The Elbert County tribune., 1900-03-22
SENATOR BEyERIDGE.
INCIDENT IN CAREER OF THE
INDIANA SENATOR.
In Pioneer Days In Kansas the Senator
Saved Man from being Lyachsd
and Was Himself In Dsngsr-savsd
By Friend.

Senator Beveridge OF Indiana lived
In Kansas IN pioneer days and had a
varied experience as a frontiersman,
once having a narrow escape from be-
Ing shot by a gambler at Dighton,
where he practiced his profession.
One day. while making his regular
trip from Fort Dodge to Fort Wallace.
Steve Grosscup, the stage driver. was
taken sick at Dighton. Beveridge had
him carried to his room In the crude
hotel, and there he nursed the burly
plainsman through a long and danger
GUS illness. Grosscup was much af-
fected by the incident. and in return he
would have gladly laid down his life
for the pale-faced youth AS he start
ed out on his trip after recovering his
health, he said to Beveridge. with tears
in his eyes:
I'm great big. rough fellow. and
amt much used to kindness. You've
been good friend to me. ! shan't for
get 1t. Ill don't know Just what to
say, but some time, somehow, I'll pay
the debt"
His words were prophetic. Although
Beveridge soon forgot the Incident, the
time came when he was forcibly re-
minded OF it. A horse had been stolen
and great was the excitement at Digh-
ton. On the frontier. horse stealing is
the most heinous crime on the calendar
and the guilty one generally pays the
penalty with his life. Jim Wells. a
well digger, had been found with hal
ter in his hands, and 1t had been iden-
tihed as belonging to the lost horse.
Wells was very drunk and was unable
to offer any satisfactory explanation OF
his possession of the halter. His ac-
cuser was Jim Orr, a gambler. and
Wells most bitter enemy. In those
days circumstantial evidence OF the
weakest sort was sufficient to convict.
Courts were unnecessary. A lynching
bee was Immediately planned and
Wells was being hurried along to his
doom by the mob. when Beveridge hap
pened on the scene. The spectacle was
too much for him. His ideas of justice
were outraged. His lawyer instinct as
serted itself. and. amid great personal
danger, he stopped the infuriated mob
and began pleading for Wells life. 1t
was his first case and in 1t he achieved
his first great triumph. The very au-
dacity Of the pale young tenderfoot
commanded attention and Beveridge
began pouring out his impassioned
pleadings for the man whom he believ-
ed to be innocent. What right had
they to take his life? Wells was drunk
and unable to explain why the halter
was found in his possession. Wells
had always borne good reputation.
He had bitter enemy. Was It not
possible that this enemy had placed the
| halter in Wells hands for a dire pur-
pose? Thus Beyeridge argued with
the mob until he conquered 1t. Wells
was released and was subsequently
proven innocent of the charge.
Beveridge's illusions to Wells enc
my were so pointed that every one un-
derstood whom he meant. Orr was
especially bitter toward Beveridge, and
at the dinner table that day he sought
quarrel with the audacious young
man, and he succeeded in getting 1t.
Beveridge was very outspoken in ex-
pressing his opinion of the gambler.
| Orr sprang to his feet with an oath and
brought his clenched fist down heavily
upon the table. He abused Beveridge
roundly and left the room swearing
that he would kill him. 1t was no idle
threat. AS Beveridge was returning to
his office after dinner. Orr stepped out
from behind small building and con-
fronted him. Orr's features were tense
with passion, and. as he drew his re-
volver there could be no doubt as to
his purpose. Beveridge was >unarmed.
In the face of what he then believed
certain death he could not suppress a
feeling of disgust and anger for the
cowardly villain before him. He de-
nounced Orr with words of furious In
dignation, and all the time he was
talking he could not help wondering
why Orr did not raise his gun and
shoot.
He simply stood there in a shifting.
uneasy attitude. meekly submitting to
the most CALLING denunciation. When
Beveridge had finished his tongue lash
ing. he turned about to leave. and there
was Steve Grosscup. the stage driver.
with his revolver leveled at Orr. He
had heard Orr's threat at the dinner
table and had quietly followed his
friend and benefactor In order to pro-
| tect him.
Are you done skinning him, Mr..
Beveridge?" Grosscup asked calmly.
Steve" exclaimed Beveridge, recov-
ering from his surprise. Yes. Steve.
l guess I have given him the best
have In the shop"
We'll. then. I'll take charge of him
for awhile" added Grosscup. as he
marched Orr down the road at the
point of his revolver. Grosscup told
Orr that II he ever showed his face in
Dighton again he would be dead man.
Orr took the hint. Disappearing down
the road, he was never heard OF after
ward. Thus Grosscup squared his debt
to Beveridge.