A NECESSARY EXPLANATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 183, 10 July 1869, Page 4

A NECESSARY EXPLANATION.

lx the A eivs of Saturday last appeared the most singular composition we have hitherto met with, even in that paper. We shall content ourselves with giving a positive contradiction to it as a whole ; as, however, it contained a personal attack on the proprietor of the Express, Mr. Johnson wrote the letter below on Tuesday last, requesting to know on what authority the statement was made ; but, since no reply had reached us late last evening, we feel compelled to publish it in self defence ;—- Express Office, July G, ISG9. “Srn, —I have not been accustomed to notice your frequent attacks on the /‘J.vpress, considering them as beneath my contempt, but when you publish such malicious falsehoods as the personal attack upon myself which appeared iu the Aenw, of July Mnl, i feel it a duty to myself and family to do so. “Tiie article in question states that ‘Fires occurred twice at the Express Office, and the party chiefly concerned stood despairingly wringing iiis hands and shrieking for help, which luckily came at last and saved his premises from destruction.’

“ This statement, as you must be well aware, has not even a shallow of truth to justify it, since 1 was never concerned in a (ire in my life ; and tiic nearest approach to it was about two and a half years ago, when my brother’s chimney took lire, in the premises belonging to Mr. Alexander, but even then 1 was not aware of the occurrence until some two hours after all was over ; and so far from ‘wringing hands’or making any demonstration, I may add that, although at the timo everything on the premises was mine, and duly paid for, L have never exchanged a word with my brother on the subject, so lightly did I regard it. From others I learned how bravely he mounted to the top of the ridge by the front window, and put out the lire. How he succeeded in reaching the roof is a mystery to me, but that would not lead one to suppose that he ‘ stood despairingly shrieking for help. ’ “As, therefore, the whole story is such a palpable lie, 1 must beg you to inform mo upon what authority you stated it, and trust you will sec the propriety of giving such explanation as you may be able without delay.- I am, &c., “Samuel Johnson. “Mr. T. W. Millington, “Aha-.s- Ollice.T^^