The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-11-29

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hand" |" carefully punctuated. The following
is a copy: fis'i 'ai6,mlL'si.-H','I"1 E :
s''''A'2 sa' FlREBAuGH's FERRY, Oct. A. sd
>" MRS. HooD:-My dear and only friend now
in this country:
-sT4ASi have not been allowed the liberty Of
seeing You, | have been allowed the liberty
OF. writing you few lines, as I have bnt 4
few moments to live. / am at a great loss
for something oisay. / have been most foul
ly betrayed. Bill and John have told things
that never took place. l am accused Of ey-
cry robbery that has been committed fort
past twelve months, which is entirely false.
never have committed but, three highway
robberies in my life-but still I am to blame
and my late is sealed. am to die likes dog;
and there is but one thing that grieves me.
and that is the condition Of YOU and your
famiiy Probably 1 have been the instru-
mentality OF your misfortunes. In my last
moments will think of the many fayors YOU
have done me, and if I had fifty Kingdoms
to present, you should have them all. But
alas am poor and my fate is sealed, 7
would like to give you some advice, but you
mignttnink me presumptuous. What would
say Is this: That you had better send the
girls to San Francisco to the Sisters of Char
lty There they will be educated and taken
care OF. Tell all the girls farewell: and tell
them to be good girls, and to be very partic-
ular to whom th,y pledge themselves for life.
All the money | have is ten dollars, which I
have given to Mr.. Chism for Sarah. If YOU
ever see Edward S., tell him my fate. / must
come to close, for the hounds are thirsting
for my blood. .'z. 7''FsT'
f,s... Good bye, forever, ia9-.
''' THOMAS j.. BELL.
The old woman to whom this letter was
addressed, was formerly landlady of pub
lie house, on the Sacramento and Nevada
road known as the Usage Ranch, alias Bog
Ranch, and had been living with the robbers
through fear, as she says, for some time
Her three daughters, aged respectively 9, II,
10, were also IN camp-activc, smart looking
girls. When Farnsworth was arrested. he
inquired what they intended to do with him.
They are going to take you out sharplyre-
tieing you?': -. - d 4a't'F
Bell also wrote the following letter to his
mother, directed to Rome Post-O Office, Ten
nessee: so ia saoi''Eroa s.t.-.,.....,.
'f- NJ San JOAQUIN, Oct. 4, 1856.
i DEAR MoTHER:-As am about to make
my exit to another country, take this op-
portunity to write you few lines Proba-
bly, you may never hear from me again; If
not, l hope we may meet where parting isno
more. u. -oG ' t.. ...t...,. -t..
lr my prodigal career in this country, I
have always recollected your fond admoni-
tons, and if had lived up to them, proba-
bly, would not have been in my present
condition; but, dear mother, although my
late has been hard one, yet have no one
to blame but myself Give my respects to
all my old and youthful friends. Tell them
to beware of bad associations, and never to
enter into any gambling saloons, for that has
been my ruin.
If my old grandmother is living, remem-
Der me to her; with these remarks, I bid you
farewell forever. 'a rig ..
Your only boy, TOM.
Bell stated that he came to this country
in l349, and went to Mariposa, where he
found a rich claim-that he gamb'e ed off his
money as fast as he made it, and finally found
his claim exhausted and his pockets empty
at the same time-that not succeeding in find
irg another claim, an old Texan by the name
VI " hCys PiOpoScu W SlCdt " lOt Oh mules
belonging to some vaqueros in that neighbor-
hood. To this he consented. They stole IL
head, run them to Nevada and sold them for
a good price. Success in this undertaking
induced them to repeat the experiment.
About this time the Mexicans raised the flag
at Sonora, after which Bell said he looked
upon that race as common enemies, and lev
led contributions on them whenever opportu-
nifty offered He said that at this time be had
not the most distant idea that he would ever
be induced to rob his own countrymen. He
was afterwards convicted in Sacramento for
grand larceny, and sent to the Penitentiary.
tie made his escape in company with Bill
White and others. He gave his age as &c.
When taken he said his life was worth moth
ing to him. ''-'- '--.i.
He was generally calm during the hours
OF his confinement, conversing freely and Of
ten with a smile on his countenance. Just
before leaving for the gallows, he drank to
the health of the party. expressing the hope
that there was no personal prejudice that in
duced them to execute him. Under the gal
lows he prayed fervently.
Bell was man of easy and pleasant man
ners, and had been educated with view Of
be coming physician. eafs 91o}e
AT the outset he stated distinctly that he
had no revelations to make as far as others
were concerned.