Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-10-16
A Story of the Raid.

L *
When "Pap" Price made his famous raid
through this section he gobbled up consid'
cradle riches. The people had been scared
SO often, (sending their valuable movablel
out Of the way for safety, In consequence
| by reports that the ''rebels were coming,'
| that they put no credence In the final as.
| surance that the enemy was really vt hand.
Consequently, everything desirable TO q
needy, hungry army was found In abun.
dance In our Valleys and on the hills apos-
trophized by JEFF. Thompson. Horses,
mules, and beef cattle lnnumerable went to
| join the caravan marching into the bowels OF
the State. A large number of mules belong
| ing to the Pilot Knob Iron Company, all
| branded with the letters up. K.." were
taken among the rest. Next year, after the
war had ended, and the civil arm superseded
the rife, shotgun, cannon, etc., man came
up from Arkansas, and offered, "for cone
sideration," to show the company the where
abouts of about twenty of those confscated
mules. After some hedging. bargain was
struck with him, and an agent sent down to
the locality indicated. Sure enough, he
found eighteen of the quadrupeds, all with
Tue OOupaHy'S DI6uus me- PsoAhv ohOWs
ing. Those in charge Of the animals refus-
ed to give them up, stoutly denying their
identity notwithstanding the "fggers" on
their hides. Then lawsuits were threatened,
but still the possessors held out-a mule
was mule in those days, and too valuable
to be given up without fight. A certain
Squire Edwards who dealt out justice to
that community was sought, and writs Of
replevin were issued for the disputed
property. BY agreement, and to save costs,
the parties made common cause-one trial
to be accepted as disposing Of all the cases.
A lawyer was retained by the agent, while
the defendants, by one of their number, con-
cluded to plead their own case. The at
torney examined the mules. found on them
the deeply branded letters, and, with the
evidence of the agent, felt that he had q sure
thing. The agent testified and the meaning
of the letters given. The testimony for the
defence was somewhat rambling, but each
owner had plausible story as to how he
chad honestly cum by them mules" All
the evidence being in, the attorney showed
His Honor how conclusive the brand must
be as to the proper ownership-"P. H."
Pilot Knob" Company-and, considering bis
case gained, sat down.
The man chosen by his co-defendants to
talk for them, arose, and clearing his throat,
was about to begin, when his Honor inter-
posed:
"Marcus, there is no needcessity for any
further remarks. The court has considered
-keerfully considered-the evidence ajuced
by the plaintiff, and the court must say
more ontenable cause 1t has never heerd. A
stranger comes among us and asks to have
these valerable animils taken from their
present owners and turned over to q kum-
pany he says is In our sister State. The court
never heerd Of no sich kumpany, and doubts
its existence. But that is neither here nor
thar, for a more redikilous matter follers.
The plaintiff claims the letters branded on
them mules -'P. X means Pilut Nobl
Great Scott! Does the plaintiff SO presume
on the ignorance of this court! P-i-l-u.t
Mob! Whar, In the name o. reason, does
the 'K' KUN in-whar kin 1t KUN in? The
court I'll tell you whar. Them letters-'P.
K."-stands fur prices Kavalry'-and the
court dismisses the suitsr
DIR. JACKSON's INDIAN EYE SALE has
proved itself to be q splendid remedy for
piles, 1t is very soothing and never fails to
give relief II not permanent cure