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

Col. John ,. MoSby was dismissed
July l as special attorney Of the Depart
ment Of Justice, to which he was APP
pointed about eight years ago by Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
1t is understood that Col. Mosby will
now devote his time to writing a book
Of "reminiscences of the civil war, with
particular reference to the part he play
ed in the conflict. The colonel has
worked assiduously to break up the
operations Of cattIemen on government
lands in the middle west. He did con-
siderable other work OF the same kind,
but Of late years, although always re-
questing to be put on 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 him
from the Department Of Justice has
been under consideration by Attorney
General Wickersham for some time.
When Colonel Mosby's son, John s.
Mosby, jr., was seen concerning the
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 such
action which We do not believe it would
be wise to make public just now. The
whole thing will be made known no
doubt at an early date"
1t is understood that one Of the
reasons that prompted Attorney-Gen-
eral Wickersham to ask for Colonel
Mosby's resignation was the fact that
the latter had recently been assigned to
some very important work in securing
evidence against prominent business
men soon to figure before the public.
He received a telegram. it is said, from
friends OF these parties asking him to
see that they received justice, to which
he replied: IT the parties you name
receive justice, they will go to the peni-
tertiary"
This may or may not have been the
direct cause Of Colonel Mosby's forced
retirement, but it is characteristic of
the man, as the persons in whose be-
half leniency was asked are prominent
in the public eye and have vast bust
ness interests. This probably brought
about his detachment from the govern
ment service.
Mr.. Wickersham is expected back in
Washington in a few days, and then an
official statement regarding the matter
will no doubt be made.
Upon learning that the resignation Of
Colonel Mosby had been requested,
Judge James Keith, president of the
Virginia Court OF Appeals, addressed
letter to Attorney General Wicker
sham, asking him to reconsider the
matter and withdraw the request.
Judge Keith reproduced a number Of
interesting chapters in the career OF the
ex-Coniederate. He gave
scenes in Colonel Mosbv's life at the
close of the civil war when his only re-
was his legal profession; the
manner in which he was harrassed by
those with whom he had %contended
the four years conflict; his
frequent arrests and ostraism to which
he was subjected; tells Of the visit Of
Colonel Mosby's wife TO President
Johnson and his request for protection
for the colonel and her family; the lack
interest manifested by the president;
her subseqent appeal to General Grant;
the magnanimous treatment she re-
Grants order affording pro-
lection to Colonel Mosby and his family;
and the colonel's espousal Of Grants
in 1872, at a time when it took
nerve for an ex-Confederate to support
a republican candidate for president in
Virginia. Judge Keith calls attention
the fact that the party now in power
las since been supported by Colonel
Attorney General Wickersham sent
/ copy Of Judge Keith's letter to
Colonel Mosby, when the latter inn
nediately sent a reply that the judge
lad written it upon his own y~olition
md without any request or suggestion
rom him. The colonel stated that
le had not seen Judge Keith for two
'ears nor had any correspondence with
lin. He had also requested his family
nd friends to use no influence toward
having the order for his resignation re-
The colonel later sent a letter
o Judge Keith expressing his aipre-
iation OF the interest he had taken
n his case, but regretting that he had
to the attorney general. In
losing his letter to the Judge Colonel
losby says: The world will hear
o complaint from me, and all that
left for me, 10 do Is to die with
The Titan on the rock did I
OF bear his torture with more COM
osure than | shall submit TO this blow
I fortune" &