The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-18
The PIGS WERE
IN QUESTION.
Senator Vest Had TO Defend
Himself from a Charge.
He DID NOT DARE TO OWN UP
Finally VanquIshsd His Political Enemy and
Confessed That Hs Had Bought The
Pigs for q Feast.
He DID NOT DARE TO OWN UP

THAT reminds me-" said Governor Crit
tenden OF Missouri 20 newspaper man.
that over 80 years ago heard Senator
Vest tell very amusing story on himself,
which shows how often. or how occa-
sionally. an innocent man must confess
gilt TO avoid punishment.
"He said he was "A candidate for the
legislature in Cooper county IN 1850
against Thomas McDearmon ana Judge
Walker of Kansas City. II was close
and exciting canvass involving, IN the
daily discussion the approaching seces-
sion and war questions.
1T was Vests first candidacy for office,
although his reputation as an orator was
rapidly spreading over Missouri. No one
OF the three candidates favored secession
per Sc that time. Vest was rapidly drift
ing in that direction
''rhe friends OF the candidates had
made a personal house-to- house canvass
and each claimed the victory from three
to five majority. Vest was supposed to be
in the lead by the more disinterested
canvassers.
BLAMED IT ON BOYS.
~ few days before the election story
was put afloat that Vest had stolen three
pigs OF the value OF 81 and they had been
found IN his pig-sty at his residence in
Boonville.
Vest said he was SO hard pressed by
tho charge and IL was doing him so much
harm that he had come out and acknowl-
edged that inc pigs were found in his pen
ar sfe h. uatl1 b. d.faafad
"The crowds were large that attended
the daily discussion and the excitement
ran very high. The day before the can
vass closed IL was well known through
out the county that Vest had 10 meet the
charge in his next speech. either In Boom
Vile or Runeetnn-- -Mhich caused the
crowd to be unusually large.
"The partisans OF each candidate were
present in great numbers and seemed SO
deeply Interested that no one could fore
tell what would he the result. Vest, In
that peculiarly happy style OF his, was
equal to tho occasion.
lie appeared on the hustlings In the
best OF humor aud his face was radiant
with JOY. That silvery voice OF his was as
clear as a sunbeam.
'He said he had two SONS that had very
much OF the trait OF many Mssourians
about them; they had traded an old pock-
1T knife, "A few cents in money, an old
brass ring, and few other such trinkets
TO 'nigger for the pigs on the streets
OF Boonville. and 1t was the boys who had
put the pigs into his pen without his
knowledge, and they were the stolen
property and he was ready To pay for
them.
HAD BOUGHT THE PIGS.
AS soon as this explanation was made
Vests friends gathered renewe,. strength
and made the welkln ring with their
shouts. IL saved the day for Vest
Vest said that had he denied the
charge his opponents stood ready 10 prove
it, and a warrant was there for his ar
rest.
''IIe said that he cast no reflections up
on his children. As there was no father
who did not know that his boys would
trade all days on a Barlow knife and for
anything to be- trading.
This was the commencement of Vests
political life Had he been then defeated
IL may be he never would have become
United States senator or have been
known throughout the country AS one OF
it's foremost orators and greatest deba-
tcrs
After Vest had told me this story
said 60 him That was very good cam
paign dodge OF yours. Now tell me the
truth about the pigs
He replied: I myself had bought them
OF the damned niger, expecting 10 have
a Christmas pig for dinner as a jollfica-
ton after the election