Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-18
HIS HEAD IN A HALTER.
BUT THE MOOSE NEVER TIGHT
ENED ROUND The THROAT.
An Interesting story Recalled by the Meet
Ing of Two Men in Washinston-A ..
Statement that Saved victim.

A distinguished locking man was sitting
The waiter had just brought hin, = sample
OF Washington favorite drink. i. hickey"
Before he had taken sip OF it another.
who had Just entered the cafe, walked over
to him, and extending his hand said >
How do you do, MAORI I 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:
Il fear, sir. that you have the advantage
of me"
"Well, major, the first time you ever SAW
me WAS at one end of q rope and you at
the other. Now do you recall ne?'
by all that's holy" cred the major. ex
citedly Selling the other by the hand, ''if it
isn't Blank"
YES, 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 Il
rear room.
Later, Major McMichael yielded to the
requests of some friends and told curious
story. In fact he yielded mp q first class
novel in less than column
TIE MAJOR TELLS A STORY.
at occurred a year or 50 before / came
here" promised the major. "'l was engaged
in cotton planting near Vicksburg. There
were number Of plantations about beside
mine, and in the neighbornoOd was the
usual store, which made a practice OF adj
vaRcing goods, provisions ard money on
crops. Among those who were engaged IN
planting in the neiShborhood was Mr.
Blank, who just renewed his acquaintance
with me. He was northern man who had
married a girl of q good family in the
reighborhood. The proprietor of the gen
cral store had made advances 30 Blank on
his crop but the crop had failed"
'One day Blank weTN over and shot the
storekeeper, killing hin. He was arrested
and lodged in Jail The next day 9 party
of Vicksburgers came over to my house
and asked me to join them in iynching
Blank. l demurred, saying that before
went into an affair of that kind | 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 70 settle for the last years
advances and that it was a cold blooded
murder, for which he should hang. l con
scented to accompany the party.
THAT night we went TO jail, where we
secured possession OF our victim without
difficulty We took him to railroad
bridge. There we fastened one end of
rope about his neck and the other to
bridge besrn, 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 IN opportunity to pray. He
then spoke for tie first time. He was the
most remarkably cool man | ever saw
Notwithstanding his desperate situations
he was as cool as though he were in a de-
batting society instead of the principal in
an impending tragedy.
Tue VICTIMS STATEMENT.
Gentlemen be said, and there was not
a quaver in his voice, gentlemen, before
pray would like 70 make . statement tell
ing you how came TO kill that man
''You can make statement if it is not
long ons, replied our leader
att will not be long he answered Us.
Gentlemen, did kill that old Shylock. It
is true that | was in his debt for last years
advances. 1t is true that | went to him
for advances on this years crops, because
believed that l could make more than
enough to pay me out both years. II is
true that he refused me. / then went home
and told my wife that we had better pack
up and so back north, as we could do notn-
ing here without advances and the store
keeper had refused 10 make any She dis
liked the idea of moving away from her
childhood home and suggested that she
would go to see the storekeeper herself:
that he had known her all his life and she
would make personal appeal TO him. T.
consented to her going, under the circum-
stances, hoping she might succeed where
had failed. She went, she saw him. and
made her pitiful plea.
My God, gentlemen, what do you think
that wretched old SAylock did? He said
he would make the advances provided my
wife would surrender her honor to him.
She spurned his degrading proposition
and returned home in tears l demanded
their cause. She reluctantly told me
My first impulse was to take my gun and
go and kill the scoundrel. But persuaded
by her entreaties | gave over the thought
and slept upon the insult. The next day
brought letter fro % he villain in which
he repeated his proposition. l hesitated
no longer, but took my gun and went over
to his store and shot him dead
SAVED FROM TIE GALLONS.
"'You don't hang this night shouted
throwing the rope from off his neck.
Have you got that letter. inquired
dozen eager voices.
" 1T is at my house. was the calm reply
1--WE will 20 TO your house with you
said, and if you can produce that letter,
and it is genuine, you don't hang at ALL
well, We went to his house with him.
He produced the letter. 1t was examined
and pronounced probably genuine 1t was
determined to compare it the next day
with letter known to be genuine In the
meantime Blank was informed that il