Apologizing for any misunderstanding, Holly Springs councilman Knox Jeffries explained Monday that he 'merely misspoke' when he called African-American councilman Isaac Witherspoon 'a dumb, spear-chucking porch monkey' during a Mar. 10 meeting. 'I can see how my remarks could have been misconstrued as offensive, but I can assure you they were not intended as such,' Jeffries said. 'I am sorry for any hurt I may have inadvertently caused Ike, a fine, law-abiding Negro.' Jeffries then extended an olive branch to Witherspoon, inviting him and his wife to his home for 'a whole mess of collard greens and cornbread.' 