Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-01-16
SAVED BY PRAYER.

How Jesse James Happened to Spare q
Doomed Mans Life.
from the Kansas City Mail.]
The famous detective, Pinkerton, has
given the James boys the name Of being
blood-thirsty wretches, who could
never be moved from their purpose of
killing, when once they made up their
mind. -. /,
A gentleman from Clay county, how
ever, related one instances to a Mail re-
porter last evening, which goes to show
that there was, at one time at least,
tender spot in the heart of Jessie.
The story, as told by the gentleman,
is that, two years ago, a man, together
with his family, lived on a portion of
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 division
Of tho spells, each claiming the hide
and tallow. The dispute over this
waxed warm until the man in heat o.
passion said to Mrs. Samuels, "You arc
- liar" The old lady, looking
straight at him, said, Il shall tell JESSE
about this" and, turning on her heels;
went to the house. The next day, as
Mrs. Samuels' tenant was standing in
the road in front of his house, convers-
ing with Nh. Chancellor, of Clay
county, a noise was heard in the corn
field adjoining, and in few minutes a
horse and rider jumped the rail fence
and Jesse James stood in the presence of
the man who had insulted his mother.
At the sight of Jesse the man turned
as pale as death and looked as if he
were about to sink to the earth.
Riding close to him, Jesse said :
"Did not you know that would kill
you for the language you used toward
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 ap-
parently doomed man came screaming
out of the house begging Jesse not to
kill her husband. With q stern COM
mand of sect back into the house,
madame, quick" the woman went in
weeping bitterly, and with strained
nerves she awaited the dread crack OF
Jesse's revolver, which would make her
widow.
Turning to the trembling man before
him, Jesse said: "Get down on your
knees and ask forgiveness for your sins
before kill you"
Dropping down on his knees in the
middle of the public road the man Of
fered up such a prayer to Almighty
God as was never heard in the old
county of Clay. The gentleman pres
ent, an unwilling spectator to the at
fair, said he never heard such touch
ing and beautiful prayer in his life.
With the tears streaming down his face
the man .besaught the Almighty to re-
ceive his soul and take care of his chill
dren and wife, soon to be without a
father or husband. Mr.. Chancellor
during the prayer glanced several times
at Jesse, who with drawn pistol sat
sternly on his horse looking at the sup.
plant before him. Before the prayer
was concluded the stern lines upon
Jesse's face seemed to relax from thei,
wonted severity, and hope dawned
upon the mind of the gentleman that
Jesse would relent from his stern pur-
pose.
At the conclusion of the prayer the
man closed his eyes and awaited the ex.
pected shot that would send him to
eternity. But he was not destined tc
die. The beautiful words Of suppl
cation had touched the better chords OIL
Jesse's heart, and the demon within
him was subdued. Addressing the still
kneeling man, he said: II ought to xii
you, but for the sake of your wife viii
give you six hours to get out of thit
country. Be quick, before change my
mind"
The reprieved man rose to his feel
and poured out such touching volume
of thankful gratitude that the gentle
man present was moved to tears, and h
wept like a child. Jesse, APPARENT.
stern and unmoved, listened until he
was through, and then motioned hin
away, gathered up the lines OF his bridl
and disappeared in the field. The mai
fastened into his house, and the joyfu
meeting with his wife upon the thresh
old of the door was an occasion neve
to be forgotten.
In less than the time given by Jess.
to leave, the man, his family, and q
their effects were loaded into wagon
and going in the direction of NOR
friendly shores.
| MIR. Chancellor says that he firmly be
lieves that the beautiful prayer ofere
by the man was what saved his life.