LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 284, 20 April 1875, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

A. VINDICATION. To the. Editor of the, Cromwell Argus

Sir,—Your columns of the 6fch instant contained a letter from yonr " own" at Queenstown. That letter libelled me. I awaited the arrival of your issue of the 13 th instant, trusting to see that you had found out that your correspondent had assumed facts, and thereupon slanderous imputations, against myself. 1 had thought that a perusal of the resident Magistrate's Court proceedings in tho Walca'ipu Mail, as well as my own letter in that journal, would have opened your eyes to the harm you M'ere doing me by the circulation of suppositious matter that mah'gned my character.

Your contemporary, the Mount Ida Ohmiicle,

was led at first into giving a circulation ;to false statements about the matter of the malicious prosecution of one Denis Powell. It repaired its error in the next issue by reprinting my letter from the Mail, and that without being solicited to do so. Had it not done me justice, 1 should have written to the Editor of that journal in a similar strain as that I am now indulgingin. Perhaps you may also see the advisability of publishing that letter after the perusal of this one.

I have not the slightest hesitation in: saying that the Press, outside the confines of. this district, have been made the means of circulating unfounded and untruthful statements regarding myself in the case I have above alluded to. Those statements were manufactured to suit a purpose : they were untrue even as 'regards the proceedings of the Bench and the solicitors, except as to the one glarifled by them, viz., Mr Finn. That is, however, beside the question at present, except as evidence Ito show their untruthfulness and, I add a Ivisedly, vindiotiveness. But your " own" correspondent chose to act another rOle. He deliberately ignores the evidence given on oath at the H.M. Court, and accuses me of having forced a quarrel on this man Powell by abusing him ; and then he expresses an opinion that it is very difficult for a man to restrain his hands from assaulting another under such circumstances. In a word, he vilifies me and exalts a publican, auctioneer, or whatever else he may be. He does this, too, in the face of the judgment of Mr Beetham, R.M., who said that the evidence proved the use of vile and degrading language on both sides. Having thus shown that your correspondent has ignored evidence and the record of the judgment given by the Bench, you cannot but allow me to ask you to publish my version of it, and which has been deposed to on oath. I say, then, that Denis Powell accosted ma. I had spoken previously about a gambling scene m his house, in which an unfortunate traveller was fleeced by the aid of falsely marked dice. 1 had objected to the process. Powell, upon this morning, called me over to his door, and asked me why I mentioned the matter to others One word led to another. 1 have lived in the Colonies for years, have heard the language of convicts of a penal settlement, but the vile, hnrnble, filthy language made use of by this " model publican" (according to your correspondent s estimate) exceeded all I had ever heard be.ore. As I was walking away with my hands in my pockets, 1 was knocked down. Ido not say that my language on that occasion was without oaths, but it was not of that degrading nature as used by the " insulted" publican of your correspondent's imagination. Then why also did he fail to record the full verdict of the Court of 40s. damages, and costs £4 10s., which Fowell had to pay. This is clear proof of who was most in the wrong. All the evidence about the dice, etc., was given in an onen Court, and must have been known to your " own."

I have brought an action against Powell for false imprisonment, an 1 am not going to dwell on that subject. I have, however, a character at stake in your own especial district, and in others in which your journal circulates. I have applied for an auctioneer's license, and the apnlication is supported by men of the best standing as well in social as in monetary circles. They, in their own handwriting, testify to my honesty; friends have ral.'ied around me, and I am furnished with ample funds to retrieve a character which never before was impiumed, for honesty at least, however it may have been censured for speculative investments. You will also remember that I have been thrice Mayor of Cromwell, and served your town well and faithfully, and was not afraid of spending my own money to advance its interests. Under these chcumstances, I hope you will at once see that attacks of the nature that have appeared in your journal are calculated to do me serious monetary damage. I look, therefore, for the insertion of this letter in its entirety, and for an explanation in the leading columns of your journal. T cannot afford to lie quiet under such malignant attacks.—l am, Sir, yours obediently,

William Jackson Barry. Qiieenstown, 15th April, 1875.