Letter from Ed Anderson

To My Friends in Texas: I take this method for the present of replying to my numerous republican friends throughout Texas who have kindly forwarded me letters endorsing my candidacy for the postmastership of Austin, but trust to be able to so far catch up with my work in the near future that I can make personal acknowledgment of the same. I also thank my friends in Austin and Travis county who have signed my petition so unanimously and with such cordiality that I [...] be a citizen of Austin. The list of Austin names number 1700 and embrace nearly all state, district, county and city officials, as well as four-fifths of the business men and local republicans. One hundred and five splendid letters of endorsement have been received from republican officials in Texas, ex-state chairmen, congressional, senatorial and county chairmen. From all this you can readily realize my feeling when I look over such an appeal in my behalf of an humble citizen for an office. My ambition is to make the effort of my life to so conduct the affairs of the office that no man will ever have cause to feel ashamed of having asked my appointment.

This letter is to serve two purposes. One is as above stated and the other a few facts concerning my recent sensational arrest and temporary imprisonment. Bear with me and I will give you briefly some of the facts with the exception of my side of the affair, which I will give you later on when I can get a hearing.

Two years ago on the 27th day of November, 1894, I settled up and turned over the affairs of the Travis county treasurer's office to my successor. On the 14th day of December following, an investigation committee of three appointed by the grand jury for the purpose of investigating the condition of the county's finances, reported my books properly balanced and final settlements correctly made. Many grand juries have passed and gone. The officers of the law have all been at their post of duty, time wore quietly and peacefully away, two years and seventeen days had cancelled the checkerboard of time and no one complained. On the afternoon of the 14th of the present month the sheriff says, "I have a capias for your arrest, charging you with misapplying $1700 county funds on or about the 27th day of November, 1894." It was like a thunder clap on a sunny day.

Kindly keep the above facts closely in mind and read the following receipts:

COUNTY CLERK HORNSBY'S CERTIFICATE. This is to certify that financial ledger No. 3 in this office on the 27th day of November, 1894, shows cash balance due by Treasurer Anderson, retiring treasurer, as follows: General revenue, $7842.44; school fund, $2609.76; road and bridge, $731.19; sinking fund, $1017.85; court house and jail fund, $1014.30, making a total of $13,215.54. (Signed) JNO. W. HORNSBY, Clerk County Court, Travis County.

COUNTY TREASURER JERNIGAN'S RECEIPT. Austin, Tex., Nov. 27, 1894. Received of Ed Anderson (retiring) treasurer of Travis county, Texas: General revenue fund, $7,842.44; School fund, $2,069.76; Road and bridge fund, $731.19; Sinking fund, $1,017.85; Court house and jail fund, $1,014.30. Total cash, $13,215.54. (Signed) A. J. JERNIGAN, Treasurer-Elect Travis County, Texas.

BONDSMEN'S STATEMENT. We, the undersigned bondsmen for Ed Anderson, who retired from the treasurer's office of Travis county, November, 1894, have never heard of his being a defaulter, nor have we been called upon to pay any money to said county for him. Witness our hands this 8th day of November, A. D. 1896. A. R. MORRIS, JAMES W. SMITH, J. P. SCHNEIDER, J. N. HAMILTON, GEO. F. LA RUE. The above constitutes all my bondsmen, with the exception of my father, who is dead.

A finance committee, finishing its work on December 9, 1896, voluntarily entered into their sworn report the following statement: We append certificate of Austin National bank and First National bank of Austin, showing sufficient cash funds subject to check to cover all amounts due Travis county from the treasurer. We find all funds charged upon the books to the debit of Mr. Ed Anderson duly receipted for by the present treasurer. This comment may not be required, the appended accounts and bank certificates speak for themselves.

This committee also stated to me that there was $1200 more cash in the hands of the treasurer than he needed to cover his debits.

Several of my prominent friends have called upon the present treasurer and asked him if I was or did owe Travis county any money when he took the office or at any time since, to which he invariably replies, not a cent.

I am not reiterating the above statements for the benefit of home people. They are known fully throughout the community. It is for the benefit of friends not conversant with the facts in my case and the feelings of the people here.

IN JAIL. In my cell, at midnight, December 14, 1896. By urging my friends to come to me this evening, getting the court together, etc., I could possibly have avoided a night under the key. But I do not tonight, nor never have I felt myself better than many a man who has heard the gruesome sound of the heavy door as it swung shut and the ponderous key turned, the stern but dutiful jailer pass out without even saying a good night. As I was to be tried, I made no undue plea to stay out, but cast aside the mantle of pride and was easily led on to [...] of the reality of a night. I must say a length of time of this sort must be a great trial to those poor creatures with no friends and no money, not even an opportunity to prove their innocence or have the freedom that belongs to them, but mercilessly captured and imprisoned, caged and crestfallen like the untamed woodland bird. The way of life is hard enough with pure air, the bright sun, the pretty flowers, the cheerful fireside, the [...] of those [...] near to us, but alas, the contrast. It is a picture that will never reach [...] but hearts only by actual experience.

A friend loaned me next morning [...] dinner with wife and little ones and spent the evening on the streets with my friends. The entire city knows of the affair. Possibly fifty bright-eyed newsboys, during the morning hours, ran the streets with the cry, "Morning Statesman." After walking a block and meeting possibly a hundred people and not a soul betrayed the slightest expression in either manner or action that I was a criminal, I immediately felt like I was an old-time citizen of Austin and returned with favor and fortune to receive the congratulations of [...]. Men [...] blocks and was possibly greeted by [...], and still found none who passed me by but took me by the hand with a warm [...]. During the evening three lawyers volunteered [...] their services free of charge, and one man remarked, "with the friends you have, the county will have to apply a change of venue in order to get an impartial trial."

I am not foolish enough to believe there are twenty men in Austin unfriendly to me, and I do not think there are half that number who felt pleased to see me indicted, though I think I have the most sincere, unfriendly, and financially [...]; but my private financial [...] were totally unavoidable and out of my control, and [...] against me, I fail to conceive how or by any means an indictment could have been found. I only know that I am innocent of fraud, and that Travis county has been ahead $1000 in one instance at my hands as county treasurer and never lost a cent. No man in Austin has asked to have his name stricken from my petition, but many have volunteered to sign it the past few days. I am anxious for the time to come when I can substantiate all declarations made in this letter; and please, my friends, accept my many thanks for your generous endorsements. With best wishes, I am sincerely yours, ED ANDERSON.