BARNEY BEDOTT WRITES AGAIN

Continued from: Sid Hypnotized the Californians

Denison Bulletin – October 4, 1905

A LETTER TO GREEN

Dear Old Barney Writes Him News and Advice.

To the Honorable Sid Green,

Popocatapetl, Mexico – via Santa Cruz

(Popocatapetl is actually a volcano in Mexico. "Barney Bedott" must have thought he was being mighty clever)

I got yer other letter Sid and it sounded like a woman's voice from the cemetery on the hill when I seen that you writ it from the land of the Greasers what have no respect for a decent white man.

How in the name of tin can alley did you ever git down there, Sid? Here we all was expectin' of yer being in the Klondike country diggin' up gold like you used to dig up cattle paper and discount notes, and believin' as how you would some day right smart soon make such a stake that all the widdies and childern of this trustin' balliwick would be receivin' checks fer their percentages from you right along bi-weekly, just to show them you are still a good feller, and here now we have to think of you bein' banished down to that god-forsaken land of Greasers and Indians and mixed trash huntin' fer a job such as a white man with white hands ought to have, and have his family with him. I tell you, Sid, it is a mistake you have made agin. I used ter think you never made any more mistakes than I did by myself, but I have begin to doubt the theory of it all when I see you scamperin' after new places to conquer like they was ripe watermelons in a patch and the dog away from home.

Popocatapetl Volcano - 43 Miles Southeast of Mexico City, Mexico

But it don't make no difference to yours truly whether you are in Mexico or Texas with yer back broke. I have some good news fer you that'll make you feel like goin' and commitin' suicide when you hear it. It is this, that the officers have give up the job of locatin' of you and they wouldn't go from here to Arion if they knowed you was there and couldn't git away before they came. I have it straight from me friend's friend what is the friend of the county attorney that they don't expect no more to hear from you sin'e yer little appeal to them didn't mek them write you to come home and be forgive fer all yer past bad luck and discounts. The season is ripe fer the breaking down of defective indictments and it is even money here on yer gittin' clear if you make yer appearance and give them a touch of the law like you kin if yer old friends stay by you. I have it from John himself that they couldn't stick you fer a jail sentence any more than they could stick Grover Cleveland for the sellin' of government bonds without a license. It is justice that reigns in this country, poor and undefiled, as the sayin' is, and the time hasn't come yit when a man is jailed fer his bad debts, but it has passed along with King George and the cherry tree, and believin' in this practice myself who never paid any more debts than I had to, I can't see why you are to be hunted anymore than I am what is free. See it, do you? Well, that is the true gospel, ain't it, old man? If you don't believe it write John and Bill and they'll put you wise like they did me.

I am hesitatin' to mail you this fer fear of the consequences of them slow Mexican mails what fall over the canyons on donkeys to be picked up by cattle thieves who might give me away. If you stay in Mexico let me know and if you don't stay there send me your next address fer a Christmas present and I'll give it to a few of them here what mourn and pray fer ye. They'll like to see it on gilded ornaments and gentle reminders that a fair exchange is no robbery unless the other feller don't ante up when his turn comes. Maybe you'll want to come home and bring the address yerself which will be all right providin' you telegraf in time fer us what stays by you to get the Arion band out.

Biddin' you so long, I'm yer trusted adviser and spotter,

Barney Bedott

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Denison Review – October 25, 1905

PUNISHING KLINKER

Through a series of pretended contributions in the shape of “phony” letters, the Bulletin is now carrying out its threat to punish [County Attorney] Klinker, not for anything he has done as an officer, but simply out of pique and a spirit of revenge.

At the time when the fruitless effort was made to capture Green, an effort which failed, not through any fault of the Crawford County officer, but on account of the gross stupidity of the California officials, the Review was able to give much fuller details than was the Bulletin. Later County Attorney Klinker received the sensational letter from Green, as an act of friendship to the Review it was given us for publication. This angered the Bulletin and Mr. Klinker was personally warned that the Bulletin would “get even” with him and that it would make it hot for him.

Left: G. L. Caswell, Editor, Denison Bulletin

Right: F. W. Meyers, Editor, Denison Review

Mr. Klinker owed the Bulletin nothing politically or personally. There was no good reason, why if he had a piece of news, he should give it to a paper that has persistently abused him all during his official career. The Bulletin thought differently however and now Klinker is to be punished. We simply state these facts so that the cheap Dinkelspiel [German journalist] within the Bulletin may be known to all. If the Bulletin knows where Green is it should give the information to the officers. If it knows wherein the officers have been remiss it should point out the facts plainly and unequivocally. It should not allow its newspaper jealousy to carry it to the agnate of petty liable and false insinuations. Mr. Klinker has used every possible effort to secure Green's return and punishment, he will be more than grateful for any information that may lead to his arrest and if arrested the indictment against him will be found to be all right and he will be convicted if possible.

To Be Continued: A Bedott Clue for the Denison Review