Mountain Democrat., 1857-10-10
NU1EBER 80.

| lie kept tavern. Gue6t9 Tner0 were
many it was not for him to inquire into
their business; they were well dressed
made large bills and paid promptly. At
an ungardcd hour, when he was insane
with the liquor they urged upon him, he
had dcviatcd from the path Of rectitude.
The demon alcohol had reigned in his
brain and it was his first offcnSe. Mercy
pleaded for another chance to save him
from ruin. Justice did not require that
his young wife should 90 down sOrrOwing
to the grave, and that the shadow of dis
grace and the taunt Of felon father
should cross the path of that sweet child.
0, how earnestly did plead for them
The woman wept; the husband did the
same the Judge fidgcted and rubbed his
eyes the jury looked melting. If l could
have had the closing speech he would
have been cleared but the prosecutor
had the close, and threw ice on the fire
had kndled. But they did not quite put
it out.
The Judge charged according to law
and evidence, but evidently leaned on the
side Of mercy. The jury found verdict
ofguilty, but unanimously recommended
the prisoner to the mercy of the court
NV client was sentenced to the shortest
Imprisonment the court was empowered
to give, and both jury and court signed
petition to the governor for an uncondl-
tonal pardon, which has since been gran
ted, but not before the following incident
occurred.
Some three months after this received
nm account for collection from a wholesale
house in New York. The parties to col
lcct from were hard ones, but they had
property, and before they had an idea Of
the trap, had the property which they
were about to assign before they broke
under attachment. Finding l was neck
ahead and bound to win, they "caved in"
and "forkcd over" three thousand seven
hundred and ninety-four dollars and eight
cen cents (pcr memorandum. book in good
money. They lived in Shawnectown,
about thirty-fivc or forty miles southeast
of Moorr's prairie. received the funds
Just after bank opening, but other busi-
ness detained me till after dinner. then
started for c., intending to go as far
as the village of Mount Vernon that night.
had gone along eight or ten miles,
when noticed splendid team Of double
horses attached to alight 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 upwith them, and hailing me, asked
mc to "wct," or in other words, diminish
the contents of n jug of old rye they had
aboard but excused myself with the
plea that had plenty OH board. They
asked me how far was going. ! told
them as far as Mount Vernon, ifmy horse
didn't tire out. They mentioned q pleas
ant tavern ten or twelve miles ahead as q
nice stopping-place, and then drove on.
Ibid not like the looks Of those fellows,
nor their actions. But was bound to 60
ahead. had bTace Of revolvers and
nice knife my money was not In my
valisc or my sulky, but in a belt around
nv body. drove slow, in hopes that
they would 20 on, and should see them
no more. 1t was nearly dark when ! saw
a tavern sign ahead. At the same time
saw their wagon stood before the door
| would have passed on, but my horse
needed rest 1 hauled up and . woman
came to the door. She turned az pale as
n sheet when she saw me; she was the
| wife of my late client.
When entered the party recognized
me, and hailed me as an old travelling
friend, and asked me to drink. l respect
fully, but firmly, declined to do SO.
"By Cd, you shall drink or fight"
said the noisicst Of the party.
"Justas you please; drink l shall not"
said I, purposely showing the butt of q
Colt which kicks six times in rapid sue
ccssion.
The party intcrposcd, and very easily
ouelcd the assaliant. One offered me
cigar, which l reluctantly refused, but
glance from tho woman induced me to
accept. She advanced and proffered me
a light, and in doing so slipped note into
nv hand, she must have written mo-
mcnt before. Never shall forget the
words. They were:
"Bcware, they are the members Of the
gang. They mean to rob and murder
YOU! Leave soon; will dctain them !"
did not feel comfortable just then, but
tried to do so.
"IIave you any room to put up my
horse =" asked, turning to the woman.
What--Arc you not going on to-nighty"
asked one Of the men !; we are.
"No," said ], ~ shall stay here to.
night"
"Wc'l 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 lantern" said the woman.
81 am used to thai" said l. "Gentlc-
men, excuse me minute; I'll join you
| in drink when come in"
GOOD on your headl More whisky,
old GAL" shouted they.
went out, glanced at their wagon; 1t
was old fashioned, and "linch.pins" BE-
cured the wheels. To take out my knife
and pry one from the fore and hind wheels
was but the work of an instant, and l
threw them as far off in the darkness as l
could. To unite my horse and dash off
was the work of moment. The road
lay down n steep hill, but my lantern
lighted me somewhat.
had hardly got under full headYay,
when / heard yell from the party ! had
so unceremOniously left. I put whip to
my horse. The next momentw with ashout
they started. threw my light sway,
and left my horse to pick his way. a
moment later l heard crash-a hOsTible
shrek. The wheels were of. Then came
the rush Of horses tearing along with the
wreck Of the wagon. Finally they seemed
to fetch up in the woods. One o. twO
| he II WmlR{uNnp