The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-19
EDWIN AND EDWARD.
RESEMBLANCE OF TWIN BROTHERS
NEARLY RESULTED FATALLY.

a Timely Recognition Stopped the Pro-
ceedings of Judge Lynch's Court In Tex
asa Drummer's Story of His Visit to
Uncle Dan Spinner's Ranch.
Speaking of remarkable instances of
mistaken identity and tho liability of
9urios to mako grave and irromodiable
mistakes through too liberal reliance
upon circumstantial evidence" snid Ed
Lawson, ~ recollect an instance down in
Texas.
Il was drumming Texas in tho interest
oil ST. Louis tobacco house. and whilo mt
FL Paso was invited by n ranchman, Uncle
Daniel Spinner, to visit his place, in Tom
Green county, for day or two We left
tho pass Mt daylight, and after riding oil
day through tho heavy white sand that is
to be found In broad patches SO far from
the edges or what was once known rs tho
Great American desert we approached I'm
clio Dams headquarters We wero halted
about an hour by sun by lone horse
man, who informed Uncle Dan that tho
bunch of cattle that had boon cut out of
his herd week ngo and driven off by one
OF his trusted hands had been found by
one of tho scouts sent out in pursuit and
that cattle and cattle thief wero now APP
preaching on tho way back to tho ranch.
Tho boys thought they better bring
the pirate to headquarters explained the
horscman, &c you could have u look at
him before we presented him with "a
crown
Z "Unole Dan and 1 rode beside the
horsoman q short distance and came rpon
most remarkable scene. a couple of
cowboys were driving about 100 head OF
stock, and in tho rear were about dozen
COW punchers Of the typical kind, sur
rounding woebogone and mournful in
dividual, who not only was mounted upon
a sorry nag, but had lariat thrown loose
ly over his neck, tho othor end held by q
dozen stout hands Tho individual thus
towed along was oozing porspiration from
every pore. Flo was hatloss His shirt
was torn almost from his back and with
his hands tied behind him he had no use
for bride reins.
This man, Ed Simmons, has worked
Cor me over ton years, related Uncle Danr
rs we rode up to tho cowboys, and never
knew him to do anything wrong before.
knew his people down in cast Texas, and
have known this fellow since he was a
lad. / would hate to SEQ him strung I'D,
but the boys don't stand any foolishness,
and If 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 tho
guard, Unolo Dan, having already identi-
fed his stolen stock by tho brand and
other peculiar features, said:
ED, I never thought you would do
anything like this
ED only smiled siokly.
Don't you know the boys arc going
e. ,,no -o1 hn
:" Il s'pose So, was tho grinning re-
spouse. Tho poor fellow was SO scared
and overawed he didn't have sense enough
left to look serious. He mover originally
enjoyed much sense.
"Unole Dan talked to the guards awhile,
and then in matter Of fact way said
We'll, take him off somewhere.
don't want to see 1t DONE for Uncle Dan
was tender hearted man. 1 wasn't anx-
ious to sec the fun either and rode on with
the boss in the rear of the bunch of stock
That fellow says he is the other Ed,
remarked one Of the cow punohers that
remained to drive tho cattle.
'Whatr exclaimed the boss
"'Ho says he's the other Ed
"Uncle Dan pulled up short. Then In
moment he sent spurs into his pony and
flew across the sand regardless of the
TRAIL, I'D nis "ake. IL 10" miuutes
we reas ed tho spot where tho lynching
party had stopped in the bed of an arroyo,
whore o cottonwood tree cast shadow.
Hold up, therel Hold up' shouted
the old man as he got within calling dis
lance.
1.-THE lynchors desisted ut the word of
command and stood motionless until we
oame I'D. We wero mono too soon. The
halter had already been thrown over q