The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-09-20
standing under the Nocse'
Denver News, August 20.

Tn n recent case in the Recorders
Court Attorney J.W. Dunovan told the
following story. 1t halls , ipen' Lon1s
On hot day in July, 1861 heruS,
man was moving his cattle TO q new
ranch further north, near Helena:
Texas, and passing down the banks o.
a stroam his herd became mixed WIN
other cattle that were grazing in the
ALLEY and some of them failed to be
sonoynted. The next day about noon a
hand of about dozen mounted Iexah
r"noars overlook tho herdsman ana dc,
r'apdad their cattle which they said
were stolen. ,
VT" t. was before the day of law and
court houses in Texas and one had
better Kill five men than steal mule
wortb S5. and tho herdsman knew 1t.
He tried to explain, but they tod nm
to cut it short. He offered TO turn
over all the cattle not his own pus
they laughed at the proposition anu
limited that they usually contiscated the
whole herd and left the thief hanging
IN n tree as a warning to others III ike
'"T Tbe moor fellow was completely over
come They consulted apart for n lew
,noments and then told him If he had
onv explanation to make or business TO
do they would allow him ten minutes to
do so and defend himself =,
He turned to the rough faces and
commenced: "How many OF you nave
wiyes?" Two or three nodded, III
many of you have children| Ihey
nodded again. ..,,-;nu 70
s.Then I know who I am talking 10
and von'u hear me, and he continued;
81 never stole any cattle; have lived
in these parts over three years, came
from New Hampshire; / failed IN the
fall OF 57. during the panic; have
been saving; have no home here; my
family remain East, for go from place
70 Mace: these clothes l wear are
rou9h and I am hard looking custo'
mer; but this is hard country; Gays
seem like months to me, and monIns
like wears; married men, you kho"
that but for the letters from nome
there he pulled out handful OF W., wei
worn envelops and letters from his Wlie,
II should get discouraged. l nave
maid part of my debts. Here are tht
receipts. and he unfolded the letters o.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. I expected to sell
out and go home in November hert
! is the testament my good old motnel
gave me: here is my little glrls pic
fnre. " and he kissed it tenderly and con
tinued: CHOW, men, if you have ae
cided to kill me for what am lnnoceli
of. send these home, and send as mucl
as YOU can home from the cattle Wlel
Tn dead. Can't YOU send half TIL
, value, My family will need it," :,
"Hold on, now; stop right thar!
said rough ranger. Now, i! say
hovs. "he continued, 81 say let him 60
Give rs your hand, old boy; that pic
tnre and them letters did the business
You can 60 free, but you're lucky mln'
! ye." H. .,o+ - cold
. big heart, in Texan garb and carrylh!!
= the customary brace of pistols IN III
! belt; 'let's buy his cattle here ana lie
a him 60"
a They did, and when the money wa
I maid over and the man about to stat
he was too weak to stand. The lou
o strain of hopes and fears, being ava.
y from home under such trying clrcum
stances, the sudden deliverance 1rot
death, had combined to render hif
: : helpless as child. He sank to tn
4 ground completely overcome. An hoO
4 later. however, he left on horseback &c
v the nearest staging route, and. as the
d shook hands and babe him good bye
Q they looked the happiest band OF me
/ ever saw.