Anson Best

DESCRIPTION: "As I sit by the fireside a-thinking Of my brother who's far, far away...." Anson Best is offered a paper and threatened with death if he doesn't sign. It is a confession to the murder of Vera Snyder. He is sentenced to death. His family mourns
AUTHOR: Ben Best?
EARLIEST DATE: 1935 (Gardner/Chickering-BalladsAndSongsOfSouthernMichigan)
KEYWORDS: homicide trick lie trial prison punishment accusation
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1920 - Conviction of Anson Best for the murder of Vera Schneider
FOUND IN: US(MW)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Gardner/Chickering-BalladsAndSongsOfSouthernMichigan 145, "Anson Best" (1 text)
ST GC145 (Partial)
Roud #3669
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Red River Valley" (tune)
NOTES [73 words]: This appears to be a family song: The author is listed as the Reverend Ben Best, brother of Anson Best, and the only known version is from Mrs. Clyde Best (whose relationship with Anson and Ben Best is not listed by Gardner and Chickering, but note the name).
The family maintained that Anson Best was innocent of the murder of Vera Schneider, and coerced into signing a confession he had not read. I know of no evidence either way. - RBW
File: GC145

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