In the Mark Twain Project's edition of Roughing It(UC Press, 1993), the 
explanatory notes for chapter 34 (on pp 631-32) explain the historical 
background of the "Landslide Case" sketch, and refer the reader to 
additional sources. "Nevada tradition and internal evidence suggest that 
the mock trial, intended as an elaborate practical joke on Bunker 
("Buncombe"), actually took place in Carson City sometime during the 
first two weeks of February 1862, before the courts began their regular 
session on 17 February (632, n. 223.18-19).

Harriet Smith, MTP editor



On 10/13/2013 1:07 PM, Scott Holmes wrote:
> I'm just curious if this was something that actually occurred or just
> another stretcher from Twain's imagination.  I know that at least a few
> Twain-L subscribers have more than a passing knowledge of the history of
> Nevada Territories and its early statehood.  (Chapter 34 from Roughing
> It).