Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1875-10-01

l Iitt, DIS lC IIOuo't, III VIZ ""'"o VI
the law he attempted no violence on
him, but had him taken to Van Buren,,
Ark, for trial before the United States
Court. AS there was no United
States law by which an abductor
could be punished, charge was made
against Pratt of stealing the clothing
of the wife and children when he ab-
Quoted them. This charge, however,
would not stand. Pratt was tried
before Judge John B. Ogden, and
there was great excitement about him.
When Mir. Mclean related his gricvan-
ccs on the witness stand, and read the
clandcstnc correspondence between
Pratt and his wife, there was hardly a
dry eye in the court room. Then
when hc began t. understand that
there was no law for the redress OF
his wrongs, an that it was probable
The old sco,,ndrel would be released,
he became So excited that lie attempt
cd TO shoot Pratt Oh the spot, i'll the
presence of the court. 1t was at this
time that the wrlier mad" NcLcan's
acquaintance Il caught hold Of Nc
lean and stayed his arm as he was
about To shoot. and told him that he
must tafc no advantage q! a man III
custody. Til, led to a st'temcnt OF
all The facts OF the east - me. Had
there been at that I me AN mob law
IN Arkansas, pra'' <vonli have been
sumlnarily hanged, SO cxaSperatcd
were the citizens Having, however,
more respect for tn. 'a.t.d States au-
tlori,ics than they might have
had for the States. no outrage was
committed. The "oust pnt the case
off for day, N ha.i ''ra released
early in the no.....-, ." l...'t he might
escape, and he i,nmcliatcI, left town
ON horseback When Mclean and h S
friends found tbs, tiuy started in
pursuit.
On my arrival in Van Barren |
was informed that a iootman had just
come in who had net Pratt and Nc
Lean within 600 yards Of each other
Some half a dozen OF more OF us had
started ont to see what had happened.
Five or six miles out we met Mclean,
who said he had not seen Pratt.
While returning with us he began fol-
lowing the track Of a horse across to
another road Myself and another
gentleman accompanied him, not know.
ing hu; that we were following the
track of one of our mcu We follow
ed pretty rapidly until when about
eight or nine miles from Van Buren,
we got sight of q man ahead. The
writer being in advance put spurs to
sec whether it was Pratt, and to GET
awav from the rencontrc. Mclean fol
lowed rapidly, and Immediately after
the writer passed Pratt for it was he)
pistol ball came whizzing by his
head, and he thought it best 10 sc
out of the road. On looking back
saw two horscmen going rapid,
through the woods and bushes, heart
the discharge of firearms, and saw
the smoke of the powder. Ina shor
time all was still, and vcntured t
return by the road. What was m.
surprise to find that, at the point o
thcrcabouts where the first firing be
can. both Mclean and Pratt were dis
mounted and engaged in hand-tc
hand struggle. ! rode right up, am
in a moment or so Mclean seeme'
suddenly to recollect that he had ar
other pistol, for he stepped back an
drew one, and fired apparently righ
Into the body Of Pratt, who soon fel
Then Mclean made u motion as thoug
to draw knife, and ! rode off an