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

ern prison many years before he was finally
released. Dave Culberson afterwards repre-
scented his district in congress and the boy he
defended eventually served the son, Charles
G.. Culberson-then governor-now United
States senator from Texas.
Il Is likely this bit Of experience with hot.
headed lawlessness and the result thereof
proved Of immense value to young Mcdonald.
From that time forward we find him a peace
maker. a queller Of disturbances. a separator
Of combatants, even at great personal risk.
After a brief sojourn at Longyiew he es.
tablished himself in Wood county. at Mineola.
then a newly established and busy railway ter
minus. This was In 1875 and his venture was
a success. Soon he was considered the lead
ing grocer OF the town.
It was during this period that Mcdonald
made the acquaintance Of James S. Hogg. who
in later life. as governor Of Texas, was 10 con-
fer his most useful official position-that Of
ranger captain--thus enabling him to do much
of the work which has identified his name
with the states constructive history. Hogg,
then a young man. was justice OF the peace at
the county seat, Quitman. a few miles distant
from Mineola. and was also conducting a pa
per there. He bought his groceries OF Nc.
Donald and the account ran along In a go-as-
you-please sort OF a way. They we're good
friends and courted together and Il was
through Hogg that young Mcdonald met Miss
Rhoda Isabel Carter. a young woman with fine
Eerve and force OF character-just the Girl for
a Texas regulators wife. And such, In due
time. she was 10 become. for he married her
in January. 1876. His friendship for Hogg
continued for some time after that. but came
to a sudden end one day. when Hogg. who had
been elected county attorney, with character.
istic conscientiousnes prosecuted Mcdonald
and others for carrying concealed weapons
McDonald's possession Of such a wapon hav'
ing been revealed by his aiding ia the capture
OF a gang Of boisterous disturbers OF the peace.
Mcdonald rose and defended his own case, de-
clarlng he had quit business TO do his duty as
a good citizen and that he would stay in Jail
the balance Of his days before he would pay a
fine.
with his usual frank fearlessness, he said
some hard things 10 HogE I'm the presence OF
the court, and though discharged the two were
estranged for a considerable period. Then a
truce was patched up. but only for a time.
But now came Bill McDonald's first official
appointment and service. Living just outside
OF Mlneola was a man named Gordon, OF hard
character and the owner of several bulldogs,
similarly endowed. Man and dogs became a
menace 10 travel in that neighborhood, as they
lived near q public road and were allowed at
large. The man was particularly Quarrelsome
and ugly and was said TO have killed several
more or less inonensiye persons. lie always
carried arms tho customary pistol and a
bowie knife. the latter worn in a scabbard
down his back" lie WAS an expert at throw
Ing this weapon and altogether a terror 10 the
community. BIN Mcdonald would naturally
resent the domination OF a man like Gordon
and when one day the latter came 10 town
With one Of his unruly dogs and the dog set
upon and Injured McDonald's priced pointer
there was trouble active and Immediate. Nc.
Donald's reputation as a good man TO let alone
was already established at Mlnonla. He was
known as a capable marksman-f0arioss rcso
Lutte and very sudden, When. therefore. he
produced n six.shooter for the avowed purpose
OF killing the bulldog, Us master. who. like
every bully by trade. was a coward at heart,
interceded humbly for the dogs life. promising
TO take the animal home and leave him there.
Mcdonald agreed TO the arrangement. but for
the benefit Of the community at large he
promptly applied TO Sheriff Pete Dowoll for a
commission as deputy, In order that IN future
he might restrain officially the obnoxious Cor
don and others Of his kind. The commission
was promptly conferred and thus Bill Jess Me,
Donald. quietly and without any special mani
fest. stepped into the ranks OF Texas official
regulators. where. IN one capacity or another
he was to serve so long ana wen.
But however quiet his enlistment. his ser
Wee was 90 be OF another sort. Those were
not quiet days. and the officer who set out tc
enforce the law was apt to become a busy per
son. Gordon very soon appeared again IL
Mineola, aud after investing IN a good deal o
bad whisky went on the warpath aouvishing
aixahooter and giving out the Information tina
nobody could arrest him He was In the veri
midst OF a militant h]arangue when DEPUTY
Mcdonald suddenly appeared on the scene an'
before Gordon could gather himself he was, b.
some magic twist Of the wrist" disarmed
arrested aud on the way 20 the calaboose. III
demurred and resisted, but slept that nigh
behind lock aud bars, Next morning he ~
fused breakfast and demanded release. Del
uty HcDonaid left him 10 a mixed condition q