The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-25
PEOPLES FORUM
DIR. Hatcher Speaks.


Sir,--I have been away from Fork linton ,or
seSeraf weeks and during most of that time
out OF Virginia Upon my return / learned
that unfriendly criticisms OF myself had an
peared In phe Richmond yirginian | deem
IL due. therefore, to myself to make a candid
statement Of facts
oh tne NTH sunday morning Of October /
preached in the Grace Street Baptist church
Oh Richmond. At the close OF the service /
s'af'en To leave the pulpit but accosted
ny gentleman at the head OF the steps, who
engaged me In conversation which while II
touched ON several topics ran speedily to the
hleheson case. at present "A iamentable SEN
sauon In the city of Boston. told the gem
uefnan twice that l would attempt no inter-
Vlew'a that time; but that IL he SO desired
would meet him later and tell him what
knew about the This did. for the reason
that was yet on the pulpit many friends were
pressing around me, and yet more were wait
ing to speak with me before leaving the church
IL was under those distracting conditions that
/ was piled with many questions and ON, ot
my disjointsd and unstudied replies that in
tefView reported In The Firginian, ..solemnlv
ser up IN quotation marks. found its way
W Iie pubic am sure that the gentleman
"Ao unexpectedly thrust me into publicity had
10 - a rtousht OF DONG me an injustice. and /
ioauH! aequie MIN or any such intention
AT the same time candor constratns me- tn
Soy .lat l mad no dream that J. WaS- the victim
VI an interview. and when l my broken
ulteidhceS translated into the reporters dIalaat
reit distinctly uncomfortable / made tha
Istahe' however, OF supposing that the Readers
~ouia prove so expert in the art of translation
mat they would not be seriously disturbed
one of the things which l was made to saw
was that l converted Richeson" I did not
say "a IT, nor did authorize any such statement
IL would be impossible for me to usa such
an expression as applied to myself As a fact
did mention that this young man. while vel
lad declared his faith in the Saviour and
publicly professed conversion during a series
OF meetings held at the Mt Moriah Hautist
church In Amherst county. Va. and that
was associated with the pastor in the con-
duct or those services.
In some way which do not now recall
the reported hrtations OF Mr. Richeson came
INTO the conversation. | said that l would
give scant respect to incidental rumors which
always assailed those who ara suddenly
charged with great crimes as there were al
ways some who are quick to cast a stone at a
railing brother. l said also that | had often
seen courtly and honorable gentlemen md
sometimes ministers. who We're demonstrates
In their attentions to ladies when l was sure
that they were Tree from every dishonorable
thought.
AS for my saying one syllable in justifying
any man in making unmeant declarations Of
love to a woman, not with a view to marriage
but with the shameless intention to wreck
womanhood | never did it; never thought OF
DONG 1t. and feel that 1t Is damnahIe
upon my name. l have not at hand the pane
in which the reported interview appears I
never glanced over it but once and while not
pleased with the way tho matter was stated
by the reporter. / did not believe that he in
tended to make such impression / accept
gladly discriminating criticisms and often
proitted by them, but criticisms intended to
destroy me l neither like nor fear
confess that l spoke alphabetically OF
young Richeson I knew him first while he
was yet mountain lad and a member OF an
esteemed and honored family. Three years ago
was holding revival services with DIR. P. 8.
Henson in fremont Temple, Boston. and there
l met once more young Richeson, who at the
time was theological student In the semi
nary at Newton Centre. Boston. 1 was
out to the seminary for address. and the
young man made himself known to He
attended frequently the services at the tenn
pie. and when / leaving Boston he came
to my hotel, attended me to the train, looked
after my baggage, escorted me to my sleeper
and babe me goodby. should say also that
several times he has written me since, ex-
pressing his preference Tor Southern life in
the event the way opened for him to settle
in hts native State. OF my heart was
warm and grateful TO him. and It was a great
shock to me when I learned OF the grave
charges which had been brought against him
/ said in the talk that had strong hopes that
he might be able to establish his innocence.
Those hopes still cherish. and II he energies
unscathed and justified from the ordeal l will
rejoice with him my brother. That such
will be The result do not undertake to fore
tell. His fate Is to be determined by another
abide, condemn no man unheard. and hope
all things good until the evil comes, / would
not advise a young minister who has been
acquitted by the law, but Vet held under
picton by the public to make haste to
enter the pulpit. If. however. 1t is shown by
Mr.. Richeson's approaching trial that he is
an innocent man. beyond all doubt ana has
been the victim Of grave popular wrong.
I would feel that he ought to stand az he did
before 1t ought not to hurt man to be the
victim Of Injustice IT, however. thu trial Allows
that he Is stained with the double crime with
which he is charged. then he ought to suffer
tho doom OF the guilty. Even then all true
hearted men ought 10 pity him in his down
fall and pray that while he gets Justice at
the earthly tribunal. his penitent soul may
find mercy at the hands of intarceding
Saviour.
made to say that had In mind to
write article with reference To the confes-
sion OF Cluverius. who was executed for the
murder of Lillian Madison did not init
mate In tho remotest degree that Cluverius
made any confession Of his guilt to me.
I did say, however that ! had Inc mind to
publish in book now in process Of prepare
ton something in regard to the religious state
ments made by that young during the
closing days of his life.
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