1857-06-08-New York Herald-Letter from W. I. Appleby

Letter from W. I. Appleby, of the Mormon Church.

New York Herald, 8 June 1857, p. 8, col. B

Letter from W. I. Appleby, of the Mormon Church.

'To the Editor of the Herald.

New York, June 6, 1857.

I perceive in the Herald to-day the following article:--

A Mormon by the name of W. I. Appleby, Clerk of the Supreme Court, was the author of several letters sent into the States and published, which pretended to give a correct account of affairs in Utah during the many charges made against Young and his followers, and signed "A Gentile."

His communications are not reliable, as he is one of the principal men in Salt Lake city devoted to the Mormon church, and all his pretensions of being a Gentile were humbug.

Who the author of the foregoing article is I know not, neither do I care, but I pronounce it an unmitigated falsehood in relation to my writing any communication signed "A Gentile," in reference to affairs in Utah.

I left Salt Lake City last April, one year ago, arrived in the States the last of May following, and have been in the States ever since, a good portion of that time in New York. I have never in my life written a single letter from Utah to the States in defence of Governor Young or any one else "pretending to give a correct account of affairs in Utah," neither have I since I have been in the States, only one to the Washington Star last June, in reply to Col. Benton's remarks made in St. Louis, wherein he attacked Gov. Young and the gallant Col. Steptoe. My name was signed to that article "W. I. Appleby, of Utah," and not "A Gentile," neither have I ever signed "A Gentile" to any article I ever wrote. I write no article to which I am ashamed or afraid to sign my name.

Neither am I "one of the principal men in Salt Lake City." While I was there I generally attended to my own duties, and minded my own business, and did not meddle myself concerning the affairs of others.

I have been associated with the United States Courts in Utah ever since they were first organized there, and am pretty well posted up in relation to all the officials that have been there, and the course they have pursued. And I am at the defiance of all the calumniators of Utah and the Mormons to produce one thing, in truth, derogatory to my character, either while I was in Utah or since I have been in the States. I challenge the liars to face me if they dare. It is true I am what the world calls a Mormon, and rejoice in it, and do not care who knows it.

By giving the foregoing an insertion you will much oblige me,

W. I. APPLEBY.