Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-02-08
VESTS PIGS.
Though He Had Bought Them, His 0p
sponents Ready to Prove Theft.

I
THAT reminds me-" said Governor
CAttenden, of Missouri, to Kansas
CITY Star man that over thirty years
ago | heard Senator Vest tell very
amusing story on himself, which shows
bow often, or how occasionally, an in.
nocent man must confess guilt to avoid
punishment. He said he was cand i
date for the Legislature in Cooper
county in 1860 against Thomas Nc
Dearmon and Judge Walker of this
clfy. 1t was close and exciting can
vass, involving, in the daily discussion
the approaching secession and war
questions. 1t was Vests first candi
daey for Office, although his reputation
as an orator was rapidly spreading over
Missouri. No one of the three candi-
date favored secession per sc at that
time. Vest was rapidly drifting in
that direction. The friends OF the
candidates had made personal house
toulouse canvass and each claimed the
victory from three to five majority,
Vest was supposed to be in the lead by
the more disinterested canvassers. A
few days before the election story
was put afoat that Vest had stolen
three pigs of the value of Sc, and they
had been found in his pig-sty at his re-
sidsnce in Boonville. Vest said he was
so hard pressed by the charge, and it
was doing him so much harm that he
had to come out and acknowledge that
the pigs were found in his pen or else
he would be defeated.
The crowds were large that attended |
the daily discussion and the excitement |
ran very high. The day before the
cansa closed it was we'll known
throughout the county that Vest had
TO meet the charge in bis next speech,
either in BoonviIle or Bunceton, which
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
fOretell what would be the result. Vest.
in that peculiarly happy style Of his,
was equal to the occasion. he appear
ed 'on tie hustings in the beet cf hr-
NOR, and his face was radiant with
Joy. That silvery voice of his was
clear as sunbeam. He said he had
two sons that had very much of thel
Trait of many Missourians about them Il
they had traded an old pocket knife, a
few cents III money, an old brass ring,
and a few other such trinkets toa mig
ger for the pigs On the streets in Boom
vile, and it was the boys who had put
the pigs into bis pen without his knowl-
edge, and they We're the stolen property,
and he was ready to pay for them. AS
soon as his explanation was made
Vests friends gathered renewed
strength and made the welkin ring with
their shouts. 1t saved the day for
Vest.
''Vest said that. had be denied the
charge his opponents stood ready to
prove it, and warrant was there for {
lis arrest. He said that he cast no re-
iections upon his chlleren, as there
was no father who did not know that
ais boys would trade all day on q
Barlow knife, and for anything to be
,rading. This was the commencement
II Vests political life. Had he been 6
defeated it may be he never would
nave became United States Senator
Ind would never have been known
throughout the country as one of its :
foremost orators and greatest debators.
AFTER Vest had told me this story | f
'aid to him: That was very good
dodge of yours. Now tell !;
ne the truth about the pigs He re- {
olied 1 myself had bought them of {
he Niger, expecting to have Christ !
mas pig for dinner as jollificatlon after +
he election ''-Inter-Oc