Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-01-31
A CRANK AT HUNTINGDON,
Who Was About to victimize 1fethodt
Preacher.

Who Was About to victimize Methodist
Preacher.
The people at Huntingdon, West Tennes-
see have been much amused by the devel-
sides in that place man named James Har-
ris. He is a bachelor, aged 35, is well
known as a steady worker. good natured,
strictly economical, and heretofore has been
considered entirely harmless. But no
one ever suspected him of being smart
enough to make river run up hill or set the
world on fire. Harris owns small lot and
house on one of the flats. but the shanty is
hidden by great lumber piles and is SO mac
cessible that a stranger could never find it,
except in broad daylight.
One evening recently Methodist minis
ter, named Mr.. B, was in town, and
started to boarding house to get supper
and spend the night. While en- route
Harris accosted him. The result was the
minister accepted an invitation to partake
of a institutional meal with Harris at the
bachelor of artments. After a dark tramp
fences, around lumber piles, and mill debris,
the house was reached. Harris got up a
supper in his best style, and after it had
been enjoyed, went out and brought in his
axe.
Then, as is so often the case with
men of small minds, who really have
nothing to say, became very loqua-
cious. The minister all the time was per-
picking himself as to how he should
politely escape from his host and the I'M
pleasant surroundings. Finally converse
ton turned upon the Guiteau case.
"Wel Mr.. B - what do you think of
Guiteau? " said Harris
He ought to be hung" was the sensible
reply.
''Well, 1 don't know bout that Mr. B. I've
been reading the paper some and studying
about it a good deal l believe he was in
spired to kill Garfield"
This declaration of course startled the
preacher, nor were his awakening appre-
tensions diminished any by seeing the en-
thusiast carefully run his thumb along the
blade of the axe.
eyes," he continued, 81 do believe it.
and I've got an inspiration; it's to kill a
man, and he is in this room now"
Immediately he extinguished the light
lIoLl INC CduC1c, dilu Cdlleu OUT III painfully
deliberate tones, mir. B, are you
ready"
1t is needless to say Mr.. b was not
ready, at least he did not want to go in that
manner He knew he was in the power of
the crank, yet, under such peculiar circum
stances, had presence of mind to seem
ingly acquiesce in the desire and opinion.
but not to any alarming extent did he ac-
quiesce.
NO." said the expected victim; "Pm
not quite ready, jim; not till l can tend to
one or two little business matters If yon'll
show me the way up town We'll GO and at
tend to them. and then I can come back
with you and be ready.
This gave the inspired" man something
new to think about, and after celebrating
little, he agreed to go, and generously
| postpone the fu'lfilment of his mission
| until the business was attended to. They
went up town. There the minister called a
| friend aside and related the freak of Harris
and asked assistance in escaping. The
friend finally persuaded the fellow
to go to the hotel, block away,
agreeing to take the preacher there after at
! tending to the business mentioned The
cranky individual did go, and patiently
waited two hours for his man to meet him.
| go back to the house, and be butchered. Ii
need not be explained that he waited in vain.
When questioned about it now, Harris
laughs frankly, in a good-natured manner,
and says, Eyes, l meant it; l thought
was right; I'd had three drinks of whisky
that evening, and felt an inspiration"