Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-07
MISTAKES WILL HAPPEN,

A1m ne uAS 10 Tusil u HAL ous uhiVi
rr,e and swing him up to a limb because
he happens to be riding horse stolen the
week before. It's the easiest thing in
the world to be mistaken, and it's
pretty good idea TO go slow until you
know you are dead right.
t)ne night last spring was at the Bis
marck house. in Decatur. Ala. The no
tel was over full. and l not only had to
sleep in room with four beds in it, but
there were two men to y bed. 1t was
| either that or walk the veranda. and 50
| We turned in together and went to sleep.
Part of the crowd was to get up at 8
| O'Clock in the morning, and was sound
asleep when my partner crept out Of bed
| to take the train. In fact, all were out
| Of the room when l awoke, and break
| fast was on down stairs. | dressed and
went down without finding anything out
of way, and was smoking an after break
fast cigar when man approached and
observed:
Sir. You are my prisoner.
Charged with murder, supposey'
laughingly queried.
Almost AS had. sir. It's grand lar
ceny-
"Woof. But you don't mean it.''
Read tins. sir.
! And he handed me a telegram from =
| station twenty miles north Of Decatur.
! which read:
| Arrest and hold the man who shared
| the bed with me in room No. A.. He
stole all nv money. Hunt"
tried to explain, but the constable
had duty to perform, and he performed
it, He was to hold me until Hunt could
get back, and we sat together on the
veranda for the next two hours. Then
man dropped off the south bound pas
senger train and rushed up to us with
the explanation:
"Ah! you scoundrel but | was too
sharp for you.'
.'ls your name Hunt
Yes. sir"
We'll. ! want an explanation of this
matter. | was the last one up, aud if
you were robbed don't see how
Hes got my coat on his back RICH,
herer' sIlonted Hunt.
So ! bad. but it fitted me to r, was
Of the s. me cloth and cut. and had had
no occasion To inspect the packets. In
the breast pocket was a wallet with $500
| in it, and on Hunts back was my own
coat. He was to blame for the change,
having got up first and taken my coat
He did not discover the mistake until he
went to pay his fare on the train
One day in a Kentucky town | went
to IA livery stable to get horse for
ride into the country. After the rig was
ready it looked SO much like a thunder
shower that decided not to take il out
A stranger came in just as was going
out, and later on saw him drive by the
hotel with the horse. Three days later
and 100 miles away a sheriff came up to
my room at the hotel and said:
We'll, you'll have TO go with me-"
Which way
The Jail way"
For what:
Stealing 4 horse and buggy at Blank
town
But never did"
oh. come now, be reasonable. Its
dead sure thing on YOU and if you'll tell
ME where the rig is Ill remember the
favor
My friend. did you ever hear Of Davy
Crockett | asked.
Heaps of times.
He had a motto. you know"
Yes. and I've followed it, Here's
your description 10 a dot. and I'm going
right ahead Where did you leave the
rig
warned him that lie was making a
mistake. but he rolled his tongue in his
cheek and said he would take the
chances. ! therefore accompanied the
sheriff to the county Jail. where found
two white men and four negroes locked
up for various offenses. Their greeting
was as hearty and cordial AS | could de-
sire. and the sheriff had no sooner de-
parted than was patted on the back and
invited to tell my story. told it and
was laughed at for trying to stuff old
veterans with any such chaff. l slept
on pine bench in one Of the cells. and
was rather glad when morning came
knew the sheriff had autographed for
the livery man to come on and identify
me- and put in about four hours prac-
ticins on the way meant to crush him
when he appeared. AT 10 o'clock, when
he appeared. was trying to understand
q game Of cards called euchre or echo
or something like that. My partner was
. negro, in for cutting somebody with a
razor. and | remember he was saving
that he had lone hand and had mop
ped the floor with the vicious opposition.
1t might have been lone hand. or
solitary ham. or a full hand-I cant say
| remember, however. that some Of the
cards had cbromos on them. while others
were covered With spots.
The livery man came in With a look of
fond expectancy III each eye, but the
moment he saw me his jaw fell and he
gasIed:
why, you haven't got him here for
stealing my rig!'
Why. Of course. Isn't Re the chap"
We'll. you are an idiot and no mis-
take! You can get ready to sweat for
this.'
i But it turned out that the Ivory man
had given my description in place OF the
other mans. having mixed the two Of
US up. The sheriff offered me $500 at
the very first pop to give him a receipt
for damages, and guess he would have
come up to 1000 if had hung out. l
think the vine ard cigars cost him about
$15. and don't believe his hair has got
back t, its old position vet.
| And it also happened that once went
into jewelers.. in Nashville. to get .
kernel Of corn. peanut shuck, or some
other trifie, picked on. Of the works OF
my watch. As l went out another man
came in. and it seemed that this chap
grabbed five rings from = tray and broke
for the woods. The jeweler had me fresh
in his mind. and when he described the
thief he even told of an abrasion on nv
face. This was at O'Clock p. IN. As
came cut Of the supper room at the Max
well house that evening policeman took
4 ny arm from either side, and one of them
kindly whispered;
Now, then, come quietly. or it will be
the worse for you.
| went over to headquarters, and sew
| eral officers there declared I was the
man wanted. l was "sent down and
the jeweler notified. He came in about
10 O'Clock, just as | was falling OF to
sifep. and l heard the sergeant telling
HIM that there was no doubt Of my being
an old time crook and q good one Twas
rooted out that the victim might look at
me. but at the first glance he cried out:
Great heavens. but you've got the
wrong man! Oh! Lord-ch. Lord. but