The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-20
ryvoY
NY ONLY ARREST.

49, 49,
carr in what capacity just 50 long as got
my living from Uncle sam. Mentioning
nv desire TO the United States marshal
for the northern district Of Florida, 1t "as
cratiGed. was at once ushered into tle
presence Of the United States judge, held
ND my right hand, and, with a heroism
worthy Of O better cause, swore to sup
Dolt the Constitution of the United States,
though at the time | was hardly able 10
SUPPORT my own constitution Taking my
formidable commission and q supply o.
official stationery. | went back 10 the vii
lage of Dead Pine to await orders.
Dead Pine is z small town 50 named be.
there is q large live oak in front Of
The principal saloon. Dead Pine Is not an
imposing place. At that time it had a Ii
tic depot. some stores, some mortgages
farmers and three saloons. II also had "a
malalial back country, with plenty Of
bad men" living in It, a couple OF hal
starved churches. and s0me Christians
ioaning money al from 70 any per cent
monthly 10 their struggling neighbors. Il
WINS also the center Of "a lumber ana tur-
pentine district. where prominent citizens
steal state and government timber ana
call it business.
In q few days my troubles began. | re
ceived a portentous document from head
quarters at jacksonville. 1t had four IN
p~resslye and sinister looking oiicia'
stamps on the envelope. and ordered me
10 at once seize the body Of Thomas Per
kins. supposed to be lurking somewhere
in the county, and bring said body before
the United States court, then in session al
Jacksonville. BY = careful reading Of the
somewhat d!lueive werrant, | discovered
that Thomas had been guilty of perjury ii
violation OF the statutes ia such cases
made and provided.
An hour later the following dispatch
was handed TO me.
OFFICE OF TuL UNITED STATS MARSHAL
JACKSONVILLE Tia
To United states Deputy Marshal, Deaf Pine. Fla
Understand Perkins desperate character CT
help necessary take him dead OF alive
NAHsHL
That dispatch made me very Indignant
Get help. indeed, Not !! was g feet
inch In height, weighed 18j pounds. Ii 1
couldn't alone arrest one man was un
worthy 10 wear the bright red ribbon on
the lapel Of my vest labeled United
States marshal
Besides, if / got help there would not
be enough glory 10 30 around wanted
it all for myself. and determined TO bring
in the prisoner-elect By my own unaided
efforts, or occupy one OF the mIslt collins
at the village undertaken s
The first thing was to locate the gentle
man, who, suffering from some affection
of the intellectual liver, had resorted 10
perjury. | located linn. Six miles from
town. in a voritable wilderness, two miles
from any other house. lived, moved and
had his being, Mr Thomas Perkins, in
whom this great government Of our was
so intensely interested.
The next thing was TO make the neces
sary preparations. | made them. In Che
morning by the bright light, of a beauti-
iul winters day, a stout wagon, drawn By
two sturdy and reflective mules, was
drawn up in front Of the village hotel
which was very inapproprately named
Ht ItALlOAAAAOr I'll NIC A%RAAN t~Ab 'N@
my negro driver and pilot, BIZ. On the
rear seat sat the writer. Under q blanket
at nv feet was Il Winchester rife and q
double barreled shot gun well loaded with
buckshot. although ! was oppressed with
Il narrowing doubt as to whether hadn't
put the buckshot in first. Ia the pocket
OF my ovorcoat was "a Smith & Wesson
doable action sixty-elght and In the breast
pocket of my inner coat a bowie knife that
had once belonged TO a Texas evangelist.
A curious crowd had gathered to sec me
off. They knew my mission, though none
of them knew who ] was after. They
cheered mo with novel suggestions and
well meant advice. "a say, Cap" said
one, "ye'd better take u bottle Of whisky
erlong wi you There amt no barroom
whar you're goin.'"
Ny driver looked approvingly at this
speaker.
He won't look very pretty comm back
here with u furrcr driv clar through his
chis,, will he?' said another.
"'Twouldn't DO fer him to 20 out bar
huntin' at night with that rcd nose shin
in, would hity'
That last remark hurt my vanity. My
nose was rather red, but II come from an
undue partially for stewed tomatoes. not
from any other cause.
When you fire at him, Cap, watch that
of mules hind leg, fer he's goin' ter
kick, said a long, lank Teller on the ont
skirts of the crowd.
Even the negroes had something TO cay
Approaching rae with Difference. one Of
them whispered to me confdentially;
Boss, ye'd best tie dat fool niger
what's drivin' ter the seat, fer soon's he
hears q cap pop he's gwine ter jump out
an rnn like de debil."
Bill gave tho mules n stimulating touch
Of the whip and away we went. For two
miles out we had good roads. After that.
she toughest and worst that ! bad ever