The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-03-04


hands of one of the soldiers was a
double-barreled shotgun, and at once
the origin of the shooting was known.
Under ordinary circumstances the
prisoner would have been shot to
death without trial or delay. He was
in citizens dress and was not, there
fore. entitled to consideration. His
offense was a pure assassination.
Had the circumstances been re-
versed, and the man in the citizens
garb been a loyalist, and the column
of troops been Missouri Confederates,
in all probability, he would not have
been alive a minute alter the door
was burst open. as Missouri e. MED
crates seldom asked or gave quarter.
The federal commander, however,
seemed to take different view of
the matter. The prisoner was placed
under guard and accompanied the
column 10 Lexing' on, then occupied
by Colonel Mulligsn.
The assassin WIS a burly man of
about 40 years Of age, swarthy, black
haired and bearded, with fierce black
eyes and having much the appearance
of frontier desperate.
His name was soon learned. He
was Colonel Ebenezer MagDffin, the
sou of the we'll known Governor of
H--t"~l--. q Kanine;an nv birth. who
some years before had moved to fet is
County Missouri, and established him,
self not far from Sedalia.
Even ihus early in The war Colo.
mel Magoffin had obtained wide Gel
ebriry. He was an uncompromising
secessionist, and gave all his influence
TO fomeuting rebellion in Missouri.
He was possessed OF excellent scholar.
ly attalnments; he had a winning adj
dress and exercised an almost IN.
bounded influence in bis adopted
Stale.
HIS nature modelled in the best
forms of social lite in Kentucky. his
wealth. and, above al. his limitless
hospitality, his powerful connection
his exquisite poliieness and hearty
geniality, made him general favor
lite, mole especially among the young
men, who regarded him with some.
thing approaching alteration. When
The war broke out he used all his tre-
mendDus power 10 excite disaGec-
ton against the government. He
spared nothing in his effort and was
successful to lamentable extent. He
brought to hear al his oratory, his
conversational abilities. his fortune
TO break down the Union. The mu J.
titudes who seized their shotguns and
rifles in bis vicinity snd fastened to
join the Confederate forces attest his
potency.
Ii vas this out ,rowth of chivalrous
Kentucky, this wealthy land owner,
this hospitable hnst th;s enhnIn-iy
product who, In the desperation of the
times, from the cover of this house.
assassinated two men. They were
given no warning, no chance for their
lives. @They were shot down from sn
ambuscade by one who, by the laws of
war. became by his crime a murderer.
He was turned over by Marshall to
Colonel Mulligan, in Lexington,
where be remained an honored pris-
oner ill the surrender of the place to
Price. was present when his prison
cOOrs were opened. Some of Multi
gan's officers stood in the vicinity.
''Gentlemen," he said. with ex-
quisite politeness of manner, as he
profered his hand and INDUCED in |
hearty handshakings. 81 feel myself
under the greatest possible obIigs-
lions to You for your courteous treat.
ment. | assure you that if circum.
ever permit | will take the
greatest pleasure in reciprocating
your kindness"
All who thus met him were I'M
pressed with his bearing, his unrivaled
ooliteness and his silvery utterances.
And yet he was the assassin who from
covert had wantonly taken two
ives.
All this forbearance aud conslders-
ion had NO effect. Msgoffin threw
himself with bis whole soul into the
ause of the Confederacy and was as
lntiring as ever in his efforts against
he government, and which he con-
inued from the surrender of Lexine-
on TO the retreat of Price 10 South
7estern NJ ssouri. /
One evening in. December an off, =.
er entered the tent of General Steele.
{ Sedalia. After the usual saluta-
ions Steele asked
"Dii you learn anything new in r
our scout up the country ?' '
"Noihing in particular. except that 8
had hint that Magofin is back 4