The Wilmingtonian., 1886-07-31
HE FIRED PILLS.
How an Omaha Physician Shot 10 Say,
A Young Horse Thief.

HOW an Omaha Physician Shot 10 Save
Young Horse Thief.
Omaha Bee.
Talking about the Hoffman libel suit 4"
said a we'll known Omaha physician the
other day, | have always had little SYM
pathy for horse thieves since little occur
renee which happened twenty years ago"
Tell us about it," chorused the auditors
Il was living then in little Missouri
town" said the man of medicine, 'struggl-
ing along as best l could against adverse
fate and the disgusting healthiness of the
community in which my lot was cast Horse
thieving was very common thing in that
part OF the country aud some of the residcu's S
of the county in which lived had formed an
anti-horse- thief association. When horse
was stolen it became the duty of every men,
Der of the association to thoroughly arm
himself, mount his steed, aud start in pursuit
of the thief One day one of the members
of the association lost string of three valu-
able horses The ndentity of the thief was
unknown, but fortunately clew to the di-
rection he had taken was given by boy who
--N@NH HNNAA
going west from town. Within less than
half an hour after the loss had been discov-
cred band of thirty members Of the asso
citation were in hot pursuit of the thief, over
hill, down dale, and through forests. We
managed to strike the fellows trail about 3
O'Clock in the afternoon and followed Il
closely. At half.past I o'clock in the eve
ming we ran across him in n thick clump of
bushes, the horses staked about him. We
closed in about him, and in less time than IL
takes to tell it, the horse thief was under ar
rest count was organized without a
moments delay, and trial lasting not longer
than ten minutes followed. The fellow was
found guilty aud sentenced to die. felt sor
ry for the scamp-tried to ntercede IN his
behalf he was young fellow with VIII, m
had been acquainted for some time, and
whom knew to come from highly respected
parents in llliuos. 1t was of no use. The
captors insisted that he must die, and
only la"ghed at my entieaties. To add to
my disgust, | was selected as the one TO
shoot him.
Say your prayers, boy" said one of the
men to the young fellow, who had been tied
to a tree.
''The poor cuss didn't know how to pray
and asked me to help him. didn't know
anything but the Lords praye,, and tiled
that. 1t went so we'll, and seemed to relieve
the poor fellow SO much that repeated it
several times
Just as rose from my knees the details
of plan whereby | might save the mans
life flashed into my mind. Whispered them
into his ear, and his grateful look, as hope
was revived in his heart, | shall never forget
1t was growing dark aud the men were be-
coming impatient, 50 that determined
to hurry matters to crisis. | had a
double-barlel muzzle- loading shot gun, and
under rretcnse that the loads were not fresh
fired them cff. reloaded them, rot with
shot, but with some very small pills which |
happened to have with me. was pretty
well watched and trembled inwardly lest /
might be detected. But wasn't. | meas
ured of goodly distance on the ground and
and fired, taking low aim. The horse thief
fell over apparently dead. The vig;lantes
mounted heir horses and drove away, leav-
ing me to bury the victim. In less than ten
minutes the corpse was free and making n
bec-line for Kansas. The dose of nils had
not injured him in the least