Simpson - Thomas C. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Thomas C. Simpson, the Scott Twp school teacher, who figured in the recent sensation there, submits to the Journal the following card: Mr. Simpson to his former Pupils wherever they may be: "I know that you are all awe-struck to think that I am so bad as reports make me. Dear friends, I may be bad but I am no worse than I have always been. I am sure that many of you have had a good opinion of me, and the thought that that good opinion should be so rudely destroyed is the thing that hurst worse than all else. The article that appeared in last week's Journal is partially true. I did not state to Mr. Walkup or anyone else that I would be present at a hearing in his office, but on the contrary I acted upon his advice in not coming. The last thing he said to me at New Market was to give his assent to my suggestion that possibly I would not appear. I censure nobody for this error, you know that people are prone to make mistakes. The article stated that I offered as an excuse, justifying my actions, that I was devotedly attached to the girl, and that my affections were genuine, sincere, etc. This is all true. I have said at all times that my motives were pure and that I intended no evil to anyone. But I had no way to prove the truth of the statement and they would not believe me and consequently I would have accomplished nothing had I been present. However, the young lady, in the presence of others told me that she looked upon me as a gentleman, and that I had not suggested improper thoughts to her. It seems to me that the above is suggestive at least. Does it seem possible to you dear friends, that, having talked and labored with you in idealizing the beautiful lesson in Evangeline, The Great Stone Face, The of the Flowers, etc that I should not be sensible of those lessons myself. Not at all! People will have to have their abnormal appetites for such things as they think they have here satisfied. But I am conscious of having committed no unpardonable sin; if it is a crime to love a girl devotedly, sincerely, then I am a criminal. I realize ...

[sorry rest is gone -- may have to go get the rest of this one]