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from it； with both or even one door closed； when too late； I saw that I
could not be heard by Sheriff Cummings； and from it； BY VIOLENCE AND BY
FORCE； I was prevented from making a peaceable exit； when I thought I saw
the studious object of this 〃consultation〃 was no other than to compass
my killing； in the presence of Philip Lynch as a witness； as soon as by
insult a proverbially excitable man should be exasperated to the point of
assailing Mr。 Winters； so that Mr。 Lynch； by his conscience and by his
well known tenderness of heart toward the rich and potent would be
compelled to testify that he saw Gen。 John B。 Winters kill Conrad Wiegand
in 〃self…defence。〃 But I am going too fast。
OUR HOST。
Mr。 Lynch was present during the most of the time （say a little short of
an hour）； but three times he left the room。 His testimony； therefore；
would be available only as to the bulk of what transpired。 On entering
this carpeted den I was invited to a seat near one corner of the room。
Mr。 Lynch took a seat near the window。 J。 B。 Winters sat （at first） near
the door； and began his remarks essentially as follows：
〃I have come here to exact of you a retraction； in black and white； of
those damnably false charges which you have preferred against me in that…
infamous lying sheet of yours； and you must declare yourself their
author； that you published them knowing them to be false； and that your
motives were malicious。〃
〃Hold； Mr。 Winters。 Your language is insulting and your demand an
enormity。 I trust I was not invited here either to be insulted or
coerced。 I supposed myself here by invitation of Mr。 Lynch； at your
request。〃
〃Nor did I come here to insult you。 I have already told you that I am
here for a very different purpose。〃
〃Yet your language has been offensive； and even now shows strong
excitement。 If insult is repeated I shall either leave the room or call
in Sheriff Cummings； whom I just left standing and waiting for me outside
the door。〃
〃No； you won't； sir。 You may just as well understand it at once as not。
Here you are my man； and I'll tell you why！ Months ago you put your
property out of your hands； boasting that you did so to escape losing it
on prosecution for libel。〃
〃It is true that I did convert all my immovable property into personal
property； such as I could trust safely to others； and chiefly to escape
ruin through possible libel suits。〃
〃Very good； sir。 Having placed yourself beyond the pale of the law； may
God help your soul if you DON'T make precisely such a retraction as I
have demanded。 I've got you now； and bybefore you can get out of this
room you've got to both write and sign precisely the retraction I have
demanded； and before you go； anyhowyou…low…livedlying…； I'll
teach you what personal responsibility is outside of the law； and； by；
Sheriff Cummings and all the friends you've got in the world besides；
can't save you； you…； etc。！ No； sir。 I'm alone now； and I'm prepared
to be shot down just here and now rather than be villified by you as I
have been； and suffer you to escape me after publishing those charges；
not only here where I am known and universally respected； but where I am
not personally known and may be injured。〃
I confess this speech； with its terrible and but too plainly implied
threat of killing me if I did not sign the paper he demanded； terrified
me； especially as I saw he was working himself up to the highest possible
pitch of passion； and instinct told me that any reply other than one of
seeming concession to his demands would only be fuel to a raging fire；
so I replied：
〃Well； if I've got to sign；〃 and then I paused some time。 Resuming；
I said； 〃But； Mr。 Winters； you are greatly excited。 Besides； I see you
are laboring under a total misapprehension。 It is your duty not to
inflame but to calm yourself。 I am prepared to show you； if you will
only point out the article that you allude to； that you regard as
'charges' what no calm and logical mind has any right to regard as such。
Show me the charges； and I will try； at all events； and if it becomes
plain that no charges have been preferred； then plainly there can be
nothing to retract； and no one could rightly urge you to demand a
retraction。 You should beware of making so serious a mistake； for
however honest a man may be； every one is liable to misapprehend。
Besides you assume that I am the author of some certain article which you
have not pointed out。 It is hasty to do so。〃
He then pointed to some numbered paragraphs in a TRIBUNE article； headed
〃What's the Matter with Yellow Jacket？〃 saying 〃 That's what I refer to。〃
To gain time for general reflection and resolution； I took up the paper
and looked it over for awhile； he remaining silent； and as I hoped；
cooling。 I then resumed saying； 〃As I supposed。 I do not admit having
written that article； nor have you any right to assume so important a
point； and then base important action upon your assumption。 You might
deeply regret it afterwards。 In my published Address to the People； I
notified the world that no information as to the authorship of any
article would be given without the consent of the writer。 I therefore
cannot honorably tell you who wrote that article； nor can you exact it。〃
〃If you are not the author； then I do demand to know who is？〃
〃I must decline to say。〃
〃Then； by； I brand you as its author； and shall treat you accordingly。〃
〃Passing that point； the most important misapprehension which I notice
is； that you regard them as 'charges' at all； when their context； both at
their beginning and end； show they are not。 These words introduce them：
'Such an investigation ＇just before indicated＇； we think MIGHT result in
showing some of the following points。' Then follow eleven specifications；
and the succeeding paragraph shows that the suggested investigation
'might EXONERATE those who are generally believed guilty。' You see；
therefore； the context proves they are not preferred as charges； and this
you seem to have overlooked。〃
While making those comments； Mr。 Winters frequently interrupted me in
such a way as to convince me that he was resolved not to consider
candidly the thoughts contained in my words。 He insisted upon it that
they were charges； and 〃By；〃 he would make me take them back as
charges； and he referred the question to Philip Lynch； to whom I then
appealed as a literary man； as a logician； and as an editor； calling his
attention especially to the introductory paragraph just before quoted。
He replied； 〃if they are not charges； they certainly are insinuations；〃
whereupon Mr。 Winters renewed his demands for retraction precisely such
as he had before named； except that he would allow me to state who did
write the article if I did not myself； and this time shaking his fist in
my face with more cursings and epithets。
When he threatened me with his clenched fist； instinctively I tried to
rise from my chair； but Winters then forcibly thrust me down； as he did
every other time （at least seven or eight）； when under similar imminent
danger of bruising by his fist （or for aught I could know worse than that
after the first stunning blow）； which he could easily and safely to
himself have dealt me so long as he kept me down and stood over me。
This fact it was； which more than anything else； convinced me that by
plan and plot I was purposely made powerless in Mr。 Winters' hands； and
that he did not mean to allow me that advantage of being afoot； which he
possessed。 Moreover； I then became convinced； that Philip Lynch （and for
what reason I wondered） would do absolutely nothing to protect me in his
own house。 I realized then the situation thoroughly。 I had found it
equally vain to protest or argue； and I would make no unmanly appeal for
pity； still less apologize。 Yet my life had been by the plainest
possible implication threatened。 I was a weak man。 I was unarmed。 I
was helplessly down； and Winters was afoot and probably armed。 Lynch was
the only 〃witness。〃 The statements demanded； if given and not explained；
would utterly sink me in my own self…respect； in my family's eyes； and in
the eyes of the community。