Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-06-25
DEFAMING THE
TERRITORY
Anonymous Letter Sent From Las Vegas to Edit.
ors of the Leading Papers Throughout
g the West.
WHAT THE OPTIC HAS TO
SAY ABOUT THIS LAST ACTION

The Las Vegas Optic of Tuesday
published an anonymous letter that
has been. sent from Las Vegas to the
publishers of many of the large pa
pers of the west and the middle west.
One of those who received one of the
letters is Hon. T. M. Patterson, owner
of the Rocky Mountain News, and a
senator of the United States from Col
orado. The letter, as written and
without correction follows:
Las Vegas, N. NJ. June Is, 1907
Dear Sir: You are so situated that you
can do what other may not, who are
differently surrounded. With your
strong financial standing, your official
ans social position, with the most ag-
gressive and able daily wesp of Chica-
go, your leadership in everything
which relates to the west, you can do
what at least the writer hereof cannot.
You are no doubt aware of the In
sane Asylum scandals at this. CITY, 1t
is we'll established that apatient dying
at the institution, was carved up, the
doctor in charge wanting skeleton at
the sylum, her bones put in barrel,
the flesh which had been cut of the
bones, buried in a box, at the Asylum
burying ground, and the words Mary
Leonard placed over it as if an ordi-
nary grave, thus carrying the impress
sion that her remains were buried
there. Her bones in the barrel was set
up outside by the privy vault, intend
ing to put quickq lime upon 1t and to
keep them covered with water until
the flesh should rot off. They were so
left over a year and finally by some
means became dumped out over the
fence onto the commons and thus ex-
posed and found investigation follow
ed. One thing brought another which
led to other charges, and DIR. da COS
ia. who preferred charges f"elnst
the management was discharged, ana
an effort made to destroy him, only
be,,.suse .of his efforts to. bring about
an investigation? Da Costa was only
a subordinate. DR.. Upton being the
Physician in Charge. Cruel treatment
Of natients is charged and 1 am told
will be sustantiated. On that point l
express no opinion.
"Now to the point Of my letter. This
matterhas become public, the press In
q weak way have taken it up. 1t re-
Aects upon the administration of Gov
ernor Otero. Heaven and eartn are
being moved to white wash the Whole
business, and unless help comes from
the outside it is likely to be done. "A
committee of investigation has been
appointed by the Governor, most OIL
tho members are here. Charges OF un-
unreasonable conduct are made pe-
fore the Board of Health against La
Costa wit intention to revoke MS IL
cense and destroy him. He is youns
man. a graduate, competent, ana nom
orab,e. and in favor until he dlscoV-
Grad thes bones and refused to keep
silent. Not being able to silence MN
the effort is to destroy.
"Your paper should send a reariess
reporter here to get at the potoin
facts and publish the truth, the "noie
truth. and nothing else. Whiie the
Committee is able, 1t is constituted ~
that almost every man on It, mas III
Soma way a string to him. There a
Few otherwise, but the probability l.
IN effort will be made to run the thihs
IN secrt not give out the evidence anu
conclude with favorable report. You
know how those things are done
There is not within reach Democra''
,o daily In New Mexico. There Is ne
courage in the democratic leadership
Tho administration cannot afford
damaging report, or the publication o.
evidence. VIII your paper take W
this hattie? The social, political, ane
especially financial situation here u
such as to close the mouths, paraluzs
the action Of anti-administration IN
fluences.
"I cannot even afford to DISCLOSE
MT IDENTITY? although I know yo'
personally. O. A. Larrazola, 1orme
democratic candidate for delegate, Eu
sebio Chacon, DR.. Da Costa, Manuel
de- Baca, Rafeal Gallegos, and other
can give your correspondent vaiuapi
inside information. A great wrong y
likely to be smothered for want
fearless investigation. WRITE YOt
THIS IN HONORABLE CONT
DENC? NOT BY ANT MEANS FOL
PUBLICATION? I ask you to receiv
II and will at the proper time discios
myself to you. In the mean time sen
your best man..
Editorially the Optic comments a
follows:
IA SNAKE IN THE GRASS. A
.The anonymous letter which "
reproduce for the edification OF ou
readers ia significant specimen
the work Of some people who unfo'
tunately cucumber the community an
the territory in which we live.
.It is a remarkable document.
should be read over repeatedly an
allowed to soak into the public min
in order that full appreciation OF !
intention may be gained.
"The man or men who are the a.
thoss Of this letter, and whose guil
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