The record., 1914-01-29
MuhIenberg Man Acquires Possession
Of Pistol Taken From Jeff Davis.

IS from the Girard III. "Cazette,"
and will be read with pleasure by
our subscribers, as Mr.. Gates Is
native of Muhlenberg, and has
wide circle of relatives and friends
here.
1t may sound strange but it is true
nevertheless, that the last echo of
the great civil war was heard in Gil
rard, this week. 1t was the echo of
a pistol shot, the shot was fred by
Frank w. Gates and the gun he used
was the one taken from the person
of the late Jeff Davis at the time the
president of the Confederacy was
captured by Federal troops. The
ball which Mr.. Gates fired had lain
in the revolver all the intervening
years.
Tne Weapons not much like those
of present day make. It's six
shooter and known as a "horse pis-
toll" They were common in ante
bellum days and during the slavery
conflict.
The pistol came into Mr.. Gates
possession through his son, .. T..
Gates, president of the Gates Bro
thers' Realty company, of Denver,
Colorado. The latter got it from
w. II. Rouse, formerly a jeseler of
Chicago, but nov business man of
Denver. Ii Mr.. Rouse's story as to
the history of the murderous look
ing piece Of pocket artillery be true,
the pistol has a priceless historical
value. MIR. Rouse substantiates the
story of how it came into his hands
by an anidavit duly acknowledged
by Colorado notary public. O.
{. Gates, of Colorado Metropolis,
seems to be convinced that the gun
is the genuine Jeff Davis weapon.
L. w. Gates is equally sure on this
point, and he has con6ded to The
Gazette his intention OF presenting
it to the Illipoise Historical associ
alton a, Springfield. The Gsz.tte
herewith submits to its readers the
correspondence and affidavit that
accompanied the pistol To Mr.. Gates:
Denvor, Colo, Dec. IL, 1913
Dear Old Dady:-
We suppose it is mean cur that
makes a gift with string to it, but
that Is what We are doing with this
Jeff Davis gun. We are sending i,
to YOU as a present. oni WIKI the
understanding t.-s 4as. ,oa no
longer need It Is not to leave the
family. Please keep the affidavit of
Mr.. Rouse with it in good Condi-
ton.
o. c. and Chas. NJ. Gates.
Here follows the affidavit made
By NJ. Rouse and given to the Gates
Brothers:
Denver, Colo, July 1, 1913
Charles Nj. Gates:-
Dear Sir:-This certihes that |
was in Chicago in the jewelry busi-
ness during the year of the Worlds
Fair, 1898, and for year or two
before and after that year. During
this time an old soldier by the name
of Debold came to my place Of busl
ness and made the following state
ment of purported facts:
| That he was soldier in the civil
war:
That he was with the Michigan
cavalry troop that were pursuing
Jeff Davis:
That h. in person took the ac-
companyiug gun from The person Of
Davis;
That Mr.. Davis was attempting
to make his escape in the disguise
of woman;
That the gun had been constantly
in his CHR. Debold's) possession
ever since;
That he considered the gun a
priceless relic, aud one that is gen
uine.
The question would naturally
arise how the gun came in my pos
sion. Mr.. Debold gave it to me
as security for TEN porary advance
and for some unknown reason never
called for It. There is no question
in my mind as to the identity OF
Mr.. Debold as was we'll acquaint-
ed with him for coidersble length
of time and always recognized him
as being truthful and honest.
The gun has been in my possession
constantly siuce, aud the same loads
that were IN it at the time got it
are still in it.
Nerv frulv vours