The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-02-27
HALTER AND BOWIE.


fArini.g F.rape 81 . rs..e.aesan fre@ the
clutches of Judge Iyseh.
Froa sas Lesanoa Junction spre, % Ca Esasr~.
When the nor.h-bouud passenger tram
over the Knoxville branch of the Lonis-
vile and Nashville Railroad stopped at
Crab Orchard Station this morning, tall,
slender. rough-lookins man got aboard,
with ticket to Lebanon, and. after the
train had got fairly under way. IT vas
learned that the individual was Heddy
Svayxe, Of Eentress county. Tenn, who
nad made his escape from a mob nj
point 1--WE miles from Barren Springs. IN
that county, on Saturday morning last
Learning that Swayze was something OF
desperate. and that he was inclined 10 be
somewhat communicative. the EHas,rer
representative sat down and drew HIM
out as follows:
They tell me you have had rather
rough time Of il within the last day or
two?"
"Yes. sir: live in Fentress county.
tennessee. and certain people there nave
tried fl a year or two to impl,cats me IN
moonshining ard other mean do,ngs there.
and in nv attempts TO resent the bee u
was necessary for me 30 kin one man. IN
SATURDAY. morning last. party OF nvs
masked men came TO nv home before day.
light and called me out. got up. slipped
nv bowie-kuife into my bootleg, and
went out into the yard. when one OF the
men said: 'Heddy. you are charged with
committing rape on Sue Brown, and We
have come to settle with YOU for u. told
the men that had never heard OF any body
nv the name of sac Brown and was not
guilty Of the offence; but they insisted
tina, l was. and quicker than ] can tell II.
two OF the party seized me by the arms
and started me of 10 the aide OF the hill
In sight of NV own house, and there they
made an attempt 10 secure me with ropes
One Of the party kne!t down and procseded
10 n. INV feet, while another searched me,
and two Others were engaged fixing rope
over the limb Of tree Ia hang me. Seeing
that they evidently meant business. U
rrached down into my bootleg, got my
knife. and, after cutting the rope from my
feet, quickly plunged the blade into the
side OF the neck Of the man who vas
doing the tying. He fell over on his side.
and / never saw him afterward. then
,tarted 10 run, when one o! the men enga-
yed fixing the rope upon the tree seized
me. and I thcre-upon cut him down with a
single swing Of nv right arm. and then
felt some what relieved. Just at this point.
however, | heard the click Of two pistols,
and almost at the same time the hammers
Of both fell, one firing and the other ms.
sing. then got hold Of club and feiled
the man whose pistol fred. and then
made nv escape; and here am now. go
ing to my brothers, in Taylor county.
Ky"
DO you think they really intended to
hang your e..
Yes sir; there can be no mistake OF II.
and when my wife started out after the
pistol shot was hred somebody fired at her,
and heard her scream. and don Z know
weather she ia hurt or not. ! have had
rough time Of % since ] left hom". Have
travelled every way. and over the worst
roads ever saw.
They tell me that you are quite des-
pera.e man. Swayze: how is THAR
well. | don't know, but, II you had all
the hardships TO stand that have stood. !
expect you would be hard one. too tAt
The same time his ey. blaziag sercsness
that looked rcvengefal. indeed
care you going back TO TennesseeF
mo. sir not with my own consent. and
| don't think they will send me back IN
der the circumstance.
ibid you kill either Of the men on
Saturday morningf
II can not tell. The wound that gave the
man that tied me think will prove fatal.
for she went in up 10 here. Here he
shove the knife. large, rough, ten-ineh
blade. old fashioned bowie. and Described
the wound rs penetrating parallel with
the main arteries of the neck. on len sid.
Swayze. az before stated. u . tail.
| roughlookiDg man. with dark. sandy hsir'
and his nose j. large AMI inclined 10 b~
twisted TO the right There were two men
with him who seemed 30 understand his
| troubles and 30 b. accompanying HIM u
see fair play IN case he was ,ns~sfered
with in any way. The men who aeooinpsr
med HIM say that they live in the north
ern part of f.ntre.s county. and never
heard of a rape being committed on any
body named Sue Brown. but that such
might have occurred, but they do not be-
lisve that Swayze knew anything OF u.
swayze denies the charge. and says that
| he never heard Of any such person or
| rape being committed
II