Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-20
EXTRAORDINARY LETTER FROM A MUIR


Ira Stout who was convicted at Rochester, New
York, of the murder Of his brother-in-lsW, Titles
has written most extraordinary letter to the editor
of the Rochester American from which we make the
following extracts:
.sThe trial is past. 1t is these terrific ordeai9
that either sweep the immortal mind from its proud
throne and crush it in the DUST or else call forth
Sc vast energies to meet the killing storm, with
= seas which nothing can oveFturn / arose 70
NM II verdict aud sentence with cool, de-
.oeen;roJ rss, 'uliOn to stand unnoved though II
.wrnng the life blood from the neart Ihere ms'
no visible emotion to shC 'ne .bo,
in and the immense audience >~4sN ~ y -, into-
tbe passiouless exterior simply COM 81
noI .9onv of which no mortal man can .ssrin con-
ceDtion Il was terrible illustration how mS0n
5r NAV hear when supported by ell the philosophy
and sel Control he possesses. To young man the
startling Observation-Disclosures all his orllhSn'
hopes and ambition, ell his powerful attachments 10
earth. ana not only his put the love, hope ana III
,I ;sb IN sneak of Titles, but can berdly tnd
- IN NV heart to make war upon the dead. Bad Is
/ be vas' bitterly regret his death; but the ae9u
nv. - never he recalled His connection with the
FAMILY made me his friend and defender and acieu
tovord him like man and brother'-l thougnS ms
youth and ineEperience would cover nutA'uue u
80 md though his conduct had been outrageous,
81 no was more worthy Of being pltied and ASSISTED
! ;ber condemned and avoided. ip o4F HFsE lhtet-
- he rebssYsad TO me the Wretcheq drama o. MS
| ifs and nerheps an better scqusipted with him
than anv one but find It difficult to speak Of him,
simplv because feel DO disposition oopea record
of disease and degradation. When ne married
sarah she was mild and beautiful pure ana inno-
oant uuskilled in the fOlies and batteries OF the
/ World and if placed under the control OF man OF
! sense she might have been moulded into model OF
/ domestic beauty. God alone knows what she has
| suffered from this unhappy union
| "Littles would return trom MS grunKen orgies
| and vithout the slightest cause abuse woman he
had ssoredy sworn love aud protect, in the most
! brutal and disgusting manner. The old Rochester
oi contans the final result Of his inhuman conduct
IF ba and mother and little Oh arey we're discharged
tn morrow it would be just and hnnorsbis pBoceed
inr and bitter as 1t is, l am ready to otter up my
life as a ransom for their liberty. Ihat l lelt
brotbers sympathy for Sarah, in regard to her
wrongs. is to- true That my heart sometimes burst
with indignation, is equally true. And II there IS
q spirited brother in Christendom, who will stand
Uassiyely by and see his sister abused he ought to
be carved into cubic inches and fed 70 the dogs My
attachment to Sarah is simply brothers loye-the
unrest and hottest man can conceive She possesses
the faults and frailties Of woman but no matter
whether right or wrong she is still my sister, and
II ismv sacred duty to defend her, as long as the
power of action remains.
81 do saw most decidedly, man who will abuse a
| pure and beautiful Woman-a man VINO Will slIlAe
! her-I say from the bottom Of my heart, he is not
ft IN live know, as the district attorney would
saw this is showing motive, pretty strongly; out
while see how much circumstances are against me,
will saw it is purely Impossible toF me TO hght or
nure anv one unless placed in desperate position,
| where reason and self control are suspended. My
fuure hopes were too bright land other hopes than
mine rested on my aeione, my judgment and reso-
linton we're too strong, and understood my sltua-
tion too we'll, to engage in any transaction which
would involve me in difficulty, unless became the
victim of an accident Perhaps the pubic may
shortly he iDfored of that most singular combination
of circumstances that led to that unhappy eollslon'
which not only sent Titles to horrible death, ou
| fear he will drag another after him, who, DO
believe deserves better fate. There IS power Tor
usefulness in me, if only have an opportunity for
development, and I appeal TO the heart OF each
reader if he does not fairly and candidly think l
migbt he nut to a better use than hanging. do not
wish to shoE coWardly tenacity for life, but cor
slider it my right and duty to live as long as can
HProm The time l entered the city of Rochester up
to this terrible accident my course vas onward and
upward I knew that my reputation must be raised
and supported by my own industry and ability, and
nv DAYS and nights we're spent IN the most labor
ious study, and in trying to elevate myself IN the
! estimation of sensible men and women
81 ask those who visit me to speak to me as they
ould to a son or brother; and, above all, to remem-
Der ne and mine when bowed before the Throne OF
Mercy and pray that we may meet In that bright
world where care and sorrow never come.
| MARION Ira Stout.
Rochester Jail, May 4, 1858"