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MISSOURI BANDITS.
JEW STORV OK THE BREAKING UP
OP THE JAMES GANG.
A Secret Committee of Safety.
••Dick” Liddle’s Surrender—The
••Veiled Woman” Charles and
Hobert Ford—Some Bits of Ro
mance and Tragedy—An Unsolved
Mystery.
From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The death of Richard Llddle, which
occurred at Clncinnatl.a few days ago,
following so close after the liberation
of Cole and James Younger from the
Minnesota state prison, recalls most
vividly those distressful days when the
James and Younger gang gathered tri
bute from express trains and bank
vaults, sometimes varying their labors
by looting the cash box of a country
store or that of the Kansas City Fair
Association.
Liddle did not become a member of
the band until after the Northfleld
laid. Once admitted, he became a very
useful man. He was with Jesse James
at Winston, and participated in the
Blue Cut affair, near Independence.
Afterward, for the love of a woman,
he gave up train robbing and became
an honest man. The story of the break
ing up of this band may not prove un
interesting at this time.
When news reached Western Mis
souri of the fatal raid on Northfleld,
Minn., and that all of the band except
Frank and Jesse James were either
killed or captured, high hopes were en •
tertained that a stop had been put to
train and bank robbing in Missouri.
For several years It seemed this hope
was in full process of realization, but
on the night of Sept. 7, 1879, a hold-up
occurred at Glendale, six miles south
east of Independence, and fifteen
from Kansas City. Every exertion was
made by the officers to apprehend the
bandits, but proved futile. The year
following, however, a man named
Bassham, who had lived in a section of
the county called "Cracker Neck,” and
of which Glendale was the center, was
arrested on suspicion of having been
one of those engaged in the robbery.
It was remembered that Bassham,who
was a worthless wight, had left the
country within a week after the at
tack on the train, had returned after
an. absence of several months, and
seemed to be in flush circumstances.
Suspicion ripened into arrest, and
Bassham was put in the sweat box.
Believing that he had been betrayed,
he made a full confession, implicating
Jesse James as the leader, Dick Lid
dle, Bill Ryan, Ed Miller and three
others. Bassham was sentenced to the
penitentiary for ten years, but his
written confession remained in the
hands of the county and state of
ficials. He was subsequently pardoned,
that his testimony could be used
against other members of the band.
In 1880 ThomaS" T. Crittenden was
elected governor of Missouri and Wil
liam H. Wallace prosecuting attorney
of Jackson county. Crittenden had an
nounced it to be his Intention to break
up the James gang. Wallace had pledg
ed himself to do all that could be done
in his office to sustain law and order
and punish crime. As if in defiance of
the new administration, a train robbery
was planned and executed on the 15th
of July, 1881, near a small station call
ed Winston, on the Chicago, Rock Isl
and and Pacific Railroad. This was
the most desperate and brutal of the
hold-ups up to that time. Without
provocation Jesse James shot the con
ductor in cold blood and one of his
pals murdered a passenger. The ban
dits stopped not here. On the night of
Sept. 7, 1881, they again appeared in
Jackson county, stopped and robbed a
train on the Chicago and Alton road,
two and one-half miles from Indepen
dence, disappearing from the scene as
if the earth had swallowed them up.
Indeed, the gang seemed to be strong
er and more daring than ever.
Then were the people of Jackson
county aroused as they never had been
before. It was plainly evident to many
that the facility with w-filch these ban
ditti could commit crimes and escape
capture was because they had friends
living near, by whom they were har
bored; that they had spies and confed
erates in Independence and Kansas
City who gave information of the
movements of officers in their attempts
to bring the outlaws to Justice.
The organization of a secret commit
tee of safety was effected. This com
mittee adopted signs, signals and pass
words, and soon had a membership of
nearly 500 determined men, nearly all
of whom had served in the Confeder
ate armies. For a wholesome effect
upon the friends of the outlaws they
used for calling mergency meetings a
broad red seal, upon which were writ
ten hieroglyphics understood only by
the members. These were posted only
at night, and not infrequently placed
on a front door or gate post of a known
friend of the gang. This gave grave
alarm to these gentry, but as they
could not understand che seals, they
presumed they were meant to convey
a warning. At the same time covert
threats were thrown out that in ease
of any more roberries within the limits
of the county the suspected harborers
of the outlaws would themselves be
summarily dealt with.
In the meantime Gov. Crittenden had
called a meeting of the superintendents
of these railroads operating in the
state, and the result was the offering
of a reward of $20,000 for the death or
arrest of Frank and Jesse James.
