The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-26
81 DAvIDsoNs HURRICANES.
A Missouri Kinsman Of Jim Mckinney.
the Outlaw Killed Recently.


Jim Mckinney the outlaw who was
shot to death in Chinese joss house at
Bakersfield. Cal, last Sunday. belonged
to a family Of terrors on both sides.
Twenty years before the Civil War there
was kinsnan on his mothers side who
was known in the county where he lived
as 81 Davidson
The present generation in Cas- county.
Mo-, probably never heard of him, yet he
was the first terror of a region which pro-
duced the Younger boys. and In strip of
the State over which Quantrel and his
guerrilas rode by day and night when no
mans Life was safe
So far - was known 81 Davidson never
killed his man. In the time in which he
lived the man who killed another had TO
show that his own life was in danger before
he killed his assailant, il he wanted to con-
tinue his residence in the county.
One of the early instructions OF one OF
the first Judges Of that part OF the state
was. according to the memory OF his grand
son, also Judge. a. follows:
IF the ju-y believe that the deceased
was a dead shot. as the Court understands
he was, and that he fired at the defendant
first, and was drawing the bead on him the
second time the Court instrncts the jury to
acuuit the defendant on the spot
Plat was the law on the Big Blue River
There were those who used TO say, when
ever there was a murder or other crime
committed in the county. about which
there was any mystery: 1T would have
been like 81 Davidson IL nobody else had
a-done it," But II was never indicted
for murder,
1t was his principal delight to stop busi-
ness AT the county seat, Harrisonville. or
cause the stagecoach and the mail carrier
To take to the brush or cut across fields
81 was feet 2. lank and nearly as dark
as an Indian. When he was mounted
on a little white pony. as he always was,
his feet nearly touched the ground. When
he crossed a creek he doubled his legs
under him
There was a sort Of fairness in his nature.
For example when he planned a-hurricane.
a. he called his raids on the county seats,
he sent word ahead that a certain day
would be 81 Davidsons day in town. and
mothers and old mammies gathered their
broods from the yards, Fairgrounds and
streets. locked their doors. and remained
prisoners until Isl Davidson was through"
While the hurricane" was on, 81 David
son was riding his gray pony into the court
house, galloping the little beast through
from one door to the other, making a tar
get of the ceiling as he galloped. and fol-
lowing il up with ride through the streets.
Woe To the man whom he met. That
man was compelled to dance while 81 David
sons shots kicked up the dust in the imme-
date vicinity of his feet. Another diver
| sion was 10 put bullet through the citi-
| unp's hnt ALWAYS warning tho Cifizan IA,
| stand still If he didn'tDSant TO get hurt.
| The Sheriff of the county. who was the
only officer authorized TO make an arrest :.
was never in town when ii was 81 Davidson's
| day Besides, ri Davidson controlled all
| the votes in his part of the county Oh
| election day.
one of 81 Davidson's exploits was on the
occasion II the laying OF the cornerstone
| Of a schoolh ouse by the Masons. 81 did
not send word be would he there, as was his
custom. but he arrived during the cere-
| monies and while the stone was being low
cred he came whooping up the street on his
| gray pony, firing down, right. left. up.
Initiating the old music teacher just before
he strikes the air. = IL Is said that he shot
all round the stone. and there was a story
for a long time. that he made the lodge
| open the box afterward. but. Of course.
| he didn't.
But that was his last hurricane" On
| his return to his farm that night he en-
countered a bigger hurricane than any
he ever managed.
The flood gates opened. The big creek
| which he had 70 cross went out Of its banks,
| and 81 Davidson's body was found when the
waters receded, lodged in the top OF a tree.
| His funeral was rather remarkable. con-
sidering his record. The people felt that
burden had been lifted from them-that "a
| curse had been removed-and they at
tended his burial, each To satisfy himself
or herself that 81 Davidson was dead.
hon hal uI A. V.rtl