The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-18
A NARROW MARGIN
HE WAS THE OTHER ED
The Rope Over a Limb to Hang a
Man for His Twin Brothers
Act-A LynohIns Bee
Spoiled.


Speaking of remarkable instances
of mistaken identity and the liability
of juries to make grave and irremedi-
able mistakes through too liberal re-
lance upon circumstantial evidence,
said Ed Lawson yesterday to coterie
ensconced in Peabody hotel cushioned
chairs. IT recollect an instance down
in Texas where a lynching was mar
rowly averted only by proving to the
owner of a bunch of stolen cattle that
his stock had been stolen and that the
thief was not the man the owner
thought he was. though the owner had
known this man all his life.
1T was drumming Texas in the inter-
est of a st. Louis tobacco house. and
while at FL Paso was invited by a
ranchman. Uncle Daniel Spinner, to
visit his place in Tom Green county
for a day or two. We left the Pass at
daylight, and after riding all day
through the heavy white sand that is
to be found in broad patches so far
from the edges of what was once
known as the great American desert
and often skirting dense thickets Of
prickly mesquite and passing innumer-
able giant stands of Spanish dag
gers that stand out on the plains like
obelisks, we approached Uncle Dams
headquarters. We were halted about
an hour by sun by lone horseman.
who with stirrups Tapping like wings
on either side of his putting broncho
and sombrero rim lying fiat back upon
the crown from the velocity OF the
pace, pulled up short IN front OF us,
and with a great show of excitement
informed Uncle Dan that the bunch
of cattle that had been cut out OF his
herd a week ago and driven OF by one
of his trusted hands had been found Ly
one of the scouts sent out In pursuit
and that cattle and cattle thief we're
now approaching on the way back to
the ranch.
"'The boys thought they better bring
the pirate to headquarters explained
the horseman. 'so'ze you could have a
look at him before we presented him
with a crown
.UncIe Dan and i rode beside the
horseman a short distance and came
upon a most remarkable scene. A
couple of cowboys were driving about
100 head of stock and in the rear were
about a dozen cow-punchers of the
typical kind surrounding a woe-begone
and mournful individual. who also YVES
mounted on a sorry nag, but had
lariat thrown loosely over his neck,
the other end held by a dozen stout
hands. The individual thus towed
along was oozing perspiration from
every pore. He was hatless. His
and with his hands tied behind him he
had no use for bride reins.
This man. Ed Simmons. has work.
ed for me over 10 years related Uncle
Dan1. as we rode up to the cowboys,
land never knew him to do anything
wrong before. / knew his people down
in East Texas. and 1 have known this
fellow since he was a lad. i would
hate TO see him strung up. but the
nd
IL they have got the right man even
my authority couldn't prevent them
from executing the law imposed on
the most serious crime known in the
cattle country.
When we reached the prisoner and
the guard. Uncle Daniel having al
ready identified his stolen stock by
Uncle Dan said:
ED. i never thought you would do
anything like this
ED only smiled sickly.
Don't you know the boys are going
TO string you up? asked the boss.
~ s'pose so.' was the grinning re-
Spouse. The poor fellow was so scared
and overawed he didn't have sense
enough left to look serious. He never
originally enjoyed much sense, evil
IDENTIFY.
Uncle Dan talked to the guards a
while, and then in a matter-of-foc
way said:
"'wen. take him off somewhere.
don't want to see IL done for Uncle
Dan was a tenderhearted man. l was
not anxious to see the fun, either. and
rode on with the boss in the rear OF the
bunch of stock.
THAT fellow says he's the other
Ed remarked one or two of the cow
punchers that remained to drive the
cattle.
What exclaimed the boss.
HE says he's the other Ed
Uncle Dan pulled up short. Then in
a moment he sent the spurs into his
pony and flew across the sand, re-
CARELESS of the trail, I in his wake
In a few minutes we reached the spot
where the lynching party hal stopped
in the bed of an arroyo, where a cot.
tonwood tree cast a shadow.
Hold up there, Hold up!' shouted
the old man as he got within callinl
distance.
THE lynchers desistei at the wor,
of command and stood motionless unu
we came up. We were none too sot.n
The halter had already been thrown
over a stout limo nd the wretch wa,
about to engage al the iinal prayer
that is allowed even by the execution
ers of Judge Lynchs statutes.
Jumping from his pony Uncle Dar
hurried up 10 the kneeling fellow
Shaking him by the shoulder he ex
claimend:
DO you say you are the other Ed ?
"'Yes. sir
"'Then why in the world didn't 20,
say so a while ago? Stand up till ge
a good look at you
THE frightened fellow stood up
grinning and wiping his hand over hi
eyes.
"'By gosh he's right. IL Is the othe
Ed. Turn him loose. boys. Well, well
The old man was so excited he didn'
know what to do. and only by a vari
ETY. of well turned profanity could n
relieve himself He could only star
and stammer out questions. At last n
got sufficient of the alleged thief
story to explain everything. added L
what he already knew.
Riding homeward he expiaine,
things 10 me. II seems Uncle Dan wa
born and raised somewhere down Il
Brazos county. Near his fathers plac
lived a souatter named Simmons, VIII
had two sons. Edwin and Edward b,
name. so alike I'm appearance tina