Shortly after Wallace became prose
cuting attorney Bill Ryan, one of the
most trusted of the James gang, rob
bed a United States paymaster of sev
eral thousand dollars near Mussel
Shoals, Tenn. A few days later he ap
peared in Nashville, and was arrested,
charged with drunkenness. Wallace
saw the notice of Ryan's arrest and
wired the officials to hold him pend
ing a requisition from Gov. Crittenden,
and Deputy Marsha! Whig Keshlear
was sent to bring him to Missouri.
Keshlear reached Jackson county while
the grand jury was in session; an in
dictment was found charging Ryan
with complicity In the Glendale rob
bery. He made a bitter fight, but the
meshes Wallace had drawn around him
were too strong to he broken, and he
received a twenty-five-year sentence.
This was the first real Important cap
ture and proved the only prosecution
to a successful Issue. But other Influ
ences were at work; the organization of
the Committee of Safety had alarmed
the friends of the bandits, and it be
came hard to find safe harboruge. Be
sides, the loss of Ryan proved a se
rious one. Opon his conviction Jesse
lames began training Charley and Bob
Ford for ctlminal work.
The Ford family consisted of
the • mother, daughter an J
the two above-named boys.
Their home was In Ray county, near
Richmond, and one of the hiding places
of the band, or part of It. Dick
die and Wood Hite often stayed there
for weeks at a time. Hite, It seems,
was in love with Miss Ford, and be
coming jealous of Liddle, picked a quar
rel with him. In the fight that result
ed Hite was killed, and his body was
dragged out, thrown into a ditch and
covered with earth, stones and brush.
Some hogs descried the body and root
ed it out to the road, where it was
found by some passersby. The Fords
had long been suspected of harboring
members of the gang, and this confirm
ed the belief. But as Liddle was ab
sent when Hite's body was discovered
no arrests were made.
Soon after this episode Charley and
Bob Ford Joined Jesse James at St. Jo
seph, -where he was living under the
name of Howard.
Liddle was in love with one
Mattie Collins, who lived in Jackson
county, fourteen miles from Independ
eJ}ce ' but while the woman was devot
ed to him she would not consent to
marry him while his life was in con
tinued Jeopardy on account of his law
less and murderous deeds. Several
years before this a former lover had
insulted Miss Collins, and in a fit of
rage she shot him dead. She was pros
ecuted under an indictment of murder
in the first degree and her attorneys
had a hard time to save her from a
long, if not life, term In the peniten
tiary. Her lawyers were Maj. William
Warner, afterward member of Con
gress from the Kansas City district,
and William H. Wallace. It was Wal
lace's extraordinary defense, however,
which secured a verdict of acquittal
for the tawny-haired woman, and she
was ever afterward exceedingly grate
ful to him. In her present emergency
she paid Wallace a visit. She told him
she and Liddle were sweethearts, also
that desired to surrender and
settle down. Wallace counselled her to
go see Gov. Crittenden, and lay the
matter before him, promising to abide
by whatever the Governor advised.
One day a “veiled woman” called at
the State Capitol and said that she de
sired a private Interview with the Gov
ernor, and was shown Into Crittenden's
private office. In an hour she was
bowed out by the gallant Kentuckian
who had snatched a kiss from the Ups
of the great Patti. Much speculation
as to the identity of this veiled woman
was indulged in. One rumor had it that
she was the wife of Frank or Jesse
James; another thought it might be
Mrs. Samuels, their mother. But neith
er Crittenden nor Wallace would tell,
and it was a long time before those
less Interested than the principals
knew.
The next startling thing that oc
curred was the mysterious placing of
a note In the hands of Sheriff Timber
lake of Clay county. The note was de
livered so deftly, the bearer made his
escape so easily, that his Identity was
completely lost. Upon reading the
note, Timberlake found it to be from
Dick Liddle, asking him to come alone
to a certain place In the woods near
Liberty that night at midnight. Tim
berlake was a man of considerable
nerve, but It was some time before he
could gain his own consent to attend
the tryst. However, it was fame if
he succeeded, and a fight if deceived,
and he went. Liddle met him alone
and unarmed, and offered to surrender
and be taken to Liberty a prisoner il
assured of a pardon and protection in
case he would divulge the secrets of
the James gang. Timberlake promised
protection and said he had no doubt
that the Governor would pardon him
if he would faithfully aid in breaking
up the band. Whereupon Liddle stepped
to where his pistols were lying, hand
ed them to the sheriff, and the two
were soon at the Clay county jail
where for the first time perhaps in his
wayward life Liddle had the key of
jaildom turned upon him.
