The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-09-10
HIS HEAD IN A HALTER
BUT THE MOOSE NEVER TIGHT
ENED ROUND THE THROAT.

ton-Given q Chance to Pray the Vic
tim Makes Statement That Saved Him
A distinguished looking man was sitting
in cafe in this city the other evening
The waiter had just brought him sample
of Washington's favorite drink, "rickey. u
Before he had taken a sip of it another,
who had Just entered the cafe, walked over
to him, and extending his hand said:
"How do you do, majorS haven't Seen
you for long time"
The man addressed as major, who, by the
way, is Major McMichael, of the war de-
partment, looked at the newcomer doubt
fully and said politely:
81 fear, sir, that you have the advantage
of me-"
'Well, major, the first time you ever saw
me was at one end of a rope and you at
the other. Now do you recall me?"
'By all that's holy" cried the major, ex-
citedly seizing the other by the hand, eff it
isn't Blank"
Eyes, it is Blank, sure enough-the man
whose life you saved that night"
The two men shook hands heartily, and
after few minutes excited conversation
passed through the swinging doors into
rear room.
Later, Major McMichael yielded to the
requests of some friends and told a curious
story. In fact he yielded up first class
novel in less than column.
THE MAJOR TELLS A STORY.
"It occurred year or so before l came
here" promised the major. 81 was engaged
in cotton planting near Vicksburg. There
were number Of plantations about beside
mine, and in the neighborhood was the
usual store, which made practice of ad-
vancing goods, provisions and money on
crops. Among those who were engaged in
planting in the neighborhood was Mr..
Blank, who just renewed his acquaintance
with me. He was northern man who had
married a girl of a good family in the
neighborhood. The proprietor of the gen.
eral store had made advances to Blank on
his crop, but the crop had failed"
Zone day Blank went over and shot the
storekeeper, killing him. He was arrested
and lodged in jail. The next day party
of Vicksburgers came over to my house
and asked me to join them in lynching
Blank. l demurred, saying that before l
went into an affair of that kind l wanted
to know just what the man had been
guilty of. They then told me the story of
the killing. saying that Blank had killed
the storekeeper simply because he had re-
fused to advance him on this years crop,
he having failed to settle for the last years
advances, and that it was cold blooded
murder, for which he should hang. l con-
sented to accompany the party.
'"That night we went to Jail, where we
secured possession of our victim without
We took him to a railroad
bridge. There we fastened one end of
rope about his neck and the other to a
bridge beam, intending to throw him off
and let him strangle to death. When all
the preliminaries were arranged one of our
own party suggested that the unfortunate
man be given an opportunity to pray. He
then spoke for the first time. He was the
most remarkably cool man ever saw.
his desperate situation
be was as cool as though he were in de-
batting society instead of the principal in
an impending tragedy.
THE VICTIMS STATEMENT.
Gentlemen he said, and there was not |
l quaver in his voice, gentlemen, before |
pray would like to make statement tell |
ng you how l came to kill that man.
"'YOu can make statement if it is not !
4 long one,' replied our leader
1T will not be long he answered us.
Gentlemen, did kill that old Shylock. 1t !
S true that was in his debt for last years |
advances. 1t is true that went to him
or advances on this years crops, because L !
believed that l could make more than /
enough to pay me out both years. It is |
= .,kl 7
ind told my wife that we had better pack |
Up and go back north, as we could do moth
ng here without advances and the store
zeeper had refused to make any. She dis
lked the idea of moving away from her
childhood home and suggested that she
would go to see the storekeeper herself;
hat he had known her all his life and she
would make personal appeal to him. l
onsented to her going, under the circum-
tances, hoping she might succeed where |
lad failed. She went, she saw him, and
made her pitiful plea
My God, gentlemen, what do you think
hat wretched old Shylock did? He said
e would make the advances provided my
wife would surrender her honor to him.
'he spurned his degrading proposition
nd returned home in tears. l demanded
heir cause. She reluctantly told me. |
1y first impulse was TO take my gun and
% and kill the scoundrel. But persuaded
y her entreaties | gave over the thought
nd slept upon the insult. The next day
rought letter from the villain in which
e repeated his proposition. hesitated
10 longer, but took my gun and went over
o his store and shot him dead
SAVED FROM THE GALLows.
You don't hang this night shouted,
hrowing the rope from off his neck.
Have you got that letter. inquired a
oxen eager voices.
" 1t is at my house, was the calm reply.
:" We will 20 TO your house with you,'
aid, and if you can produce that letter,
nd it is genuine, you don't hang at ALL
We'll, we went to his house with him.
lie produced the letter. 1t was examined
nd pronounced probably genuine 1t was
etermined to compare it the next day
nth letter known to be genuine. In the
Blank wss informed that it
Tould be necessary to return him to Jail
-hile we conducted the examination. We
ssured him that as soon as we became alb
Olutely convinced of the truth of his story
e would go in a body to the Judge and
rrange TO bsil him out. A comparison of
le letter with others known to be written
Y the dead man convinced us of the Renu-
leness of the one Blank had.
I'VE then got him out on bail and he was
ever even indicted for the killing 1t was
erfectly justi6able in Mississippi eyes
u yes, Blank made a good crop that year
nd has since prospered, though had lost
ght OF him and even forgotten his fea-
ares. But Of all the cool men / ever saw
e was the coolest, and l have seen some
retty cool fellows under fire in NV time