The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1900-01-24
WAS 4 CONFESSION MADE
Reported that Ell Slower Had Died
and Made a Confession
Regarding Rose.
The Rumor Cannot Be Confirmed
and Is Doubted by Rose
Sympathizers.

Ever since last Friday. the press
of the United States has been pay
ing more or less attention to- the
report that Eli Slower, once a resi-
dent of Gales township, Redwood
county, but now a resident of some
unknown town in California, had
made a confession to the effect that
he, and not VIM, Rose, was guilty
of the crime of numbering Moses
Lufkin, at the Slower residence on
the banks of the Cotton wood, in
Gales township, on the evening Of
Aug. %, 1888. Rose was hung for
the crime on the morning of Oct. Is,
1891.
The only foundation for the re-
port up to last Sunday morning, at
least, appears to be this: That
about three weeks ago a telegram
was heard going over the wires
along the south side of the county
to the effect that Eli Slower had
been informed by his physician in
California that he could not live but
a few days longer, and that Slower
then made confession OF having
committed the crime; or that when
Informed that he could not live but
a short time, Slower stated that he
wanted to make statement as to
who killed Moses Lufkin, before he
passed away There is no doubt
but what such a telegram went
over the wire, but whether it was
true or fake telegram sent from
one ':fakir' to an accomplice is not
known. When the matter became
known to certain parties on the
south side inquiries were made,
but nothing definite could be Sc.
cured as to the truth of the tele-
gram, or who received it. F. S.
Brown, the Tracy attorney, who
acted with Erwin & Wellington in
defending Rose, said that while he
believed Slower was the man, he
had heard nothing of such a tele-
gram. From Tracy no reliable
news could be secured up to Sun
day morning.
The news came again to THE GA
zETTE Office last Saturday morning
by way of Vesta. The report that
came from there was that lady of
that town had received a letter
from lady relative in Tracy in
which the Tracy lady stated that
Mr.. Slower had passed away in Cal
ifornia, and had made a deathbed
confession to the effect that VIM.
Rose was innocent of the crime for
which he was hung. An attempt
was made to verify the receipt of
the letter, or that the writer had
secured reliable information, but
without effect. Nor could it be
learned to what town in California
Eli Slower is living or was living
up to the time of his death, and
hence no telegraphic communica-
tion could be secured AS late as
nine o clock Saturday night the San
Francisco Examiner wired here for
information on that point, while
kilograms to THE GAZETTE from pap
ers all over the United States came
pouring in asking for information
and history of the crime. of which
THE GAZETTE could only furnish the
latter.
The news paper reports have
klndled a new sentiment on the
subject, and the former believers in
Rose S innocence are more emphat-
ic than ever in their statements,
|
and on the south side this discus
sion is as conspicuous as it was
during the time of the two mistrials
and the one that ended in a verdict
of guilty and the death sentence.
Those who believe that the guilty
man was hung are not so emphatic
in their statements, appearing to be
satisfied with the fact that Rose has
paid the penalty.
In a conversation with County
Attorney Clague last Saturday that
official, who was not attorney at the
time OF the trial, stated that a few
| days before Lufkin was killed he