The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-05-14

OF johnson County, 4iosouri-A
Young Doctors Bnterprise-A
Frightened Boy-The Singular
Experience Of . Wedding Parry.

Twas in the yean sixiy-eeven and eight
"just after the byes were all scatthered and
bate" II was then they hsd lively times
in old Johnson county. The recolIeciions
by one who was then boy, Of q few incl
dents that occurred in and around Warrens-
burg, might not be inappropriate at the
present time. The country had begun to
settle up with all classes Of industrious peo-
pie. The "boy~" from both armies had
come home from the var. and we're settling
down to business, determined to rebuild
their wasted fortunes, and forget the petty
spites and grudges that had been engender-
ed BY the cruel var.
But there we're some hard cases. Mean
men before the var, they had tasted blood
and were not satisfied. They had los; all
moral senae and all semblance to man ex-
cept the outward shape. They would trav.
ere the country s,ngly, and sometimes three
to five in company, robbing and numbering
at every opportunity. At times, to vary the
monotony of their occupation, they would
come to town, get gioriously drunk. clean
out the "shebangs," insult respectable mcn
and women and. in short, stake the town."
Bad men winked at these repeated outraees
and good citizens patiently waited with the
hope that such state al affair, the con-
sequences Of . disastrous var, would nat be
of long continuance. Bnt things grew from
bad to worse, and finally "forbearance ceased
to be virtue" From that time dated the
organization of the " Vigilanten."
There we're several men having their
headquarters in that county, veil known To
everybody as horse thieves and murderers
in fact they had grown reckless and did
not make much secret Of their doings. a
terror to all law-abiding people. they
roameA the country armed to the teeth with
navy revolver and bowie knives.
One fine morning just As the good people
Of Warrensburg we're hurrying TO their re-
spectlve duties, and the bells we're ringing
up the merry school children. report came
that man was found hanging to q black
jack tree in the edge Of town. Many re-
paired to the spot, near where the Normal
School building nov stands, and sure enough
there, hanging to limb of a small oak, was
the honorable ~ Mr.. JEFF. Collins. hrs
tongue hanging out, his eyes wide open,
and apparently staring wildly at the heav-
ems, his body turning around and around,
swaying to and fro IN the breeze like pen
dulum, presenting a mot CHASTITY appear
ance. Hundreds Of people. men, women
and children, aocked to the spot to gaze
upon the awful scene. 1t is said his body
was left hanging for tao days. no one hav-
ing the courage to cut it down, and very few
know what ever became Of the body. Bu,
the experience Of young man about that
time will probably throw some light ON the
matter. lie was passing along the road or
street near where the bridge spans the 'big
cut" the second night after the hanging, and
night heing rather dark he carried a lantern.
Suddenly he heard the wheels of a buggy
approaching and q voice called out in an
angry tone, elbow out that lantern. damn
it; you'll scare my horse" BY this time
the buggy vas upon him and instead OF put
ting out the light he stepped to one side and
raised the lantern to catch glimpse of the
occupants and vas surprised to find the
driver If the vehicle to be no other than
young Doctor p. But there was another
passenger, and his hair stood on end and
his knees struck together As he recognized
the form of jeff. Collins seated with its
back against the dash board, stark and stiff,
with portion Of the rope still around his
neck, and the same wild and deathly glare
in his blood-shot eyes. jeff. vas not alto
gether bad looking man. He vas tall and
straight as an arrow, wiry and muscular.
dark complexion with dark moustache and
imperial and long. dark. flowing hair. He
was the popular image Of the Italian brig
and. Jeff's skeleton, no doubt. now adorns
the back room Of some doctors Office not
many miles away.
Not long after that gay party of ladies
and gentlemen we're seen to get into their
carriages and were driven hastily in q
westerly direction. Their destination was
the resident Of Mrs. Scrusgs. about four
miles vest Of town near the old
English mill. Arriving there quite 4
crowd had already assembled-the beauty
and wit of the neighborhood. To use .
stale quotation, "fair women and brave
men had gathered there and everything
went merry a marriage bell" In truth
il Was marriage: il Was the occaslonrof the
inuptials of Mr.. - and Miss jennie B.
Amid the tripping Of nimbIe feet, and the
sounds Of sweet music, the ripples of sweet
laughter were borne out on the evening
breeze, keeping time-time-t,me 10 the
popping Of the tipsy champagne corks. 1t
vas truly "feast of unit and . How of
soul" And it was not till the small hours
Of the morning that the pleasant party.
bid each other goodbye, and rhowered
farewell congratulations upon the happy
bridal pair. The moon had risen, but
dark clouds hoverd DER the sky and At
times obscured the light Of pale Luna's
face. As the procession returned towards
the city the party gradually grew quiet and
even drovsiness having over
taken some Of those Who had been the most
during the evening. The groom
and hls fair partner together With the mi'.-
lister and q particular lady friend. occupied
the foremost carriage, which vas . large !
open pheton. They too became drowsy,
and would have continued in that
state until the city was reached
had j. not been for . ridiculous
incident that occurred while they we're
crossing the skirt of heavy timber near the