The Shasta courier., 1864-08-27
Entrapping a Murderer.

In the year 1888 | went to the Red River
country with a view of speculating in horses.
lands, or anything that might give promise of
profitable return for acash investment. OF
course / carried good deal Of mspey with
me, and knowing | was going am6assa = wild,
lawless class, of every grade and color
among half civilized Indians, negroes gam
blers, thieves. robbers, murderers and assas-
sins with perhaps few settlers of some claim
to honor and honesty. if they could be sifted
out from the mass-l thought it the safest
plan not to seem well off in the worlds goods.
Accordingly | secured my money in belt
about my body, put on a very coarse, rough
dress, which, by Intentional carelessness,
soon had a very mean, slovenlv appearance,
aud allowed my hair and beard to manage
matters their own way, without any trou-
biesome Interference of razor or comb. Thus
prepared and armed with two reyovers and
a bowie knife, passed over some dangerous
territory in comparative safety, and flattered
myself that no one guessed my riches through
my apparent poverty.
La fact, on two occasions began to think
it might have been to my advantage to have
looked little more respectable. The first of
these was when, in travelling through the
Choctaw nation, | found a drove of horses
that pleased me very much. and was told by
the owner, in reply to the question as TO what
he would take a head for the entire lot. that
he was not in the habit of naming his price to
every wandering beggar that chose to satisfy
an idle curiosity. | was disposed at first to
/ put ou some dignity and get indignans but
concluded, after careful survey of my per-
son, that the man had good cause for speak
ha i'll nd hat
| knew an individual who wished to buy
horses, if he could get them at fair prices
The horse owner, however. was not disposed
to believe my statement, and so l passed him
by, with the resolve that, if nothing better
turned up, | would give him another call
under more advantageous circumstances. As
the second instance alluded to was similar to
the first, it may be passed over without fur
ther notice.
But out of this same cause grew a very re-
markable adventure, which it is my present
purpose TO relate.
While passing between two settlements on
a lonely, gloomy horse path, leading through
a dark, hemlock wood. and while in the most
solitary part, there suddenly came before me.
leaping from thicket on the right, human
figure of a most startling appearance. 1t was
a man of medium height, but of stout. pow
erful frame, all covered with dirty tatters,
that he appeared to have worn and wallowed
in for years. lie had no covering for his
head or feet, and his skin was so coated with
grim that it was difficult at first look to tell
whether he belonged to the white race or not
His face, high up on his cheeks. was covered
with a dirty drown beard, and his matted
hair hung in wild profusion all around his
head, except little space before his swollen,
blood shot eyes and altogether he looked like
& madman or human devil. His hands hold
and swung a formidable club and his att-
tude, as he leaped into the road before me,
was one of fierce menace and defiance.
| stopped in alarm, and while fixing my
eyes sharply upon him, quietly slid my hand
into convenient pocket and grasped the
butt ofone of my revolyers, firmly determin-
ed to keep him at the short distance that d.
vided us, or kill him if he advanced
For perhaps half minute we stood silently
regarding and surveying each other, and then.
resting one end of his club on the ground,
and partly leaning forward on the other, he
said, in coarse, grutf tone, with Il kind of
chuckling laugh
"Well, - me! Is in hopes I'd got a
prize at last; but if you're much better nor
me, you don't show, by-l Stranger, who
'.Well," returned |, feeling highly com
plimented, Of course, that | resembled such a
villainous looking object as himself, "some
people call me beggar, and l know | don't
pass for genteel gentleman"
''I'll sw' AR to that-haw haw hawr y
was his ehuekling response. The world
hahn t made much of you, moren't has of me-
| see steal in your face rs plain as daylight.
Say, what jail or penitentiary lost you last?''
''Never mind that - said /, probably
neither Of US have got our deserts"
''Well, If you had been decently dressed.
and looked ike You had five dollars about
you. I'd have knocked your brains out p
pursued the villain, with broad grin. .'As
1t Is, you can pass-for [ can sw'ar YOU
haln't got red. )"
''Much obliged for your candor, anyhow
reioined l.
he still stood before me, looking straight
into my eyes, and now seemed to be ponder
ing some new idea. Presently he muttered.
as If to himself:
" ! think he might do Then, moment
after he said to me, . say, old fellow. how'd
you Ike TO make raise -
: How would ike to cat when hungrv?''
| answered, thinking it not unlikely that the
seoundrel had some daring project in view,
which seeming to chime in with l might
discover.
Well, I've got plan, (" he said. throwing
down his club. as If to assure ma of bis pacific
Intentions toward myself, and quietly adj
yancing to my side I've got plan that
will give US both a heap of money. and it'll
take just two to carry it out. I've been
wanting pal. and if you'll join I'll 60 YOU
halves."i
"If there's any chance to turn penny, Pm
your man." said |.
..Good," returned he; "you look ike a
trump, and I'll BET high on yon. l don't
know" he added, cycling me sharply. "but
may be deceived-but think I'll risk if. IF
you go for to play any game on me. you'd
better look out for yourself, that's all. y,
DO l look like such scamp as that
retarned I, in an indignant tone.
"Well, let's take seat and talk it all
over"
We found an old log and sat down: and
after some preliminary conversation, my new