The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-09-16

By any means. He simply took the one
all-suficient glance and passed by and
out Of sight He would no more have
ventured over the fence into the field to
to arrest the desperate than he would
have attempted to put bit in the mouth
Of raging Bengal tiger.
In desultory talk with the station
agent, who was also the telegraphist
near by, the officer learned that Sam
Jones was accustomed once or twice
week to take the cars and ride to n sta
ton about twelve miles above, where lie
was paying his addresses to some lady.
The officer made an arrangement by
which the agent agreed to telegraph him
at the upper station whenever the myth
ical Sam Jones should board tho train.
OF course the agent could be trusted to
keep the secret, as that was part Of
his business, though he was far from
suspecting the importance of the case.
Having done all he could, the detective
took the cars to the station above where
he spent several days in lounging about
and smoking bad cigars while waiting
for the dispatch. At the end Of three
days it came.
"-
Jones has just boarded tho train sits in
last car man with him nobody else in tho
car.
aAgcnt."
The officer had Just enough time in
which to complete his arrangements. 1t
was a warm, sultry day, even for that
season, and as the little locomotive came
Wheeling into the depot, with two
rickety cars behind it, there were five
passengers waiting at the depot Rppnr-
emily to get on board, but as the cars
slowed up one Of these men, with
Winchester rife at full cock, stationed
himself near the side window, assuming
such position that neither OF the two
young men, who sat i'll their shirt
sleeves, noticed him.
The next minute two other men, fully
armed, boarded the rear platform and
entered the door; at the same instant
the detective and friend entered the
front door and moved carelessly down
the aisle in the direction of the two pas
sengers. The latter glanced up sharply,
but saw nothing to cause misgiying, and
continued talking. The next moment
the officer reached point in the aisle
directly opposite the couple. Stopping
suddenly, he exclaimed:
"How are you, John Wesley Har.
din ?"
AS quick as lightning the desperate
threw his hand back to his hip TO draw
his revolver. As he did so one of those
behind him grasped his arm and the
fight began. The two strong men pre-
cipitated themselves upon Hardin, who,
though disarmed, fought like wild cat.
They got him down in the aisle, where
they finally overpowered and put the
nippers on him. While they were doing
this the other two officers were engaged
in deadly struggle with the other des-
perado, who showed an overweening am
bition to mingle in the business. The
only way convenient to dissuade him
was to shoot him dead, which was done.
All this time the other friend held his
position on the outside with his cooked
Winchester, rather more than willing to
fire il only a suitable pretext should pre-
sent itself.
Hardin was taken back to Texas, tried,
found guilty and sentenced to twenty
five years imprisonment. He is now in
the State Penitentiary at Austin, where
saw him three years ago He told me
he was suffering from wound in his
side, but is not without hope that he will
be pardoned by the Governor after serv-
ing few more years. Judging from the
fashion in Texas, this hope is likely to be
gratified, though the crimes he has com.
mitted could not be expiated by dozen
such worthless lives as his.