Affairs now culminated rapidly. On
April 3, 1882, Bob Ford shot and killed
Jesse James in St. Joseph, and In the
following October Frank James w’alked
into Gov. Crittenden's office and sur
rendered. The Ford boys received
their reward of SIO,OOO for killing Jesse
James and each went his way, Char
ley to marry and settle down. Bob to
go West and get killed by Ed Kelley,
the keeper of a Creede (Col.) dance
house. Dick Liddle appeared as a
witness against Frank James, who was
indicted for the murders committed at
the Winston train robbery, but his
testimony availed the state nothing,
and James was acquitted. Liddle mar
ried Mattie'Collins.
HERE’S A MUSICAL TALE.
Being the Story of Why Wagner
Pitched Upon Bayreuth.
From the London Graphic.
Few people are aware of the raison
d’etre of Bayreuth, i. e., how It became
the Wagner town. It was on Dec., 14,
1871, that Wagner first visited Bay
reuth with a special Introduction from
King Ludwig II to Feustel, a wealthy
banker of Beyreuth. He was heartily
received by a deputation, special
apartments were prepared for him ai
the Hot-1 Sonne—the very rooms which
Adelina Patti is occupying this year
and the same day an inspection was
made of the immense opera house
there. Although this is a veritable
palace of a theater, built in 1748 by
Giuseppe Gall Blbiena, it was found en
tirely unsuitable by Wagner. A site
for building a theater in accordance
with Wagner’s ideas was chosen—a
hill called the Stuckberg—and the own
er, a Mr. Rose, consented at once to
the proposals made for erecting anew
play house on his ground, and every
one was highly pleased. It seems,
however, that they had reckoned with
out their host, who appeared in the
shape of a brother-in-law who was co
partner, and who distinctly declined to
sanction the arrangement. Thinking
that everything was settled, Wagner
returned to his home in Switzerland,
where, a week or so later, Feustel and
the burgomaster of Beyreuth, Herr
Muncker, followed him and informed
him of the unexpected development.
Wagner, being very much upset, de
clined to have anything further to do
■with Bayreuth, and the burgomaster
and Feustel went away. On the
back, however, one of the lat
ter’s goloshes came off, and he dis
covered that he was wearing a pair
which did not belong to him. The two
friends thereupon returned to the house
and found that, in the confusion of
leaving, one of them had taken Wag
ner’s rubber overshoes in mistake for
his own. They were received by Wag.
r.ers wife, Cosima, who was greatly
amused at the occurrence, and told
them that her husband had wished to
walk off his Irritation, and had, before
starting out, called for his goloshes,
but was told by his patriotic hand,
maiden that "those two nasty Ger
mans had sneaked the shoes.” The
amusing side of the incident brought
back their courage, and they tackled
Cosima Wagner, who agreed with them
that a meVe change of site for the new
play house should npt stand In the way.
She promised to use her influence and
she kept her word. Shortly afterward
news was received that Wagner would
ccnsent to the new site proposed viz.,
the Burgerreuth, the property of the
town, and this is where the theater
now stands. Thus a pair of goloshes
saved Bayreuth!
Before leaving Bayreuth, Siegfried
Wagner kindly handed me his latest
photograph and autograph, which he
allowed me to use for the Graphic. The
chats I had with him at his charming
bijou villa, which adjoins the Villa
Wakufrled—the residence of Cosima
Wagner—and at present the gathering
place of the most famous artists in the
world—will always be a pleasant re
membrance to me.
Not So Ilnil As It Sounds.
From the Chicago Record-Herald.
There Is a hotel, the most popular
in Sweden, where all the swells go. a
hydropathic establishment, kept by a
disciple of the Kneipp system, and
bathing houses for both men and wo
men. The latter are by no means dis
reputable, and are patronized by the
very best people in Sweden, although
the sign over the door reads:
DAMBADHUS. i
For those unfamiliar with the Swed
ish language, I ought to explain that
this means a bathing establishment for
ladles. t
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 8.1901.
REGINA’S ROMANCE.
FROM BAREFOOT GIRL TO MILLION.
AIRE’S WIDOW.
Her Miner Husband, Who Fell In
Love With Her m Little More Than
n Year Ago, When She Was Penni
less, Is Killed—Leaves the Young
Widow a Fortune of 910,000,000.
From the New York World.
A little more than a year ago Re
gina Neville was a barefoot girl of the
mountains without a penny to her
name. To-day she is the widow of the
Croesus of Cripple Creek with a for
tune of $10,000,000.
