The record., 1911-01-26
Harpe'S Head.
CONTINUED from page ~

SOunC unity steps DCt"SSh thCh'
Each refined up his foaming steed
and stopped. Neither attempted to
fire. Tompkins told Harpe that es-
cape was impossible, and he had
better surrender. "Never!v was the
brief reply. At that moment Leep-
er was in sight. Harpe dashed off
at full speed, while Tompkins tarried
for Leepei. AS soon as he came up
he said, "Why didn't you shoot?"
Tompkins replied, Uthat his mare
was so fiery he could not make a
safe shot under her, and he would
not fire unless he was sure of exc
cution."
vLeeper had fired upon the Harpes
and Smith at the branch, and finding
that his ramrod could not be drawn
in consequence of its having got wet,
told Tompkins he could not reload,
that his horse was fast failing, and
that Harpe would escape unless
Nance could catch him. Tompkins
replied, vShe can run over him up
on any part of the ground. Leeper
said, Let us exchange horses and
give me your gun and shot-pouch,
and I'll bring him down, if can
overtake him. They dismounted,
exchanged horses and arms, and
Leeper dashed forward after Big
Harpe. The noble mare proved her
ability to run over him upon any
part of the ground.
sleeper crossed the creek, and
after passing through the thick, tall
trees in the bottom, came in sight of
the fleeing Harpe as he reached high
er ground, with its prairie grass and
scattered trees. The gray mare was
mott the better horse Nance grad
ually gained upon her. When Leep-
er got up within thirty yards, Harpe
warned him 80 stand off or he would
kill him. Leeper replied, 'One of
US has to die and the hardest feud
off. As the woods became more
open and interposed fewer obstruc-
tions, Leeper thought he had good
chance Suddenly putting Nance
to her full speed, he rushed up with
in ten steps of Harpe, threw his leg
over the name and the bride over
Nance's head, jumped to the ground,
took aim and fired. Harpe reined
up, turned, presenting his gun, and
it snapped--all without dismount-
ing. Leeper afterwards said. IF
: HaEpe's gun had not snapped the
ball would not have passed Within
twenty yards of me, so badly was it
aimee Harpe then threw his gun
down, wheeled ire graz maze aud
pushed on hi course From these
circumstances, Leeper knew ne had
hit him. He caught and remount-
ed Nance, and soon overlook Harpe,
who told him to keep of, or he
would shoot him with pistol. In a
few seconds, Harpe ceased to urge
the gray mare forward, and put both
his hands to the pommel of the sad
die to hold on. Leeper rushed along
and threw him to the ground. The
ball had entered near the backbone
and come out near the breastbone
Harpe begged that he might be taken
to justice, and not be put to instant
death. Leeper told him his request
was uselessl that his wound was ia
tai and he must soon die. Temp
kins and other pursuers came up,
one by one. Stigall Immediately
presented his gun, with a view TO
blow his brains out, but Harpe NOV
ing his head backwards and for
wards, so as to prevent it. Stigall
placed the muzgle against his body
as he lay on the ground and shot
him through the heart.
THUS persisted the most brutal
monster Of the human race. His
head was cut off by Stigall. Whether
the body was buried or left a prey
for wolves, ! did not learn. The
party intended to use the head in
getting the large rewards which had
been offered by the Governors of
Kentucky and Tennessee, but the
heat of the summer rendered its
preservation impracticable. A tall
young tree, growing by the side of
a road or trail, was selected, and
trimmed of Its lateral branches to
the top, and then made sharp. On
| this point the head was fastened.