Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-10
LIFE IN MISSOURI.
Judge Henry and His Two Narrow
Escapes From Death.

|
Judge Henry and His Two Narrow
| Escapes From Death.
| 1t was only a few days ago when Judge
| John W. Henry of Missouri was at Will
lard's. The old judge, a Kentuckian by
BIRTH has lived in Missouri since the days
of Benton. He is one of the hest-known
men of the state. Among other beliefs
which Judge Henry entertains he makes
| profound subscription to the doctrine of
the dhello, and holds that everybody should
be personally responsible for his words and
acts. He himself is a gamecock, without a
| white feather on Kim. His inveterate game
! ness showed itself in 1889 when John Walk
| er, then auditor of state, attempted. at
| jefferson City, to assasinate Judge Henry,
who was at the time a member of the su-
preme court vas !, because cause of of dsoIa
| ing case. They met on the street.
II understand you are circulating rumors
| about me-" observed Walker to Henry as
| they met. Walker had on cloak oyercoat,
and under the cloak he held a Colts pistol
| ready to fire. i
NO SIR retorted Henry. mo rumors
John Walker. l saidsyoy were thief and
''Bangr went Walkers pistol. The bullet
| struck Henry on the hand. pioughed along
| the left arm tofthe EboK. and when strik-
ing him on the left breast glanced off. Be
er with his heavy eapai Henry was then
over sixty-five years Of age After the
shooting Henry walked to a drug store and
| had the wound dressed. Walker had to be
Incidents.
Knowing the old gentleman's mettle The
| Star reporter asked Judge Henry whether
| he had ever been frightened
| "Frightened?" said Henry, with such an
air of brisk ferocity it almost made one
wish the question hadn't been put. fright
ened did you say? My son. I've been scared
| out of my wits. Once long years ago was
young. l went to practice law in Narrens-
| burg. Frank Cockrells town. There were a
| lot of squatters about there who didn't own
| title to their farms. Among them was
queer old critter named Capt. Moon Old
| Moon was a little. weasened man who
| didn't weigh 100 pounds, and who having
been shot in the leg in the war OF ISL
miles out of Warrensburg on land he'd
| squatted. One Saturday Moon was in town.
| He was an ignorant old fellow. and some OF
| the young lawyers were having fun at his
| expense They were telling him that some
| smart Yankees had taken title to his land
| and would bring law suit to throw him
| off. They had made Old Moon pretty hot
Just as I came up one of them said:
| "'And here comes Mr.. Henry, captain.
| He is the lawyer for these people. and will
| bring these suits to put you Off the land.
1.-The old captain looked at me in sullen,
| evil way He didn't know me very well
and believed every word that was told him.
"'Wer. sah,' he said at last. when you
come for my farm. sab. you'd better bring
your coffin. You will need 1t, sah
Il thought 1t would be good thing to
scare the old fellow and teach him better
| manners. so I retorted:
"Well If there's to be any shooting over
| this business, captain, we'd better do 1t this
| afternoon.
livery well. sah.' rejoined the captain,
with much dignity. If had weapon, sab,
! I'd be at you sarvice.'
FOL i'm ha6 q
| Office. and if he'd come down I'd take
| pleasure In comforting one upon him, and
| shooting it out then and there
| That's perfectly agreeable to me, sab,
| replied the captain.
II started for my office. and Capt. Moon
| limped after me. My office opened off the
street 1t was dark inside. save for a flick
| ering log fire. The old captain limped in
| and took, chair. 1 went to drawer and
took out an old brass barreled pistol. which
| hadn't smelled powder in the memory of
man. Then I turned toward Capt. Moon
| with this in my hand.
81 perceive. captain I said. with a
| tipge of sternness in my tones. That, now
that I'm here, I have but one pistol
| arising from his chair and limping nervous
| ly about. that being the fact what do you
| propose to do. sah?'
"'Well. sir 1 rejoined. mean to treat
| you Just as you said you would deal with
| me If I came out to your farm. l mean to
| shoot you down like a dog With that I
| suddenly leveled the pistol squarely at
| Moons breast. OF course. I expected the
| old pirate to scream; and run. He disap-
pointed me. AS 1 clapped> the pistol on him
| the little old fellow seemed to shrink to-
| gether like cat. With move like flash
| he reached over his shoulder and took
knife from somewhere and as the freight
glinted on the blade,lIit BOXED a yard long.
| He did 1t like lightning Just as he drew
| the knife he gritted through his teeth:
make center shot. you villain and
with that knife in his hand he came
| straight at my neck like wild cat.
at was too rapid Tor me. I threw down
| the brass pistol and fed, just in time to
keep old Moon from cutting my throat. AS
| fled I expected to get that bowie knife in
my back. But Moon, was lame. and could
run twenty feet to His one That's all that
| saved me. 1t took the whole town two
| hours to explain toa old Capt Moon that
the whole affair wa joke"