, 1925-01-25

was getting late in the afternoon.
The fort was fifteen miles away by
the wagon road. There was a~horse
trail across the hills but ten miles,
but we had only two saddles. After
q hurried conference we ordered the
soldier to march down the road in
the direction of Crawford, knowing
that one OF our n%eighbors had a
spring wagon and team. and feeling
that the would only be too glad to
help in getting rid Of a dangerous
man.
Coming to u friends house.
brother kept watch while I explained
call. In a short time we were start
ed. the soldier ON the front scat with
the driver. brother and 1 on the rear
seat. having Informed him If he
felt like trying to get away he was
taking all tho chances.
About 8 p. M. we arrived at Fort
Robinson. 1t was not very dark as
there were little patches OF snow
ION the ground and the noe vas
I IA 20 10 IL AAAS
clouds. The sentry stopped us with
the usual challenge give the pass
word" advance n at a time and
be recognized" However. on hearing
UT story and taking in the situation
he advised us to turn the prisoner
over to the post commander. whom
we would probably find at the off
GERS club. Driving over to the club.
we all got out OF the wagon. brother
watching the prisoner while l sent
in word by one of the sentries that
we wished to see the commanding
officer.
After a delay of 4 few minutes
the colonel appeared accompanied by
one of his lieutenants. coming down
the narrow board walk with some
difficulty. I have Always thought the
dear old man rightfuliy belonged in
the navy instead of the army. He
was such a wonderful navigator un-
der adverse weather condition. The
Junior officer explained the situa-
ton. the colonel saying Lieutenant.
who is this man7" On taking a good
look at the trooper he replied. col
onel. this is Private Moody OF k
troop. You may recall he shot one of
the men belonging to X troop last
night. and We have had parties out
looking for him all day."
Thu colonel at once Strengthened
! up to his full height. saluted. and
tho United States a service. Lieutcn-
ant, call the guard and have this
man taken care OF at once" Then he
turned around quickly and started
back to the club house. taking hold
of the railing a little moro firmly
than before. or course. when the col
onel saluted we tried to follow suit.
1 but / am afraid 1t was a very poor
| imitation of the real article.
The lieutenant took our names and
address. advising that probably we
would be required to appear at the
| court martial trial. after the outcome
of the shooting affair had developed.
4 couple of months afterwards.
the writer was called upon to appear
as a witness at the court martial and
had tho pleasure of meeting the
captain Of * troop, who supplied me
with some of the details In connec-
ton with Private Moody's attempted
escape.
1t seems that Moody and another
of The j. troop men were trying to
shine in the graces of one the di,sly
damsels holding forth at the Lake
ranch, n notorious resort just out
side of the military reservation boun-
Diary.
on this night in question, Moody
decided to bring his love affairs to a
climax. proceeding to stock up with
the best brand of niger whiskey OBJ
tainable. and during the course of
the evenings entertainment. shot his
successful rival through the body
with a Colts 10. Believing ne had
killed his man. the next step was to
20. as far from the fort as possible,
50 he started across the pine hills
in the direction OF our ranch. Per
haps the most interesting part OF the
trial was the testimony of Private
Moody. He said he could see us from
the tent and was cutting a small
hole in the canvas so he could pick
us off with his As. However, the bull
let from my gun Just grazed his
right shoulder. making n burned
streak across the flesh. The captain
said Moody was the best shot in *
troop. and could shoot n prairie
chickens head off at 100 PAGES.
The conclusion Of this story may
be briefly told. The colonel was
known as general within n year or
so. Moody drew seven years In Fort
Loavenworth at hard labor. his vic.
tim having recovered. Tho winter OF
1856 put my brother and mo in the
discard, and the cattle business has
never really looked the same to mo
since. The captain OF * troop proved
to be one OF my dearest and most
admired friends. .