Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-09-10

Office and two men had gone through the
place for whatever they could snatch up,
while third waited outside. This third
man was me Joe Button, so they said, but
was not one Of tie trio. aud my name
was not Joe Bntton. There was fellow
by that name who was professional bur.
glar and horse thief, roaming around the
country and occasionally visiting the towns.
He had been arrested in Kansas City,
Leavcnwcrth and St Joe, and his face
was 30 we'll known to the officials that
they thought they could not be mistaken.
That is, you understand, looked so much
like the rascal that thsy would not doubt
of my being him in fact.
could advance no argument to shake
the belief, and was locked up to await the
result of the pawnbrokers injuries. /
had not long to wait as he die6 that
night, and sull account of the tragedy
was handed ME in the morning paper
Soon after breakfast | was visited by
three citizens, who at once confirmed the
jailors assertion that was the notorious
Joe Button. | asked them to telegraph
here aud there where | had acquaintance
but they only laughed at me.
Before noon, dozen persons had call,
ed in and identified me as Joe Button,
and lawyer had visited me to offer his
assistance. | told him my story, and he
laughed in my face.
THAT'S too thinl' he laughed. "You
might as well claim to be your uncle, and
done with it. No, if you want me to de-
fend you. you must give me some better
foundation than that.'
AT the preliminary examination I lad
no chance. They secuted mystery; they
were just as sure tbat'I was Joe Button
as was sure that | was not, and 50 I was
bound over to the higher court to be tried
on heleharge Of robbery and murder.
didn't feel so frightened about the
matter until had been bound over. In
fact, | had laughed at tie idea of the mis-.
take runniuga a wee k without being detcc.
ted, but now things began to look dubi-
Gus. There was paper at Weston Mis-.
souri,, on which had worked, and | was
personally acquainted with the editor and
his wife, having known them in New
York State. But every time I said any.
thing about writing or sending for any
body, the jailor would scoff at the idea.
and declare that | was up to some trick.
Thus matters ran on for two weeks
My trial before the highest court was ap.
pIoaching, when one day the corridor
door was opened and the jailor shouted |:
"Here, Joe, your sweetheart is coming
in" wss
The woman had rather hard looking
fs;e, and had come up from St. Louis to
take farewell ofber lover. or To aid him
in any way possible. She came up, shook
hands and said: -
"Well, Joe. this is bad matter" /"
"My name is not joe" I replied.
She leaped back the moment she heard
my voice, and then she asked me to step
to the window where the light was better.
She took but one glance before she tell to
laughing.
"Best joke | ever heard Off she laugh.
ed.
"Nhy, you are as near alike as two peas,
but can see the difference very plainly.
Joe got away, and they are holding you.
Ila |! ha ha!'
She had good deal Of common.sense
about her. AS soon as over exultinp that
her lover had escaped, and that such a
mistake had been made, she asked me for
particulars, and / went or er nv story for
the fortieth time.
"They are pack of fools!' she cried,
very indignant. IF nothing was done
they'd hang you and never know the diff
erance; new, tell me what you want !
Joe is safe out of the country, and I'll
help you any way | cau."
asked her to go TO Weston and tel!
my newspaper friends, and she left the
Jail and was off by first train. The edi-
tor, his wife, and come Of the boys came
down and swore me clear, though even
when their testimony was in, there were
those who still asserted that | was Joe
Button. Ifit had not been for the girl,
| really believe Cat the excited fools
would have launched me from the scaf.
fold.
burning the Candle Of Life nj
Beth Ends,