Mosby, John S. (1833-1916) to Gaston
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02827 Author/Creator: Mosby, John S. (1833-1916) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 October 1904 Pagination: 1 p. ; 26 x 21 cm. Order a Copy
Written as Assistant Attorney General, he comments that anyone joking about McKinley's assassination is "a brute." Written on Department of Justic letterhead.
Oct: 8th 1904
Dear Gaston:
I recd. your letter & the Advertiser with Heflin's speech: Soon afterward I met [struck: Heflin] [inserted: Underwood] on the street - he Comented Heflin's speech - not on account of its atrocious sentiments - but because it wd. do Parker a great deal of harm -- So it will. I gave the Star an interview in wh. I ventilated Heflin - He is now a heavy load for the Democrats to carry. My interview was wired all over the country last night - I think I hit Heflin a centre shot when in reply to his card saying that what he said was all a joke [inserted: that this] put him in no better light than he was before - nobody but a brute wd. speak of McKinley's assassination as "a joke" - then it was very uncomplimentary to say that his hearers enjoyed such a brutal jest - they ought to have left the hall in disgust. A man [inserted: who] wd: joke about such a [inserted: sad &] solemn thing as McKinley's assassination is not too good to commit the deed. He is [inserted: only] deterred from fear of being hung. I send you today's New York Press with my interview & an Editorial on Heflin. Heflin's speech has done more for Roosevelt than any Republican speech. Show this to Charlie Pollard & Judge Stratton. Yours Truly
Jno: S. Mosby
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