The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-18
TOM C0RWIN AND OLD BIBB.
now THE FAMOUS OHIoAN PAID 4
DEBT or GRATITUDE.
A Story That Was Told to Luther Latin Mills
and nv Him RepcRted-A Dramatic Scene
In n Courtroom in Illinois Years Apo.

Luther Latin Mills. when he was several years
younger. but almost a. we'll known. delivered
n lecture At Rockford. III. Presiding over his
meeting was avencrablo looking man with
white beard, which hung we'll down toward
his waist Mr. Mills was told that the Chair.
mans Hamn WIS BIB. aui that he was for
morlv observation-disclosures Of Ohio. After he
hal finished his lecture MIR Mills walked home
with one Of the members Of the Reception
Committee. rs they strollcd along Rockfords
almost deserted streets. under the light of tho
I'M harvest moon. Mr. Mills asked:
." " no is this man libbF They toll me he
What exclaimed his companipn. stopping
in the road. Don't You know who Bib tsf
HGycn t yod ever heard the story Of BibbI" !"
o no" En y" ySu 0 Tsn h9G heri fn6 SS
II; Wen. you mustn't iiv" another hour with:
%G l GS@f .sr} Sit it FfAt down here and iii
bank iq Inictt Rockford. III their pipes, and
the farmer told his tale.
AND thts,ts the story of Bibb as related to
he loves best of all to repeat because its hero
was Thomas Iprwin. candidate for President
famous of STUMP sreaker, in anteheiIum days,
Governor OF OHIO, Minister TO Mexico aad
Bhn. in the early DAYS OF Ohirs history was
n"IiN" p"tlGs. lie WIS VS. well Liked. though
When Bibh1 Stepped out Of this once he had
grown tir"H Of me mae,-,rom 4 political ne.
Il Jew wagons and cam" West. settling down on
farm in Ninn"haEo counts.
quiet happy life. respected 10y all his neighbors.
ii~ family grow ul about him, sharing the re-
course of tim" Bihbs oldest daughter had
h,o,s' into beautiful wGnanhood and be.
armcr gWN e, "s c"un tge honest young
=, m" w"Ldtgg was rccbrated, under the
style; hut later in tie cySuing !, aii-nioxi-
Gated chariyart party Paid u call, waking the
left ohio to get away from Iu,' such noise md
confusion; and 80. stepping to the door, angrIiy
Get on my land
tn" morryrnuk"rs laughed at him
III give you Just tire" minutes to leave my
Thrrr was more laughter and annoyance.
Bib went INTO the house.
Your thre" minutes are a most un.' he said
thrcat"ningIy. returning an instant later.
Nor" noise. more beating Of pan and drum.
Promptly upon the expiration of the three
minutes BihI again stepped to the door-this
time with shotgun III Ms hand
Bang, hing, twice SPOKE the old gun.
Bib lad Killed two of the first young men in
Wnu"haEo county.
Quietly stepping back into the house. he
put the gun back on the old rack. kissed his
wife and his daughter. whose wedding night
w. E rFk sy hchSd hrs s droRs
to Rockford. and gave himself up to the Sheriff.
Min%"Gaeo county , in the TEa e OF less than
sons had been shot down led a mob againste
the Jail, but the sheriff by cool action saved
Winnchago county settled down to nurse its
dcep wrongs and heap moledictions upon the
And the newly made wife spoiled her honey
moon and eyes by weeping.
A special Grand Jury was summoned. and
Bib was indicted on two charges OF murder.
There was no session OF court Tor six months,
Bile. and tho countrymen talked over tho
tragedy again and again as they worked In
About week after the shooting there rode
into Rockford stranger on roam mare. He
Vas tall smiling: and wore black ,s3Pm pm
over to the h0stler. and said he intended to
stay q while. No one knew who the guest was
at E : acloeE bra br"aktasied, sadIied his roam roam
marc. rode out into the country. and returned
business TO call on the farmers He dined with
this family. ne got drlnk OF water ,e az that
And wherever the mysterious stranger went
No man had the fund OF stories on tap that
he did. no man in oil Winnebago county could
tell stories a he could, The antics he played,
Gehioid' Fear. humor. sadness. Joy chased
over, his countenance at will. enliveninG and
fSS zach the prvsse d Henps hs
whole household in a roar OF laughter made
the chils creep up the spine or the blood
In the evening the stranger entertained the
the, country hostelry was crowded each night
with men who came to laugh or wonder at the
the man with the iblack sombrero had made
friends with every man. woman. and child In
He continued his daily visits, he praised the
farmers stock. he paid delicate compliments
OF admiration for the gTsndmothers, needle;
work. he smacked his lips and said he had !
he Hn hs
the farmers boy had raised from the foaI. HIS
genial ways won the SEpdenSs 9t al mad, ne
friends Of both sides. and chased away the
clouds with the magic OF his speech.
and child in Winnebago would have almost
walked through fire and water for the winning
Six months drew around and the stranger
stu and bbb case was faed III.
county for years and never one OF such absorb
The farmers drove in from miles about, They
brought their wives and children and lunch
and nitched their heavy farm teams to the
The COURTROOM %r HS was iammed to the doors and
boys hung like monkeys to the window lodges.
Thss st stern e tntt r " Of the bais hammer
ssjlenGed the excited tones OF conversation
The Gefk called he'd s9Rs sd the Judge
S not guilty. ~" said Old RIB viz N
Are you ready for trial p ;
Have you a lawyer"
~ have none. 1 will defend myself" was
blpD h TtSOlulc answer. i
There was a stir in the crowd, and from out \
OF it stepped the man with the black sombrero.
This man hns a lawyerl" exclaimed the
stranger, in q, voice which had almost chalS
lenge In II. I'm defend him"
Who are you ?" asked the Judge.
Facing now Court. now audience. the man
with the sombrero replied In dramatio tones;
~ Back in Ohio they call me ToH corwin-
Tom Gorwin Is my name: Years ago.
path. this man Bib befriended me. He
took me by the hand and led me to higher and
broader paths. Anything that l am in life
owe to old Bib. He was my friend when
needed friends post Of all He was friend
And when they told me back in Ohio that old
and road at once to Winnebago county. and
have been here ever since, and ! intend to
stay hero until the steel doors OF your Jail
are thrown open and Bibb walks out free
mHnl'
The great audience broke into applause at
tn" words OF the famous OhiOan.
why, that = the man that took dinner with
us last week. - said one old farmer
swan I that amt the same Teller what
house said another. always knew he war