People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-01-09
Peculiar Plight Of a Caldwell nan

Francis Marion Williamson, Of Cald.
well, to an Eagle reporter,
what, have you gotten into
trouble?" asked the reporter.
Eyes! No! Well, to a certain degree
l have got into trouble, according to
the papers published back at home in
Indiana. Just look at this paper"
The gentleman passed the reporter
the Fountain County News, in which
was contained full account of the
murder Of Fl. Fl. Leonard at Wichita,
Kan, Oh Sunday, Nov. 18th. Then
there was column article giving a
full pedigree Of Mr.. Williamson from
his birth up, and how the sad news
had cast gloom upon all his friends.
You see," said MIR. Williamson, Il
am not looking for the man that looks
like me, but / am looking for the man
10y that name, who, in giving his
history in the Eagle, said he was from
Indiana. l want to meet him and
learn all about him. You see, my
friends back in Indiana are mourning
over my fall, while am as free as the
birds Of the air.
There seems to have been strange
fatality connected with me ever since
l left home over twenty years ago and
came to Kansas. This fatality is re-
markable in another instance: When
| came TO Kansas my old classmate,
Henry B. Jones, came with me,
and whether there was anything in
the signs of the moon or not, the
same strange fatality has followed my
classmate.
I'VE both subscribed for the home
paper when we left. / settled in
Sumner county and my friend took
up his residence in Chautauqua coun-
ty. In about year l was startled by
reading a long obituary notice in the
home payer concerning the sad death
by drowning in the Verdigris river OF
my old clasSmate. The notice went
on to give full account Of Jones' life
and a full account Of his death, and
the finding Of the body.
What was my surprise to pick up
the home paper in few weeks after
this and find that, according to the
paper, 1 had been hung in Barber
county. The account went on to give
the full particulars as to how had
been captured on Mule creek with
stolen horses in my possession by a
vigilance committee, was given trial
before Judge Lynch. made a confess
sion, told of how | was forced to
mount a horse and driven under a
tree and left hanging between heaven
and earth. The editor was not con-
tent With this but proceeded to give
a column lecture. to young men about
growing tired Of the old home and
rushing out west. He spoke Of me as
a boy, then young man, who was
highly respected, and then Of my sad
death.
81 looked up the case and found
that man had given his name as
Francis Marion Williamson Of lndi
ana, had actually been hung on Mule
creek as alleged in the account.
"Of course l made haste to correct
the report about me being the mar
that was hung, and the paper pub
lished my letter, but by some strange
fatality this copy Of the paper die
not reach my friend Jones.
"When the account Of Jones' drown
ing was published he fastened to pub
lish denial about him being the
Jones who had gone into eternity BY
the water route. This paper failed
to reach me and mourned my friend
as dead. He mourned for me as hav-
ing been hung.
Finally l concluded to 60 back
home to show the people that
/ had not been hung. Jone:
also concluded to go back and
show his friends that he had not beer
drowned. We met on the fair ground:
and otwo more surprised men you
could not have found anywhere.
II thought you were hung?" said
Jones.
II thought you we're drowned"
declared. r..
swell, we had time explaining
our deaths to our friends.
"Now comes this last and Iwant tC
see Francis Marion Williamson for an
explanation.
About fifteen years ago Jones
came over to see me and we went on
a hunt. 1t was reported that man
named Jones and one named William
son had been killed by the Indians
and it got back in the home papers.
l am getting tired Of being hung and
killed SO many times, and want to
send the paper copy Of an alibi."
| Tho mon nac intrndupad IN tho