The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-02
cEfRk FOR HOUSE
HARD WORKED man
Chief of Clerks Is Now Jerry
South, Whose Life Has
Been a Thriller.
~ JONATHAN wvMF,ELp.

Washington. May 2.-Jerry South,
Of Arkansas, who has been appointed
chief clerk OF the House Of Represen-
tatives, succeeds William J. Browning.
OF Camden. N. j., who held the posi-
tion with distinction for the past six
teen years. during which time the Re.
publicans were In control Of that
branch Of Congress.
Of the four hundred or more new
employees under the Democratic re-
gime Of the House, and the more than
four thousand others who sought APP
pointment but failed. there Is none
whose life story affords more of hu.
man interest. more Of thrills. or OF SEN
sation or OF romance than does the
life story Of Jerry South. Some of the
experiences Of his career find no par
allel outside Of Old Nick Carter's
Library. or the dime novel literature
30 eagerly sought and devoured by ad-
venturesome youth. They outclass
the perilous hazards and bold exploits
of Dare Devil Dick. when that worthy
was at bis best. and make such stor-
ies as THE ThumbIess Hand" seem
~ tame and harmless by comparison
a one of Louise NJ. Alcott's books.
Moreover. they are true. and not a
draft upon Imagination or tax upon
credulity. They are. however. mere
incidents in the exciting career Of a
modest and unassuming gentleman Of
the Great Southwest, where adven-
ture Is life itself. One OF these exper-
fences will suffice here. and serve to
show the stuff of which the new chief
clerk Of the House is made.
Taylor Was . Banker.
Some sixteen or seventeen years
ago. William Taylor was banker in
the little town Of Browning. Missouri.
He was worth. according to local re-
port. at least a quarter OF million
dollars. Besides owning bank, he
was q leading citizen or the commu-
nifty. owned many acres Of land. was
engaged in stock and mule raising.
and was generally person OF influ-
ence and standing In his community.
His brother was George Taylor. a
farmer living near Browning. and was
rated In the neighborhood Of $4,000
In property.
Cattle stealing prevailed to an an
noying extent In that part of Mis-
souri, at that time. and many OF the
cattle men suffered big losses. There
arose q case where suspicion seemed
to rest upon the Taylor Brothers. Gus
Meeks. a ne'er.do-wll. was charged
with being implicated. and Gus not
standing particularly well In the com.
munity. he was tried. convicted and
sent up for term Of yearss Now Gus
did not like his abode at the "pen."
nor the character of the table board
there. and he intimated that. II the
authorities would give him his free
dom. he would go back home and tell
some things which would place other
and more prominent citizens behind
promise to turn States evidence
against the Taylors. he was set at
liberty. and returned to his home ad.
Joining the farm Of George Taylor.
A few nights after Gus had been
welcomed back to the community OF
Browning. and to the bosom of his
family. tragedy occurred. His home
was entered. and he and his wife and
three children were killed. The fourth
child. a Girl Of six years. was struck
upon the head with heavy club. sus.
tained fracture Of the skull. and was
REGARDED N dead by the assassins.