New-York tribune., 1874-09-11
VALUE OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY,
ASSESSED FOR TAXATION.
MISSOURI CAYAL[ERS.

1t was once observed, as we have been cred
IDLY informed. by the Right Honorable Ed
mund Burke, that the Age of Chivalry had
gone forever. Although the statement was
backed up by the talented gentleman with a
good deal of brilliant rhetoric, we lean to the
opinion that the Age aforesaid has come back
again via the Pacific Ocean, and, on its way
East, has already reached Missouri. Not long
ago we should have regarded highway robbery
as defunct phenomenon. Where now, we
should have said, are the Du Vals and the Dick
Turpins and the Jack Sheppardsf Where are
the accomplished and gentlemanly apprOpria-
tors of travellers cash and watches Where the
polite marauders who while sternly stripping
the virile pilgrims did courteously spare the fem
inine-sometimes riing only a kiss, or simply
asking the honor of q white hand in coranto
upon the OOn-lighted swardf To this some
what elaborate interrogatory we answer
"They are in ' Missouri "The James
Brothers" is the copartnership name of them,
and near North Lexington on the last
day of last month did they do q
pretty bit of feOnious business. The weary
railwayfarers had taken an omnibus at the
depot for the ferry-landing, little thinking
that they had drawn their dear wallets and
looked at their beloved watches, some of them,
for next to the last time. Only two hundred
yards from the depot something gave the
proud omnibus prancers pause. Three hands
holding three cooked revolvers pointed at the
charioteer would seem to have occasioned this
stoppage. Then the monetary and chronomet-
rcal Investigations began. Also his coat and
vest was taken from one specially ill-starred
passenger. The going through was cleanly
and expeditiously consummated. And now
Lovely Woman bursts upon the scene.
Bursts upon the scene in the light and
lively form of "Miss Hamlet of La Fayette
"Co.n Never was passenger in an omnibus
much more of q guardian angel than she. In
the presence of so much beauty and innocence
"the James Brothers" melted like wax. She
entreated them with argent elocution to return
the tickers to their lawful owners, and they
did return at least two Of them. Then a
shrewd gentleman, being ordered to deliver
his funds, merely handed them to the lady,
feeling that in such virgin custody they would
be safe from these larcenOus lions of the road
and safe they proved to be. Perhaps the
man who was bereft of his coat and vest felt
delicacy in passing over these garments to
lady, or he might not have been obliged to
continue his journey with his braces ignomin-
iously exposed. The angel probably deemed it
imprudent to carry her interposition too far, for
the robbers rode away with a fair assortment
of unrestored plunder. including $50 so wrested
from the bowling colored porter of the rail-
way and "a 87i ravished from a wretch named
Holmes-not sweet Holmes, we fancy. after
that
at is somewhat singular" philosophically
The ST. Joseph Herald remarks, "that pack
"of desperadoes like the James Brothers can
Give so long in densely populated counties
."like those along the river and escape cap
"ture and punishment Singular indeed, not
to say aggravating and even inconvenient!
happy thought strikes us quite hard Why
not elect Miss Hamlet to the Office Of Sheriff !
She would bring them in.