Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-25

Judge Tom Spencer. general solicitor
OF the Chicago. Burlington and Quincy
system. was in New York the other day.
says the New York Sun. He is probably
the only man who ever Kidnapped two
negroes after the Lincoln Emancipation
Proclamation.
For the benefit of those who have never
heard OF Judge TON" Spencer. 1t should
be said that he is of the same stamp. In
many respects. as the late Speaker Reed.
Where he is known people swear by him.
and whenever he appears in public people
nock about him. knowing they will DE
repaid.
His life has been full OF Incident He
lived on the border in the dark days. He
was a farmers boy. law student a Har-
gard graduate. prosecuting attorney. and
afterwards circuit. Judge of the northwest
counties of Missouri. ii one of which he
was born. and in that countys he kidna p
ped the pickan:nnies who had been his
psaymates on the plantation. He did not
tddnap them In the strict definition of the
word, for the pickaninnies were partici-
pants in the act.
When the proclana ton was issued there
was weeping and wa.ling on the Spencer
plantntion.s near the old town of Sparta,
Buchanan county. Mo. The elder Spencer
WAS Southern svnpathizer. but he was
q mighty stickler for the law. and when
Lncoinse proclamation went forth he
lined up his faithful slaves and told them
they must go.
In the lot were woman and her two
sons. the playmates OF young Mars Tom.
They hung upon each others necks In
parting. The only place the woman knew
outside of Sparta. was st. Joseph. where
her ..Missus'' had traded Thither she
went with her pickan.nnies. and, renting
small shanty on the hills. she began
20 I've for herself and family
Young Mars Tom Spencer die not un-
6erstApd how a negro could be free. His
father. no doubt, did. but he probably
never sat up late at night explaining to
Tom how such a thing had come about
or why * was legal.
Some weeks after the old plantation had
changed its aspects old man Spencer had
occasion to send Tom to st. Joseph on
business. Tom did the hitching of the
team and the driving. The distance to
D. Joseph was twenty mics.
When he reached his destination and
had transacted his fathers business he
hnntca up his plantation playmates lie
a found them. and after they had romped
20 their content Mars Tom suggested
shat they go back to the old home and
& they consented.
Mars Tom knew better than to ask the
eermission OF their mother. He told his
guondan pharmacies to Jump into the
wagon. and they obeSed his order. He
Il Tad two large empty boxes In his wagon
{ I'D. and the negro lads crawied into
them. and were covered up with straw.
Nars Tom drove home and unloaded his
3 freight. His father was not home when
&he delivery was made
The next day the ST Joseph Herald,
edited by Major John q. Mittinger. now
consrl General for this county n Canada.
centained an account OF the kid mapping
g two negro boys by young Tom Spencer.
I ~ - rebel syrnpatlizer. d. %. spen-
81. who had been compelled 10 free his
slASeo. -
o. Joseph vas then a military post.
& the day on which the Kidnapping article
eDpeared. the provost mar shai sent q
nadnon Of cavalry post haste to the
Sc n of 5D. .. Spencer. near Sparta, With
ss0cttcns % den md the Immediate sur.
Z ssn6sr q the two Kidnapped negroes. ana
nth instructions to- arrest Spencer
PERSISTENCE. - = a. -
O!d man Spence had. nsanvt,iIa. raaeA.
81 - and no p ths. net o. etaEtine
- IN theSA1lnoaovAap