Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-07-09
COL. MOsBY DISMISSED.

Col. John S. Mosby was dismissed
July l as special attorney Of the Depart
ment OF Justice, to which he was ap
pointed about eight years ago by Presi
dent Roosevelt.
1t is understood that Col. Mosby vii
now devote his time to writing bool
OF "reminiscences of the civil war, will
particular reference to the part he play
ed in the conflict. The colonel Ia:
worked assiduously to break up thu
operations of cattlemen on government
lands in the middle west. He did con
siderable other work OF the same kind
but of late years, although always re
guessing to be put OH active service
was given little to do.
Owing to the absence Of Attorney
General Wickersham from Washington
the real reason for Colonel Mosby's dis
missal could not be learned yesterday
1t is learned from close friends, how
ever, that the matter OF detaching hin
from the Department Of Justice ha!
been under consideration by Attorney
General Wickersham for some time
When Colonel Mosby's son, John $
Mosby, jr., was seen concerning TIT
matter last night he said:
Yes, we have known for some time
that my father was to sever his connec
ton with the government service
There are personal reasons for sucl
action which we do not believe it woul,
be wise to make public just now. Thu
whole thing will be made known M
doubt at an early date. ="
1t is understood that one of TIT
reasons that prompted Attorney-Gen
eral Wickersham to ask for Colone
Mosby's resi- gnation was the fact tina
the latter had recently been assigned Il
some very important work in securing
evidence against prominent bushes!
men soon to figure before the public
FIe received telegram. it is said, from
friends Of these parties asking him tt
see that they received justice, to which
he replied: If the parties you nam
receive Justice, they will 60 to the peni
Tertiary
This may or may not have been thu
direct cause OF Colonel Mosby's forcct
retirement, but it is characteristic o
the man, as the persons in whose be
half leniency was asked are prominen
in the public eye and have vast bust
ness interests. This probably brough
about his detachment from the govern
ment service.
Mr.. Wickersham is expected back il
Washington in a few days, and then al
official statement regarding the matte
will no doubt be made.
Upon learning that the resignation o
Colonel Mosby had been requested
Judge James Keith, president Of thu
Virginia Court OF Appeals, addressed
letter to Attorney General Wicker
sham, asking him to reconsider thu
matter and withdraw the request
Judge Keith reproduced number O
interesting chapters in the career of TIT
famous ex-Confcderate He gave
scenes in Colonel Mosby's life at TIT
close Of the civil war when his only re
source was his legal profession; the
manner in which he was harrassed by
those with whom he had contendet
during the four years conflict; IN
frequent arrests and ostraism to which
he was subjected; tells OF the visit o
Colonel Mosby's wifs to President
Johnson and his request for protection
for the colonel and her family; the lack
of interest manifested by the president
her subsequent appeal to General Grant
the magnanimous treatment she re,
ceived; Grants order affording pro
lection to Colonel Mosby and his family
and the coIoncls espousal of Grants
cause in 1872, at time when it took
nerve for an ex-Confederate to support
republican candidate for president in
Virginia. Judge Keith calls attention
to the fact that the party now in power
has since been supported by Colone
Mosby.
Attorney General Wickersham sent
copy of Judge Keith's letter tc
Colonel Alosby, when the latter i'm.
mediately sent reply that the Judge
had written it upon his own yolition
and without any request or suggestion
from him. The colonel stated that
he had not seen Judge Keith for two
years nor had any correspondence with
him. He had also requested his family
and friends to use no influence toward
having the order for his resignation re-
scinded. The colonel later sent letter
to Judge Keith expressing his appre-
citation of the interest he had taken
in his case, but regretting that he had
written to the attorney general. In
closing his letter to the judge Colonel
Mosby says: The world will hear
no complaint from me, and all that
is left for me- to do is to die with
dignity. The Titan 'on the rock did
not bear his torture with more COM
posure than I shall submit to this blow
Of fortune.