Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-10-24
But they did not quite put it out

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| prisoner to the mercy of the court My
client was sentenced to the shortest i'm
| priSonmcnt the court was empowered to
give, and both jury and court signed pc
tition to the Governor for unconditional
pardon, which has since been granted, but
not before the following incident occurred
Some three months after this received
an account for collection from n wholesale
house in New York. ifho parties to collect
from were hard ones, but they had proper
ty, aud before they had any idea of the
trap laid, [ had the property, which they
were about to assign before they broke, un-
der attachment. Finding was neck ahead
and bound to win, they "caved in' aud
''forkcd over" three thousand seven hun
drcd and ninety-four dollars and eighteen
cents (pcr memorandum book) in good
money. They lived in Shawneetown, about
rty-fye or forty miles southeast of Moore's
prairie, | received the funds Just after bank
opening, but other business detained me
until dinner. | then started for G,
intending to so as far as the village of Mt
Vernon that night.
| had gone ten or twelve miles when
noticed 4 splendid team of double horses
attached to light wagon, in which was
seated four men, evidently of the high
strung order They swept past as if to
show how easy they could do it, They
shortened in allowed me to como up with
them, and hailing me, asked me to "wct," ("
or in other words diminish the contents of
a jug of old rye they had on board, but
excused myself with the plea that had
plenty on boaIG Thcy asked me how far
was going. L told them as far as Mt
Vernon i, my horse didn't tiro out. They
mentioned a pleasant tavern ten or twelve
miles ahead as nice stopping place and
then drove on.
| did not like the looks of those fellows,
nor their actions. But was bound to 90
ahead. | had a brace of revolver; and
nice knife, my money was not il NJ valisc
or in my sulky but in a belt around my
body [ drove slow, in hopes that they
would go on, and | should see them no
more. 1t was near dark when | saw tav-
crn sign ahead. At the same time | saw
their wagon stood before the door. would
have pressed on, but my horse needed rest.
| hauled up and woman camo to the door.
Sho turned as pale as sheet when she saw
me-she did not speak, but with meaning
look she put her fingers on her mouth and
bcckoncd me in. She was the wife of my
late client.
When J. entered hcparty recognized me
| and hailed me as am old travelling friend,
and asked me to drink ] respectfully,
but firmly declined.
by Cd, you shall drink or fight :"
said the noisicst of the party.
",Just as you please, drink / shall not -
said |, purposcly showing the butt of a
Colt which kicks six times in rapid success
sion.
The party intcrposcd, and very easily
quelled the assalant One offered me a
cigar, which | reluctantly refused, but a
glance from the woman induced me to ac-
cept. She advanced and proffcrcd me a
light, and in doing so slipped Il note into
my hand, which she must have written a
moment before. Never shall | forget the
words. They were:
Beware! they are members of thc
gang--mcan to rob and murder you Leave
soon will dctain them"
did not feel comfortable just then, but
tried to be So
Have you any room to put up my
horse % / asked turning to the woman
"What at-you are not going on to night ?"
asked one of the men; eve are.
"No," said |, "I shall stay here to
night"
"We'll all stay then, guess, and make
night of it, said another of the cut
throats.
You'll have to put up your Own horse
here's a lantern" said the woman.
" am used to that" [ said, F." Gentle
mon, excuse me minute, I'll join you in
a drink when | come in"
"Good on your head More whiskey
'old gal, shouted they
/ went out and glanced at their wagon ;
it was old fashioned and inchpins secured
the wheels, 70 take out my knife and
pry one from the fore and hind wheels was
but the work of an instant and threw them
as far off in the darkness as could To
unite my horse and dash off was the work
of a moment. The road lay down steep
hill, but my lantern lighted me somewhat.
had hardly got under full Roadway.
when heard n yell from the party | bad
so uncerc.noniously left. / put whip to
my horse. The next moment, with shout
they started. | threw my light away, and
left my horse topick his way. A moment
later heard crash--a horrible shrek.
The wheels were off. Then came the yush
of the horses tearing along with the wreck
of the wagon. Finally they seemed to fetch
up in the woods. One or two shrcks
heard as | swept on, leaving them far be-