The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-01-13

accepted the offer and in.
1866 they reached east
Texas and settled in Rusk county, near Hen
derson. the county seat Here the brother and
sister made an effort to retrieve their broken
fortunes, with moderate success,
But though sim a boy IN years. being not
more than 16, his youth came really to an end
now. II was the period Of reconstruction I'm
the south-a time Of obnoxious endorsements
on the one hand and rebelious bitterness on
the other, with general lawlessness in the
black settlements. The military dominated
the towns and there were continuous misun-
derstandings between the still r~esentful CON
quered and the aggressive and sometimes inso-
lent conquerors. Young Mcdonald. with the
memory Of his hero father shot dead while
leading his regiment against these men in
blue. was in no frame Of mind TO submit to
any i~ndignity. real or fancied, at their hands.
It happened just at this time that one Col
Greene, q relative OF the McDonalds. was MUIR
dered by negroes, who. being arrested, con-
fessed the killing. stating that they had mis-
taken Greene for a mule-buyer supposed to
have a large sum Of money. The men we're
lodged In Jail. but II was believed that under
the "carpet-bag' military law then prevailing
they would escape punishment. In later years
young Mcdonald was to become one Of the
most strenuous defenders Of official procedure
one OF the bitterest opponents OF lynch law
Aut state OF lEAdS mas ever hIOWHs out ne
was hot-blooded in 'sixty-eight and the sltuS-
ton was not one to develop moral principles.
When. therefore, a mob formed and took the
negroes out OF Jail and hanged them there is
no record OF Bill Jess having distinguished
himself In their defense. as he certainly would
have done In later years. Indeed. Il is likely
that II he did not help pull a rope that night
it was only because the rope was fully occu.
pied with other willing hands.
~ ...-- a. u-Vft.-- 100000 90. IL,
derson and set in TO discipline Il for this con-
certed lawlessness. The townspeople as a
whole, and the relatives Of Col, Greene in par
ticular, resented this occupation Charley
Greene, a brother OK the murdered man. In
company with Bill Jess, presently got into
trouble with some soldiers who we're deporting
themselves in a manner considered offensive
and the result was a running fight with the
military in the lead. The soldiers made for
their quarters In the courthouse. It would
have been proper to leave them alone then
TO retire flushed with victory. as the books
say, and satisfied. But Greene could not rest
He persuaded Bill Jess TO stay with him and
they rode up and down in front OF the court
house, occasionally taking a shot at the win
dows, TO punctuate their challenge 90 warfare.
Finally Greene decided that they could
charge the courthouse and capture It. He
prmed himself with liquor for the onset and
refused TO heed his companions advice to
abandon the campaign. The two assembled the
courthouse stairs at last with pistols cooked.
Greene had one In each hand and with them
showed open the double doors at the head OF
the stairs. That was another mistake. The
soldiers we're laying for him" Just inside and
IN an instant later his arms were pinioned and
be was a prisoner. The doors swung to. then.
and BIN Jess stood outside. wondering whether
ne ought 20 charge TO the rescue. wait there
and be captured or retire in good order. with
that gln OF logic and rare presence OF mind
which would one day make him famous he
decided 20 get out Of there. No attempt was
made at the time 10 arrest young Mcdonald,
though soldiers frequently loltered about HIS
some premises and with these he had many
collisions. usually coming on victorious.
Sun. he was laying up trouble for himself
for Greene's couTt-martial was coming of and
BIN Jess. who went over to see II he could be
OF any assistance. was promptly arrested while
nosing about the stockade and landed with his
reatiye on the inside. This was a serious mat
tor. The boy realized that. as soon as the
gates closed behind him. He realized Il still
more forcibly when a few days later he and
Greene were led into the courtroom for mili
tary trial and be took a look at the men whs
we're to prosecute him for aiding IN the crime
Of treason, Nor was he treasured when oni
Of the lawyers present announced that hi
would defend that boys case" For tber'
was nothing inspiring about this championi
appearance. His eyes were half.cloaed and ht
had a general air Of sleepy indifference whdcl
did not disappear until u came his turn 4
take part 10 the proceedings. Then suddeni
the sleepy eyes became alive. the shaggy hal
was tossed back. the clay pipe was Laid ON th
table and Dave Cuibersou, afterward known a
an eminent lawyer and Statesman. arose an
made such a plea In behalf OF the boy who's
father had died az CoriBth and whose mothe
and sister relied on him to-day for protection
that only one verdict remained IN tho mind
OF his hearers when he closed. Bill Jess wa
acquitted, but his relative. Charley Green'
was less fortunate. lie remained In a nortl