The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-12-24

though VERY plain and unosteuta,ious.
lie resided IN the country near Peoria,
and Tom grew mp hardy Of Limb. and
with strong mental nature. There
was about lin a liberal cdreles ness
which. while bctokcning future mistor-
tune Tor himself was MOI displcaslng to
his friends and companion.
Tom served IN the 18Th Illinois inian-
try, aud there made many friends and
was accounted good soldier. Upon his
return he entered the artillery service
and did good duty there for a year
Then he returned IT, Peoria. and Tor
short time was engaged ia writing squib-
for The TyonscriBL the leading paper in
Peoria.
In tho fan Of 1871, Young Ford or
Moore (hc always wrote hi- name
Thomas Ford Moore became dissatisfied
! with Peoria and determined To 20 to
the far west Ia .eck hi fortune. His
older brother was somewhere in the Vi
cinity of Wachita. Kan. and thithcr
/ Tom -hapcd his course. and arrived IN
! due time. For number Of months Tom
and his brother wandered up and down
the plains of Kansas, now joining a
hunting party for the west. now helping
to bring huge droves of Texas cattle
/ from the south. Sometimes he was in
company with his brother. at other time.
he went alone. The wild, free life was
well suited to his nature, and he passed
| pleasant time. but did not appear TO be
amassing fortune very rapidly.
At this time excitement was running
unusually high in regard to horse-steal-
ing. As our readers well know, new
countries suffer more from this crime than
the more settled portions, aud in the
spring and summer Of 1872 there had
been many deprcdatiOns in southern
Kansas.
Ii was near the close of beautiful da,
in July that young Ford for the first
time approached state Creek ranch sit
uatcd III sumner county, near the town
of Caldwell. lie had walked all day.
coming from the southeast. and looked
forward with joyful antcipations to the
rest and food he should obtain at the
ranch, previous to pushing on to Caldwell.
six miles further. whittier hc was bound
just before reaching the ranch he becam,
cognlzant of the fact that two men were
following linn, but he had revolver
and suppOsing if the men interfered will
him it would be for the purpose of rob
berry, he had no fears of them.
= lie soon arrived ut the ranch, where h,
refreshed himself with meat and drink
for half an hour, and then started fol
Caldwell. Ills journey lay through
e woods of scattered trees and abundan
= brush. lie had gone scarcely n mill
when three men suddenly spr;ing upol
him from hazel copse. So suddel
was the attack that he had no time 4
: draw weapon, no time to make any de
: tense.
o The three men were quickly joined b,
three others, and the leader iniOrme,
L their captive that he was cXceedingl,
"A happy 10 have succeeded In capturin,
i him so easily. "For,n said he Nv
: have been watchingyou for several hour
past Tom inquired for what they ha
: arrested him. At first he could get N
il satisfaction. but ut length he was IN
formed that he was arrested for horse
e stealing.
The horror of his situation then force,
II itself upon the young man. He realize,
t. that he was In the hands of mob VIII
Is knew no law but that of Judge Lynch
IN whose court they were jurors, judge
' witnesses, attorneys, and cNecutiOncrs
l. Though thousand times innocent. h
knew he would die If lac could not full,
l. convince these men of his innocence. II
knew that some Of the lOudcSt and mos
< active of these Nigilnltes were the rca
l. horse-lhieves, who would not hesitate L
= hang an innocent man TO divert Su-pic
ION nom their gpplpa ri fs'y We're of tina
II humber he would certainly perish.
III They asked him his name, and he tol,
them Thomas Moore. and then informc,
them that lac was the son of Thoma
Ford, former governor OF Illinois. ''IIov
c can your name be Moore, them said the
r leader, ''if you are the son of "A governor
named Ford!' The young man, amid
= the shout OF derision that followed. at
. tempted to explain. He was dragged
| along. 'Shut up your cacklc," says a
burly ruillan, striking him in the face
, | with his fist.
\ rope was here brought into view,
Take him to yOnder tree" said the
leader.
, My God! gentlemen" protested the
unfortunate youth. care you going to
hang me upon bare suspicionf Before
I todl am Innocent of crime, and If YOU
VIII give me time and opportunity, | can
, prove il.
We have all the proof we want" said
! the leader. "Ifyou've got any prayer 10
say. make Them short. for we have so
many Of you fellows 10 attend 10 that we
haven't much time 10 give each of You"
I'm Gods name, men, l. there no
. chance for life: Must | die like "A dog
, Tor nothing! Give me some chance for nay
life. and il YOU viii take il. don't murder
, me In such a c0Wardly manner"
am were the words Of the poor boy.
They attempted 10 bind him. but with all
the young strength of wcll-buill frame.
intensified and augmented by dcspcrit-
> ton. hc threw them OF. Again. and
again they threw themselves upon him.
, but I'm his despair he hurled them from
him. But what must he the result of thi, .
, What could be the only result? They
were six 10 one. He Was exhausted, over
powered, thrown down, and hi, hands
and feet securely bound. Then rome
| being passed over the fork OF tree, and
: the other end placed about his neck. he
, was asked il he had any confession TO
. make.
No said he, my chief consolation
IN TINS moment of my death Is that ann
innocent never stole horse. WAS
never IN this neighborhood before. You
doubt my stories. | have letters IN NV
/ pocket 10 prove that am who saw I
am For Gods sake, look AT them"
; wen hang you first and look at ynur
letters aitcrwurd,' shouted one Of the
rnliians. Pull away, boys, and let's e,t
away with this business. -
ION, give him minute 10 pray." said
the leader. Here, young man. Won
may have two minutes 10 pray i'm. but
make 'em short
| The rope was Stacked I'M. and the
| nnnmAI g.l IL