Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1891-03-05
Col Nat. C. Dryden's Mar
row Escape From Death.
A TEXAS RANGER NAKEs AN AT.
TEMPT TO AssAssINATK THE NOT
ED CRIMINAL LAWYER.
Lawyer Mcdonald and Mr.. Dryden Sworn
Enemies, the Outcome Of the Trial
of the Notorious Vail Case
in St. Louis.


Four Courts last night dream that
Col. Nat c. Dryden would come &c
near being the victim of murderous
assassin, as he did last night at
1889, when he was in Carmody's q
place On North Sixth street. Just
previous to the attempted stabbing
of Col. Drydens another "scene''
was enacted in connection with the
Vail case that was scarce to be ex.
pected to have occurred between
the parties in question.
Last night at the Criminal Court
it was a noticeable fact tina. Col.
Dryden and Gov. johnson were
conspicuously absent.
The latter was not far away, but
The whereabouts of the former was
not known until later on.
When court adjourned Mr.. Nc.
Donald and Mr.. Crews departed
from Mr.. Clover's Office with all
the clothing, papers, etc used in
evidence during the trial, and car
ried all to Mr.. McDonald's office
in the Commercial building. The
defendants counsel then crossed
the street to Carmody's and had
been inside but a minute when Col.
Dryden entered and met Mr.. Nc.
Donald at the screen.
"'Did you mean what you said
when you accused me of attempt.
ing to get Vall's case when he was
in Jail at St. Charles2" asked Col.
Dryden, with fire in his eye.
II certainly did not make the
statement for pastime," responded
Mr.. Mcdonald.
"Well, did you mean it2"
81 did,"
"Do you think it Is true?"
| VI have every reason to believe
it. My information comes from re-
liable sources. Come, let's have
something"
mo, sir; l wont 60 with you
That statement ia not true. If you
want to drink, drink with me-"
"Well l should say not!" said
Mr.. Mcdonald, and he passed ou,
of the door soon followed by Mr..
Carmody, who was anxious to heal
the breach that had suddenly spung
open between two old friends.
They both took a positive stand,
and neither would bow the knee.
Col. Dryden's friends would come
from the inside and the Mcdonald
representatives would plead within
but neither gentleman would un,
bend to 60 and meet the other, &c
they parted enemies.
The Mcdonald party stepped
further south on the opposite side
of the street, and were soon follow.
ed by Mr.. Carmody, who again en-
! deavored to get Mr.. Mcdonald te
return and become friends, but the
gentleman was obdurate, saying:
81 have nothing to take back
either in court or private; l have
sald nothing but wha: I meant, ano
l have no retraction to make. 1
Col. Dryden wants to meet me il
friendship he must come to me un'
der the circumstances. l certainly
will not go to him.
| Messrs. Carmody and Mcdonald
then went to the Southern Hotel.
ALMOST A TRAGEDY.
During their absence a much
more tragic event was in progress
in Carmody's place. Three stran
gers, who claimed they were from
rexas, entered the bar and ap
preached Mr.. Dryden, who had hi:
back turned at the time This
strangers were noticed to be actins
rather strangely, by several of Mr.
Dryden's friends, when all OF sud
den the smallest of the three Tex
ans pulled huge dirk knife from q
sheath at his side and was abou
to plunge it into the left side o.
Col. Dryden when he was knocked
almost senseless by a bystander
who at the same time yelled fol
| Dryden to "look out, for you arr
about to be killed !"
Col. Dryden wheeled instantly
and pulled his revolver just in tim'
to face the other two Texans, WHIT
did not dare make any false move
ments, for they were covered will
revolvers from all sides in an in
slant. The scene was a tragic one
and was over almost as soon as i
began, and the little Texan mad
his escape as quick as he could re
gain his feet, and took his ugly
looking double.edged weapon will
him. No effort was made to cap
ture him, az the situation arouns
Col. Dryden and the two bad mel
from Texas was just at a critica
point when the man with TIE dag
ger few out of the door. Almos
in less time than it takes to recit
lit here the remaining Texans with
drew by the front door before
policeman could be found, an'
made good their escape.