The Kanzas news., 1857-08-08

: faunt of felon father should cross the path
:. of that sweet child. o how earnestly I did
plead for them. The woman wept; the hlss-
band did the same; the Judge fdgeted and
rubbed his eyes; the jury looked melting
II could have had the closing speech be
would have been cleared; but the prosecu-
ton had the close. and threw ice ON the fire
| I had kindled. But they did not quite put
it out.
/ The Judge charged according TO law and
leyidence, but evidently leaned on the side Of
mercy. The jury found verdict of guilty,
but unanimously recommended the prisoner
to the mercy of the court. Ny client was
sentenced to the shortest Imprisonment the
court was empowered to give, and both jury
and court signed a petition TO the Governor
for an unconditional pardon, which has since
been granted, but not before the following in
cident occurred:
Some three months after this, / received
an account for collection from wholesale
| house In New York The parties to collect
from were hard ones, but they had property,
Eand before they had an idea of the trap laid,
had the property, which they were about
to assign before they broke, under attach
lment. Finding was neck ahead and
bound to win, they s4eayed in'' and
sforked over" three thousand seven hun
dred and ninety four dollars and eighteen
cents, (per memorandum book in good mon
ey. They lived in Shawneetown, about S5
or 40 miles southeast of Moore's prairie l
received the funds just after bank opening,
but other business detained me till after
dinner. ] then started for c., intend
ing to go as far as the village of Mt. Vernon
that night.
had gone along ten or twelve miles, when
noticed splendid team of double horses
attached to light wagon, in which were
seated four men evidently of the high strung
order. They swept past as if to show how
easily they could do it. They shortened in
and allowed me to come up with them, and
hailing me asked me to "wet,'' or in other
words diminish the contents of Jug of old
rye they had aboard, but I excused myself
with the plea that had plenty on board
They asked me how far l was going I
told them as far as Mt. Vernon, if nv horse
didn't tire out. They mentioned 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 go
! ahead. / had brace of reyolyers and a
nice knife; my money was not in my valise
or my sulky, but in belt around nay body.
I drove slow in hopes that they would go on
and l should see Them no more It was
nearly dark when we saw tavern sign ahead.
In the same time saw their wagon stood
before the door. would have pressed ON,
but my horse needed rest. I hauled up and
a woman came to the door, She turned
very pale, but did not speak, but with a
meaning look she put her finger on her lips
and beckoned me in; she was the wife of my
late client
When entered, the party recognized me,
and hailed me as travelling friend, and ask
ed me to drink. I respectfully but firmly
declined to do so.
'By Cd, you shall drink or fight !"
said the noisiest of the party.
''Just as You please; drink shall not,
said I, purposely showing the butt of a colt
which kicks six times in rapid succession.
The party interposed, and very easily
quelled the assailant One offered me a Gil
gar which reluctantly refused, but glance
from the woman induced me to accept
She advanced and profered me light, and
in so doing, slipped a note into my hand,
which she must have written with pencil
words-they were:
Beware! they are members of the gang.
They mean to rob and murder you! Leave
soon; viii detain theml'' i
I did not feel comfortable just then, but
tried to do so.
Have you any room to put up my horse?''
L asked, turning to the woman.
"What-are you not going on to-night?''
asked one of the men; eve are
'No, said I, 81 shall stay here tonight %
"We'l1 all stay then, guess, and make
night of it, said anothero the cut-throats. |
you'll have to put up your own horse
here's lantern,' said the woman.
''I am used to that, !" said. 'tGentle- |
men, excuse me. a minute; I'll join you in
drink ,rhen I come in!''
GOOD on your head! More whisky, old
gal," shouted they.
went out, glanced at their wagon; it was
old fashioned, and e'iineh pins'' secured the |
wheels. To take out my knife and pry one
of them from the fore and hind wheels was
but the work of an instant, and threw them I
as far off in the darkness as I could. To-
unite my horse and dash off was the work /
of moment. The road led down steep
hill. but my lantern lighted me somewhat.
had hardly got under full headway when
/ heard yen from the party had so uneer- /
enormously left. put whip to nay horse.
The next moment with shout they started.
/ threw my light away. and left nay horse to
pick his way. A moment later, heard a
erash-a horrible shrek. The wheels were
off. Then came the rush of the horses tear
ing along with the wreck of the wagon
Finally they. seemed to fetch up in the wood
One or two shrieks I heard as l swept on.
leaving them far behind. For some time [
hurried my hoIse-you'd better believe II
sridl'' Ii was little after midnight when
l got to hit. Vernon.
The next day heard that a Moore s prai-