The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1868-10-15
LETTER FROM Eurus B. ANDERSON

At the urgent and fearful solicitation
Of the mother Of Rufus B. Anderson, ths
young man W no is sentence to death fol
the murder of Noble T. Slocum, at Aus
tin on the 5'h of May last, We publish
the following letter. We wish it to be
understood, that we give it a place in
our columns simply because we canuo,
choose to resist the appeal of a mother
in distress. We have read Mr. Mayen-
baum statement of the case, and bis
exhaustive brief, aad have formed our
own opinion of the matter therefrom
A sense of charity and sympathy, with
a grief stricken parent, alone prompt US
to comply with Mrs. Zottman's request
to publish this letter:
AUSTIN, October 10th.
DEAR SIR: Several days have elapsed
since received your kind letter. You will
please pardon my delay in replying to it, for
under the circumstances it was scarcely pos
sible for me to have written sooner.
Dear sir, you will please accept my most
heartfelt thanks for the kindly interests you
evinced in my behalf during the pending of
my case in the Supreme Court. But words
are inadequate to express the deep gratitude
feel for the kind and earnest advice con-
tanned in your letter; and assure you that
by none could it be mole highly appreciated
than by myself. AMI l feel that it is my duty
to one who has acted as both friend and ad-
wiser to myself and poor mother ia this hour
ha
ments of my heart. In entering upon tine
plain and simple narrative embodying the ex-
PLANTATION of those circumstances that SO
nearly regard myself, | have no power of
language to assist me and no train of wit
nesses to support my assertions, but am
compelled to submit it on my own simple
word, where human judgment is fallible and
where circumstances SO combine and inter-
vene themselves as to lead that judgment to
positive conclusions; the innocence of an
angel may be made to assume the aspect of a
fend's iniYuity. And feeling strong in the
of my innocence feel that l
must assert it before the ignouinous halter
shall encircle my neck. Tho rulings vi the
Court prevented Ine from introducing such
evidence as would have pleaded III extenua-
ton of my crime. A niiuoer of witnesses
were examined in behalf of the State, and
though l admit that the evidence of those
witnesses is strictly true in substance, the
most unjust differences have been drawn from
it. And, Oh the other hand, l most solemn
ly assert that the foul aspersions thrust upon
my self and poor mother by the Prosecuting
Attorney are false, utterly false, in every de
tail. do not seek to palate the enorInity of
my crime by stiginatizing and nuilify ing |
others, but feel that have been most foully
wronged by Mr.. Mayenbaum, and my heart
tells me that in adopting such course he
was not actuated BY any motives of justice.
That in a moment when reason was dethroned
[ committed dreadful crime, none is more
ready to acknowledge than myself; and the
The thought OF that crime weighs heavily on
my soul and has caused me to shed many
bitter tears. Aud if that moment could be
recalled by any sacrifice on my part, God
knows how willingly it would be made. ]
have been declared guilty of the greatest
crime on the criminal calendar: that of
:oolly and deliberately taking the life Of a
human being. But swear before that God,
sho is SO soon to pass final sentence upon
ne, that arm innocent of any premeditation.
70 explain why my mind was SO troubled
when entered the house where Mr.. Slocum
net SO cruel death, would have to pour
orth history Of heartless prosecutions
gainst y poor grief-stricken mother that