The Tupelo journal., 1910-01-28

man from very far up the creek" However.
this was a mistake. Mcdonald ascertained
that his customer had really sent the money
by Melvin to pay his bill. and considered what
he ought to do. Morally, perhaps legally, he
could have demanded payment a second time.
on the ground that the said customer, being
acquainted with Melvin, should have selected
a more reliable messenger. But that was not
the Bill Mcdonald way. What he did was to
write to Melvin, demanding an explanation,
adding in pretty positive terms that he ex-
pected immediate settlement. No reply came.
and a second and a third letter followed. each
getting more definite as to phrase. Then one
day Melvin and certain henchmen from Baylor
appeared on the streets of Wichita Falls. Nc
Donald, who had heard of their arrival, sud
denly confronted Melvin and delivered himself
in such terms and with what emphasis as he
had on hand at the moment. Melvin withdrew,
gathered his clans and laid for Mcdonald in
front of a saloon where the latter had to pass.
Though previously warned of the ambush, Nc
Donald did pass, with the result that next
morning Melvin settled his bill in full, paid
for a glass door that he had broken and a fine
and costs amounting to $65, for carrying con-
cealed weapons. What really happened to
Melvin is best told in Bill Jess's own testi-
mony, when that same morning he had him
self been summoned to answer a charge for
SoA AytAS OhSOoA SaPchob DAAo SHS
peace and for assault-said action being tho
result of Melvin's judicial pull. Arriving at
the courtroom, the prosecuting attorney asked
Mcdonald If he had a lawyer.
NO" he said, 81 don't need anybody to
defend me for knocking a scoundrel over. I'll
attend to my own case, whatever is neces-
sary."
The attorney then stated the charge to the
court. Bill Jess waited until he was through
and then asked permission to speak.
rYour honor" he said, rising, I'm a busy
man, with no time to be fooling around this
way with men who give bogus checks and
steal horses and such like. but if your honor
will spare about a minute I'll tell what hap
pened." He then gave a history of the lumber
transaction and added the sequel as follows:
when I wrote him as strong a letter as
1 could frame up and as would go through the
mail he come down with a crowd of what he
thought was fighting men and l met him and
tried like a gentleman to persuade him to
settle up and to convince him what a dad
blamed rascal he was, which he plead guilty
to and didn't deny. Then he gathers his feeble
bunch of fighters together, arms them up with
six-shooters and corrals them in Bill Holly's
saloon, that I had to pass, going home. l
met Johnny Hammond, who tried to persuade
me not to take that street-said those fellows
were up there and I'd better go In some other
direction. said l wasn't in the habit Of go
ing out of my way for such cattle and pro-
ceeded on up the street. When / got in front
Of Bill Holly's, Melvin and his warriors
stepped out. Melvin wanted an explanation
of my former remarks and I gave it to him
and added some more which I would not like
to mention in the presence Of this court.
Then he pulled out a big, white-handled forty
five six-shooter, but being a little slow with it,
l grabbed it by the barrel and hit him with
my fist two or three times, which kinder
Jared him loose from his gun. Then / gave
him a rap on the head with 1t and knocked
him through Bill Holly's glass front door, into
the saloon. His pals pulled their guns, but
covered them with the one / took away from
Melvin and they nearly broke the furniture to
pieces getting out of there. l didn't see any
more of any of them until next morning. Then
looked up the bunch and got a check in full.
with interest, from Melvin and made him pay
Bill Holly S. for his glass door. So far as
carrying a gun is concerned, / had one, and /
got another from this fellow here, who had
pulled it on me. / took it away from him and
hit him with it and / have the same here in
my possession now, to turn over to the court"
Bill Jess reached down somewhere and.
drawing forth the big, white-handled six
shooter laid it down in front Of the court.
Then suddenly turning upon Melvin, who was
present, he looked lin straight through.
"Ain't all l have said, so?" he demanded.
Melvin found himself unable to tell any