Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-25
How Tom Spencer
Kidnapped Two Negroes.

/ the cavalry arrived with orders from the
| provost marshal. and when the situation
| was explained, the kidnapped were sent
| back to Their mother.
! Some years later, whel Judge Tom
was on the bench, after lie had adjourned
| his court one day in st. Joseph he was
passing out of the court ho Use. when a
| young negro man DOTTED his hat and
! said:
Excuse me- but amt you Mars Tom
| Spencer?''
The Judge replied that he had been
Mars Tom at one time, but that Mr.. Lin
| coin had removed the appellation.
Excuse me-" continued me negro. 'bat
you is Mars Tom to me yet just the same
as you was when YOU kidnapped me and
] nah brother right hean in dis town
| The Judge extended his han. in warm
greeting. and invited Jim to go with him
!; to his office. Several people called to see
| Judge Spencer during his conference with
Jim. but he was engaged. The former
| master and his slave playmate were hav-
]; ing talk over old times.
Jim had come up from Leavenworth to
see his young master on the bench. And
/ although jim was fairly well-to;do in
4 business in Leavenworth, when he left his
4 young marster, the Judge. that day, he
| was much better off than when he came.
! Tom Spencer was prosecuting attor-
! ney when Bob Ford killed Jesse James
! at ST.. Joseph. 1t wns Spencer's duty to
| prosecute the Ford boys. and he did 1t.
While the body of the dead bandit lay
| in the house where Jess was shot and hts
mother, Mrs. Samuels. was waiting for
| the coroner to hold his inquest. Spencer
called on Mrs. Sanuels and learned from
her that she was in an impecun ous con-
dition. He also knew that Jamcs's widow
had nothing. Young Spencer said to Mrs.
1 Samuels and the widow:
The coroner Is physician. He tells
me he can embalm this dead booy so that
i it will keep for long time. Both of you
J, are very poor and need money. If you
1 wish it, VIII have the coroner embalm
/ the body. so you can keep it here as long
| as you want to keep it. and, if you wish
1T, you can doubtless derive quite rev
i enue by charging admission of those who
will want to see the body. It is deli
cate proposition. but It is legitimate.
/ Old Mrs. Samuels thanked the young
prosecutor. but declined. In doing SO
she said:
4 IF knew could make million DOL
! lars in that way. would not do it. He is
my son, and his dead body to me is sa-
4 cred. It would not be sacred If used 1t
for any money consideration. appre-
ciate Your motive. and thank you
This incident" said the man who told
II, @is the one tn1ng IN connection with
Jess James's murder that nas never been
printed. was present ard hear 4 it''
Tom. Spencer kept his word. He had
the Ford brothers arraigned as quickly#as
possible and they pleaded guilty to m,,:-
der in the first degree Judge Sherman,
| who was succeeded on the bench by Spen-
Ger later. passed sentence of death at
1 once. and fxed the date Of execution
within thirty days
The words had scarcely fallen from his
lips. when the pardon OF Governor Crit
| tenden. evidently issued in advance. was
| placed in the hands of tae authorities,
and the prisoners passed from the SEN
sence of death OF freedom They lost no
| time in reaching the railroad station. II
the train had been late. they might not
have left the town alive.
Judge Tom. Spencer once came to the
rescue OF the dignity Of the Governor of
tho State. the late Willard r. Hall, at one
time q united States Senator The Gov.
errpr was sauatty IN his build, plain
Ia his attirs. bat always reuants a his
ma1ner.
IS HeSwasssas ~ way O.. tho post.Slaes,II
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