The evening times., 1898-04-16
M1ssoURIANs MEET IN AFRIcA
One WAS Capt. sebree and the Other
n Negro Murderer.

6From the jefferson City Tribune)
Here is a good Missouri story, whlch
possesses not only the merit OF being ao-
solutelv true. but the additional one of
never having appeared in print. Its au-
thenticity is vouched for by one of the
most accurately informed and widely
known public men in the State:
An elder brother Of Frank T. Sebree OF
Kansas City is Capt. Uriel Sebree, dis
tinguished officer OF the United States
Navy. The Sebree boys are the sons OF
the late Judge John Sebree, who in ms
dav was one of the prominent citizens OF
old Howard county-"the mother OF Mis-
souri statesmen" Back in the early sew
enties Capt. sebree, then a lieutenant,
was coasting with his vessel along west
srn Africa and cast anchor one day al
small village for the purpose Of taking on
a suopIy OF fresh water and vegetables.
III. soon observed among the natives who
were engaged in bringing the supplies on
board a negro who spoke the English Ian
suage very plainly, although he wore the
garb and had the appearance Of a native.
Lieut.. Sebree walked up to him on the
deck and said: Il notice you speak the
English language; where did you learn
itT"
"In The United States, sir. I was born
in that country"
Born in the United States-what
State"
Missouri sir"
sebrea had become thoroughly inter
ested.
what county in Missouri did YOU come
fr-..In p he asked.
From Howard county, sir. ] was born
there. near a town called Fayette," was
the reply.
when did you leave there"
In 1869. sir"
Light began TO dawn upon the lieuten-
ant He looked at the negro closely. and,
although many years had passed. he rec
ognized in the apparen,1y wild barbarian
Of Africa. the breech-clouted savage, a
boy he had known in his childhood. In
1860 an atrocious murder had been perpe-
trated in Howard county-a murder such
as was sometimes. though not often. COM
mitted I'm the South before the war-a
negro killed his master in cold blood
Search was at once begun for the assas-
sin and every effort made TO apprehend
him. but he escaped TO Canada, and, the
war beginning shortly thereafter, all
trace Of him became lost. 1t all came
ldtk 10 Sehffe -Ae a itNtAHNAfiA. AaNits
then. was the murderer, after all the
long wears. He was fully recognized by
the lieutenant. who decided, however. not
10 anude TO the crime, but again began
his questions.
$50 you lived near Fayetto. Did you
know Judge Sebrce. who lived there?"
1t was now the 'negro's turn TO be sur
prised. "Fo' God man, who Is you, any
how
Il am the little boy that you used to
play with-Triel Sebree-don't you re-
member me. SAM"
They sat down on the deck Of the ship
The polished and gentlemanly officer Of
the United States Navy and the wild and
almost naked savage-and talked over the
DAYS Of their boyhood i'm far away Mis-
souri. No allusion was made by either
20 the tragedy that had caused one 10
leave his native land and become a bar
barian. Old friends were spoken Of and
the negro made many inquiries about
those he had known I'm his young days.
At last as the sun went down. they
parted. the negro going ashore to his hut
the next day and bring with him some
presents that he would like to have taken
10 some Of his old friends in Howard
county; but he didn't come back. and
that was the last seen of him. He eYi-
IDENTIFY had become suspicious and feared
being kidnapped and carried back TO
America TO be tried for his crime.