpleasant position for several
days, when he was sent to North Car
olina and imprisoned In the common
penitentiary Before leaving Rich.
mond he wrote the following noble
IefteSs to4s 4seiih oS nj foiEi
Sn Ale III Tie war paftneiit a
washington, and have received and
hold IN my hand an. official COPY;
"CeIl in Libby, Prison;
Richmond, Va, May t6, 1864.
Hon. w. 7. Wiley,
Washington, D. e.:
Dear sir:-on the 29th day Of Janu'
airy last, in an engagement near
Moorefield, w. Va, was captured py
a body Of Confederate cavalry. From
the date Of my capture to the S0ths ol
the .present month was treated as 9
prisoner of war. / was then notified
BY the prison authorities that ! nad
been selected by the Confederate GOV
ernment to be held as a hostage for
Major Armsey, G. s. Army, now helo
bv tho United States. ! was also
placed in a small cell in the basement
of Libby prison.
l would willingly suffer and endure
this torturlng confinement, II thereby
nv Government derived the slightesl
bereft: but to be thus contined-tf
suffer for the misdeeds Of others
without beneficial results to the caust
for which ] contend, is certainly Ver!
CALLING.
Confined In,the small cell that l nov
am with the diet I receive 1t is i'm
possible for my constitution to stant
imprisonment long. Hence, am IN
duced to request that you Will u.s.
your Influence in nv behalf aud II a
all possible accomplish my speedy re
lease.
Major Armsey, for whom am held
| has now Deeu C'oHHuSu "'S ~.
and I understand his case Is not wltn Si
ont extenuating circumstances. Car
not my Government consistently eN
change him for me, and place one Q
Iher soldiers, now imprisoned. IN IN
field, where he is not only willing 6M 6M
anxious to fight her battles ] am WI
ling to give my life to my country o
j the field Of battle; but the slow llt
gering death Of hopeless confinement
and starvation is uncalled for and vol
of glory. !,
May | ask that you will giy~ tn
matter your personal attention. an
il convenient, will you honor me wit
communication upon the subject?
| / am sir, with much respect,
Your obedient servant,