The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1916-08-18
HON. HAYES LEWIS
DENIES Cats CHARGE
His Robust RecklessnesS of
Statement Again Ex-
emplified.

On Wednesday Mr.. Knott branded
another of Cats malicious false
statements by publishing a letter
from Hon. Hayes Lewis, U. S. Inter-
nal Revenue Collector, and which de-
MES absolutely that there was any
foundation in the Cats statement
publicly made at Madison and Lake
City. The following is Mr.. Knott's
Wednesday statement, together with
the Hayeys Lewis letter:
Mr.. Knots Statement.
To the Democrats of Florida:
On yesterday I exposed to the peo-
pie of Florida the malicious Cats
Sturkle frameup and l here again Of
fer further proof that the speeches
which Mr.. Cats is making in his pres
ent campaign as an independent can
didate are packed with falsehoods.
In speech made at Madison the
last week in July he stated in sub
stance that he was convinced that L
had knowledge of tampering with
ballot boxes in Madison county for the
reason that in an alleged interview
between myself and Mr.. Hayes Lewis
at Jacksonville, Mr.. Lewis had &C
cused me of sending telegram to a
certain South Florida attorney, pre-
meaning Sturkie, to the ef-
feet that he need not do any more
down there, that l already had enough
done in West Florida; that / at first
denied sending any such communica-
ton, or having any knowledge of
such communication, but afterwards |
in this conversation, admitted the
whole thing; that Mr.. Lewis thereup-
on became indignant and said: damn ,
you, get out of my office!"
Cats Lake City Speech.
On Monday night, July 81, Mr..
Cats in his speech at Lake City, re-
terated practically the same thing.
The substance of his speech here be-
ing that in an interview between Mr..
Lewis and myself, Mr.. Lewis told me
that he understood that / had sent a
telegram to some attorney in South
Florida, to the effect that such at
,orney need not do any more down
here, that I had had enough ballots
changed in West Florida; that | at
irst denied any knowledge of such
telegram but afterward admitted the
whole thing; that I then broke down
and cried and asked Mr.. Lewis not to
rive me away; that he, Mr.. Lewis, be-
,ame indignant and ordered me out
If his office.
In a statement issued to the press
lnder date of Monday, August 7,
branded these statements of Mr.. Cats
IS false and malicious. I now have
he following letter from Mr.. Lewis
n which he also says that all such
statements are untrue.
What Mr.. Lewis Says.
Jacksonville, Fla,
August IA, 1916.
Hon. w. V. Knott,
City.
Dear Mr.. Knott: 1t has come
to my attention that certain re-
ports are current of CONVERSE
ton between you and myself at
nv office which, if not set
straight, might do an injustice to
both of US.
want to say to you, therefore,
as YOU of course know, that our
whole conversation was pleasant
and such as would occur between
anv two gentlemen over bust
ness or political matter, and that
such rumors as of your being Or
dered from my office or of hav-
ing broken down and cried, or
confessed to me having sent any
telegram or letter looking to or
suggesting the change in any bal
lots or suggesting the perpetra-
ting of any specie Of fraud, are,
of course, untrue.
| Just wanted you to know that
this is the way | feel about it,
and with kind personal regards,
| am,
Yours very truly,
(Signed) H. H. LEWIS.
Shameful Spectacle.
1t is a shameful spectacle that a
nan who seeks to occupy the high
,lace of chief magistrate of this great
tate, finds it impossible for him to
onine himself to the truth.
To the Reverend Mr.. Cats | would
ay, "Be sure your sins will find you
'ut."
Respectfully,
(Signed) W. V. KNOTT.
Her Means