Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-06-06

morning has attracted my attention. You will
hnd It In the fourth column Of the first page
under the headline, "Can This Be TrueY" 1
should be glad to confer with you before answer
It. Yours faithfully, WILLIAM T. JACKSON.
The item in question was short and
read as follows:
CAN THIS BE TRUEf
correspondent has sent the following note to
us, and 1t lDms to call FOR a reply from Mr.
jackson at once. Without any information on
the subject we cannot answer the query, but we
hope, for the sake Of q man who Is generally re-
spected, 1t is not true.
To the Editor Of The Republican,:
SIR-Can you tell me whether the William
Truesdale Jackson who has been nominated by
the Democrats for the responsible position of
county Judge Ii the same William Truesdale
Jackson who deserted from the Second Mnssa-
chisetts infantry the night before the battle Of
Gettysburg, and was condemned by q court mar.
tial 10 suffer the penalty Of desertion in the face
Of the enemyi If he is there are old soldiers
enough hereabout to snow him under on election
day Yours. REPUBLICAN
Mr.. Gardiner finished his breakfast
with light heart and made his way
down to Mr.. Jackson's house. He never
doubted for a second the squire had pre-
pared positive denial of the story, and
he found himself wondering with a
vague curiosity who the deserter could
be. Entering Mr.. Jackson's house he
found that gentleman in his library
After greeting each other Mr.. jackson
picked up half sheet Of note paper and
handed it to his friend. On it Mr.. Gar
diner read:
To the Editor of The Republican:
SIR-In answer to the query contained In your
columns this morning permit me to inform you
that am the William Truesdale jackson who de
serted, not tho night before but two nights before
the battle Of Gettysburg from the Second Massa-
chusetts infantry, and who was subsequently
condemned TO the penalty OF the military crime.
My reasons for that act were and are personal TO
myself. Ihave only to add that although was
then mich younger than l am now and with
much less experience than now have, would
were placed in the same position today again
desert before night had fallen. I remain sir
your obedient servant WILLIAM T. JACKSON.
Mr.. Gardiner looked up, his mouth
shaping itself for the hymn tune, and as
he looked faint wave of color for a
moment rose to the 'squires cheek.
you are not going to send this, l
hope" said Mr.. Gardiner.
Most certainly am. If my fellow
citizens choose to honor me with thei /.
suffrages, they shall do so with no false
pretenses on my part"
But, my Gear 'squire"
''The thing is true; why should deny
it,"
There is no use Of denial Let it
alone, say nothing. and there is not a
man in the county who will believe it.
Mr.. johnson smiled somewhat sadly
my friend" he said, "a suppressio veri
will not help me In this matter. 1t is
better to tell the truth; better, because
it is right, and better policy as we'll It
is easy to identify me with the deserter
in fact, have no doubt this has been
done already. But even were it not,
were that paragraph the last of it, now
the question has been raised could not
consent to be silent"
But the ticketr broke in the unhap-
py chairman.
II think it would be better that re-
Sign"
mot for moment. That would be
absolutely fatal But squire, if You
must acknowledge 1t, why not tell your
reasons for leaving the service? I'm
sure they were good ones Then it
would be all right. But that note is so
curt: it flaunts your desertion in the face
of men as though you were proud of it;
it fairly defes all public opinion"
81 am proud of it. sir, and thank my
God that he permitted me to desert"
broke in the lawyer in his deepest tone,
through which there rang an accent of
strong emotion "But neither to you
nor any other man living will tell why
deserted. 1t must suffice you that
did, and have never regretted it. Un-
derstand me, Mr. Gardiner" and as he
spoke the faint color once more showed
itself. II know as well as you the dis
grace which attaches to the name of a
man who deserts on the eve of a great
battle. know he is called a coward
and poltroon. am of no sterner stuff
than other men. and it has required all
the trust have in One who is wiser than
| to make it clear to me that the burden
was laid on me for some good purpose.
II have thought that perhaps some
other way might have been found and
have been spared, but it was not to be.
| do not regret the act, but mourn over
the necessity for it. My name as a man
is as dear to me as yours to you. Imake
no vain boast, Mr.. Gardiner, when l say
to you that if my life would benefit my
country would give it gladly. Yet ]
stand before men rs one who fed at a
supreme moment of that country's peril.
This is not easy for me, for am proud
man, sir. and | am not coward; but
console myself as best l may by the con-
seriousness that there is One who knows
better than men. and that he in his wis
dom has afflicted me. But, sir. while
this is hard enough. it would be far
worse were to descend to falsehood, for
then should be ashamed in mine own
eyes,
Mr.. GARDENERS eyes were moist as he
grasped the lawyers hand and STAN
mered out an apology for his mistaken
though well meant advice. He offered
to carry the note to the Office of The Re-
publican himself, and the squire, visibly
n