The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-07-17
Colonel Todhunter Of
Missouri.
Continued from Preceding Page

yers. Colonel Todhunter was with
! them.
We'll bring Tom through all right
governor" said Colonel Strickland. al
though his worn and worried face be
lied the brave words. but In the mean
time ! thought 1t best to get you down
| here so that / could straighten myself
the nomination for governor with as
little delay as possible
what do you mean TO doY. asked
old Leslie.
Il mean to withdraw from the race. y
replied Colonel Strickland. Il can't
run. carrying this weight OF Toms
trouble. It's got me beat right now.
won't ask my friends to make a
hopeless fight"
You'll stay right where you are"
said Governor Leslie. You're not re-
sponsible for Toms reckless folly. and
the Democratic voters in Missouri
won't hold you responsible"
THE Yancey crowd will make it ap-
pear that the killing of STAN Tucker
was political murder. Colonel
Strickland answered They're doing
it already. Their newspapers are han
dling the ease along that line. They've
published the story OF the quarrel be-
tween Tom and Siam Tucker the night
we opened my campaign here in Nine
web and of their fight in the barroom
the next day. They point out that old
Eph Tucker is my bitterest political
working tooth and nail for Stephen K
Yancey and that this political feud has
resulted in the assassina ton OF Eph
fuckers son by my son. It's pretty
black story handled that way. and it'll
do me all sorts of harm throughout the
state
They can't ignore the facts in the
case" retorted Governor Leslie. In
the first place, as | understand 1t, your
son himself doesn't know that 1t was
he who shot Siam Tucker He's bound
to plead not guilty. and the prosecu-
tons got TO prove the fact Of guilt
In the second place. the real reason for
deadly trouble between Tom and STAN
Tucker was the story told by that Dog
gett girl and its bearing upon their
rivalry for the hand of Miss Mary Tod
hunter The Doggett story puts an en-
dreIy new light on the feud between
the two boys"
Not the way the Yancey organs are
it, said Colonel Strickland
lit only serves to Intensity the original
trouble and to make thrilling muir
der story with what they call roman
tic as well as political trimmings.
They're featuring it on that basis. and
they're going TO get Steve Yancey noun
mated just that way"
Il thought this was what you want
ed TO see me about" commented old
Governor Leslie. so I had a confer
ence with the ST Louis men who
worked with me TO put you in the
race. But before tell you any more
about that want to ask you just one
question. Bill Strickland"
A moment of silence followed these
words Colonel Strickland held Gov
ernor Leslie's eyes with his own in
luiringly.
do you want your son TO be con-
ricted of the murder of Stamford
rucker?" asked Governor Leslie.
Good God. man. cried Colonel
Strickland. How can you ask such
thing?''
Governor Leslie turned to Major
Gentry Dryden. Dryden" he queried.
what would be the effect of Colonel
withdrawal from the cam
,aign at this time?"
1T would be taken as a confession of
lis belief in his sons guilt. 1t would
,e the worst blow possible to the de-
ense right now. | should strongly
protest against Colonel Strickland's
There you arer' exclaimed old Les
e. turning to the candidate. That |
vas exactly the view l took of it
ou've got to consider your sons in |
erests above all else. Strickland. |
md now III tell you what your St |
.ouis hackers said. They authorized |
he to refuse to accept your with
rawal as a candidate for the Demo
ratio nomination for governor Of Mis-
Duri. Aside from whatever personal
agard they may have for you. they
elieve that. even as matters now
tand. you're the strongest man in the
tate and that you've still got better
ghting chance to win than any other
ian would have. You've got to stay
/. Strickland"
But. good Lord. man. how can l
cht to any purpose?" asked Colonel
trickland piteously. Il must deal
tirly with you. so | tell you right
ere and now that compared with
om's safety | don't care what be-
,mes of my chances in the campaign.
IN going to stay right here and move
aaven and earth TO clear my son OF
le awful charge against him, and by /
lie time his trials ended the campaign
i'll be over too"
Not quite answered Governor Les
2. uumoved But If that was the
Use ii wouldn't make any difference.
cd knows you're justified in sticking
Tom through thick and thin. to the
lish and regardless of all other de-
auds upon you. | wouldn't wipe
= foot an xoI, If rot, vrnra ~ M hlp of