The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01
TALES ARE TOLD OF OLD MISSOURI
 C
Governor Rewards His Unfor-
 tunate Benefactor
CRAVE IS NEGLECTED
How Lawyer Frees His Client by Al. lowing Him to Escape the Country on Horseback.
 "Reminiscences

and I care not who writes it's laws,' par aphrased the senior Mlssourian. The talk had been of the legislature, and its proposed enactments The senior Mis- eourian turned the conversation toward earlier days and history. Nor was it con versation which followed, but monologue, with the junior Missourian to listen and record No state is richer in fascinating stories tasting of the soil and none has fewer story writers to preserve them sympathetically.
 The first story was of Gen. John B. Clark, Sr., of yayette one of the most picturesque and noted personages of the Boon's Lick country. General Clark com menced the practice of law soon after Missouri was admitted to the union, and for more than 40 years had an extensive law practice in central Missouri. He was conceded to be one of the best jury law yers'' at the Missouri bar. Of tall and commanding presence, large sympathies. and great common sense, he exerted an influence over juries that was almost ir- resistlble. He knew their mothers and fathers, and was sure to remind them of the fact. He did not doubt that II their old fathers were in the jury box in- stead of their noble and patriotic sons' they would return a verdict Tor ms client
 In a criminal trial in the Charlton cir chit court at Keytesville, before Judge James B. Clark who was a brother Of the general the accused was hopelessly com nronised by the law and evidence. Gen. eral Clark was the prisoners counsel and he persisted in asking the witness ques- tions that were irrelevant and illegal Judge Clark ruled that the questions should not be answered, but General Clark persisted in his course, and was again overruled He used the fact to i'm nress the fury that the judge was prej- 1diced against his client He declared this openly and the judge fined him.. lie sessed the fact to further the cause of ms Client and was again fined. Again ne tried to prejudice the jury against the ruling of the court, and as last resort the sheriff was ordered to commit the general to jail. Here he saw his chance to make a final appeal to the jury and ne said: "Gentlemen of the jury, you see how T have been overruled by the judge, how I have been fined when trying to ad- yocate the cause of my client and now vou see am ordered to jail, thus dany- ing me the right further to address you in behalf of an innocent man. Gentie-' men leave the cause of my client with you, as am on my way to 1aiI. rms created a profound sensation in the court room and one juryman immediately Immediately jumped to his feet. and with an oath declared, Never mind, general, we will take care of your client regard less of the judge" And it is said that the popuar excitement had grown so great that when the sheriff reached the fail with his prisoner the old rickety structure was torn partly down. And the 4urv did take care'' of the generals client by acquitting him.
 Horsethief Freed
 Another incident in his professional ex- perience was the trial of an accused 6orsethief in Fayette. horse had been stolen and suspicion fastened upon efranger in the county. Clark was his lawyer. The man was perhaps innocent, hut the evidence was against him and conviction was certain. Clark obtained permission to take the prisoner to a jury. room in the courthouse for consultation. On reaching the room Clark told him that the doors of the penitentiary were open Ang to receive him, and pointing to a horse hitched to a rack in the street said: "That Is my horse; get out of here by door or window, anyway, and mount the horse and leave town
 He did so and made good his escape. Clark remained in the room until called into court. When asked where his client was he said the last he saw Of him ne was out there in the street.
 Years afterward, in'the City of Mexico. Clark met his escaped client, who had be- come wealthy, sand said to him; ''I am poor and you are rich. and you owe me 65O0-s2OO for my horse and $500 for de- lending you in that horse case in Fay ette want you to pay me, for I need the money,'' and he paid him without murmur.
 New York gave tosMissouri one of her most famous governors. He died in St. Joseph comparatively friendless and there is nothing about his grave to indicate tne name of the occupant or the stations hc had in his lifetime. But the old sex ton of the cemetery likes to show strang- CTS the place and tell them that 1t is the grave of Gov. R. M. Stewart.
 There is story well authenticated, that the Prince of Wales said that Governor Stewart was the most courtly man he had met in the United States. The remark was made after a reception to the prince fr St. Louis. One of the most spirited campaigns in the state of Missouri was That which preceded the civil war. when Stewart was elected governor. No west 4ern state had as much wealth and as good society as Missouri, and the fnaug- uration of the young bachelor governor was a notable occasion. An incident on the following day caused comment and showed the individuality of the new exec , utiye. A few years before a citizen of et. Joseph was hanged by three men who vaylaid him. and demanded to know where he kept his money. Two of the men suffered the death penalty; the third was sentenced to life imprisonment, Ills name was Langston. The morning after, the reception of the young governor, he called for blank pardon, filled it out and carried 1t himself to the wardens office. The pardon called for William Langston. The governor said he wanted the prisoner brought in while he.was there. When the ' prisoner entered the room the governor stepped to him, took his hand and said: s'Billy, old man. let me greet you as a free man." and handed him his pardon. A They walked out of the penitehtiary to- s gCther. The incident shocked many, but N lhe governor answered the critics with Me remark:
 Rewarded His Bsnefactor X S M s.When was sick and moneyless in St. N W leph and had no friends; Lapgston M tied on me and took care of me when \s M was no hope ot his evsg being rec | W,sed. Why should I not pardon &on returned to St. Louis and the \P rNgot work for him, and was Ahs lfj ~sang as Langston lived. And ln man died, Stewart, gov NM iAr was a palbearer. Stew wv \ in health. his hair white Is face wan. His coat A &rlv buttonlees and his