Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-12-04
SAVED BY A PRAYER.
HowJesse James Happened to.Spare
Doomed Mans Life.
Kansas CitV Mail


wretches, who could never be
moved from their purpose Of kill
ing, when once they made upl
their mind.
A gentleman from Clay coun-
ty, however, related one instance
to a Mail reporter last night that
serves to show that there was, at
one time at least, a tender spot
in the heart of Jesse.
The story, as told by the gen.
tleman, is that a few years ago
a man, together with his family,
lived on Mrs. Samuels' farm.
He rented so many acres from
the old lady, and the renter and
Mrs. Samuels fattened a beef in
co-partnership. When the beef
was killed they fell out over a
division of the spoils. Each
claimed the hide and tallow. The
dispute over this waXed warm
until the man in heat of passion
said to Mrs. Samuels, "You are
a damned old liar!" The old la
dy, looking straight at him, said,
II shall tell Jesse Of this" and,
turning on her heel, went into
the house. The next day as Mrs.
Samuel's tenant was standing in
the road in front Of his house
conversing with a Mr.. Chancel-
lor, of Clay county, a noise was
heard in the cornfeld adjoining,
and in a few minutes q horse and
rider Jumped the fence and Jesse
James stood in the presence Of
the man who had insulted his
mother. At sight Of Jesse the
man turned as pale as death and
looked as if he was about to sink
to the earth.
Riding close to him, Jesse said,
"Didn't you know that / would
kill you for the insulting lam
guage you used to my mother?
If you have anything to say do it
quickly, for you have only a
short time to live"
just at this time the wife Of
the apparently doomed man came
screaming out of the house beg
ging Jesse not to kill her hus-
band. With a stern command
Of "get back in the house, madam,
quick" the woman went in weep
ing bitterly, and with strained
nerves she awaited the dreaded
crack of Jesse's revolver, which
would make her a widow.
Turning to the trembling man
before him, jesse said: "Get on
your knees and ask forgiveness
of your sims before ! kill you .
Dropping down on his knees
in the middle Of the road he Of
fered up such a prayer to M
mighty God as had never been
heard in the old county Of Clay.
, The gentleman present, an. rpl-
willing spectator to the affair,
h said he had never heard such a
touching and beautiful prayer i'll
/. his life. With tears streaming
down his face the man beseeched
: the Almighty to receive his soul
c and to take care Of his children
r and wife, soon to be left without
a father and husband. Mr.Chan-
cellor, during the prayer, glanced
several times at Jesse, who with
drawn pistol sat sternly on his
!. horse looking at the supplicant
IS before him. Before the prayer
{ was concluded the stern lines on
Jesse's face seemed to relax from
/ their wonted severity, and hope
!. dawned upon the mind Of the
e. gentleman thatJesse would relent
q At the close Of the prayer tht
e man closed his eyesand awaited
, the expected shot that would send
q him into eternity. But he was
<, not destined to die. The beauti-
2: full words ofsupplichtion touched
5 he better chords Of Jesse's heart
ID and the demon within him was
4 subdued. Addressing the still
d kneeling man, he said, II ought
D to kill you, but for the sake of
r. your wife and children III spare
your life; / win give you 81,
!. hours to get out of the county
Quick, before I change my mind.
+ The reprieyed man arose. anC
os poured out such a touching vol
n urne of thankful gratitude tina
= the heart of the gentleman pres
-
) ent was melted to tears Jesse
, apparently stern and umoyed
listened until he was through,ans
then lnotioning lim away, gath
cred up his bride reins and dis
appeared in the field. The maj
hastened into bis house, and TIN
Joyful meeting with his wife o.
the threshold was an occasion
n. never to be forgotten.
I 4