"To what use will she put her gold?"
is being asked by those -who know the
young widow’s inexperience. Of society
and all its distractions, of the count
less expensive amusements of the mil
lionaires of the East, this simple
young girl has had no taste, no knowl
edge. With mines she is all too fa
miliar. With the products of them —
but all that lies before her. At 18, a
widow and with ten millions, the girl
knows but the first page of the book
of life.
Ail over the West they are telling
and retelling this story of Regina Ne
ville, whom the millionaire miner Sam
uel Strong loved as he first saw her,
a girl of 16, trudging along the moun
tainside, whom he wooed eagerly and
proudly won for his bride, and whom
he continued to love so well that when
he fearlessly went to his death, not so
many days ago, it was for the sake of
this same 18-year-old Regina.
For it was in defending his wife’s
father, J. B. Neville, that Sam Strong,
who had escaped unscathed from hun
dreds of more dangerous and sensa
tional adventures, incurred the wound
that killed him. Neville is alive and
unharmed, but his daughter, now one
of the richest women in the West,
mourns, inconsolable, for the man who
died shielding him. The grief of wid
owhood is yet too strong for Regina
Strong to have realized the power that
her dead husband’s millions give her.
Bam Strong’s Career.
There is hardly a man west of the
Mississippi who could not tell you, and
tell with gusto, the long series of vivid
and startling chapters that make up
the story of Sam Strong’s career. Few
men, even in the adventurous country
where he lived, can boast a biography
so rich In incident, and the miner-mil
lionaire was widely known. But the
chapter that is oftenest talked of and
longest dwelt on is that of his roman
tic marriage with pretty Regina Ne
ville, who lacked several years of be
ing half his age. Even now, when Sam
Strong lies in his grave, killed by a
bullet from Grant Crumley’s pistol, his
death is probably less regretted than
his young widow’s grief at losing him.
From which you will see that Mrs.
Regina Strong is held as something of
a heroine in Colorado.
From the famous bonanza Strong
mine at Victor, Col., came the greater
part of Sam Strong's millions. The
mine w r as his own discovery, and was
the crowning' good fortune of his life —
with the exception, of course, of Regina
Neville, who happened, by a curious co
incidence, to live within a stone’s
thfow of the mine.
The Nevilles were a poor family
whom persistent ill-fortune had driven
West from Connecticut to the gold
country. Once settled in Colorado, how
ever. they were poorer than ever. The
secret of striking gold eluded John
Neville, who grubbed patiently on,
while his family lived in an insecure
little log cabin at Altman. Fortunately,
it was a small family, consisting only
of the parents, a young son and Re
gina, a few years older. Even at fifteen
this young girl, who was slender, ac
tive, brilliantly brunette in coloring,
was known throughout all the Cripple
Creek section as a beauty. There was
not a miner who would not take the
longest route to his work if he could
get a glimpse of Regina Neville on the
way. The shy, quiet girl was as un
conscious of this adoration as of her
own beauty. She had never dreamed
of having a sweetheart. Her only
thought was of continuing her inter
rupted schooling. The mountaineer’s
daughter had ambition.
Love at First Sight.
One day the owner of the Strong
mine was making his lonely way from
Midway to the Free Coinage mine. On
the trail he met a sixteen-year-old girl
in a shabby short dress, barefooted
and carrying a bundle of books under
her arm. These details Samuel Strong
passed over. What he saw was that
the girl had a sweet,
merry face, with long-lash
cd brown eyes, and that her heavy
brown hair rippled brightly down from
her bare head over her modestly cov
ered neck and shoulders. Samuel
Strong did not know that this was Re
gina Neville, the prettiest girl in the
mountains, whose father was a poor
miner and whose home was In a log
cabin. But he looked at her long and
hard till she had passed from sight.
You might have thought her only a
winsome, gay-hearted child. Samuel
Strong saw In her a woman and his
bride. He loved her—one look had told
him that—and he owned ten millions.
Should he admit the possibility of ob
stacle?
“I fell In love with her then and
there,” he told his friends afterw_ard,
"and made up my mind to make her
my wife. Ever since.then she has been,
God bless her, the one woman In the
world! TUI I saw her skipping along
the mountain trail that day my own
life, with all my millions, had seemed
a useless thing enough. But in that
moment I knew why I had lived. A
man doesn’t hunt gold all his life for
nothing. His eyes get sharpened, and
by the time he is forty-one years old,
as I am, there's not much precious
metal can escape him. You see, It
didn’t take a twinkling for me to tel!
the difference between Regina and
every other woman that ever lived.
That’s because I’ve done so much hunt
ing for gold."
The millionaire was, indeed, as you
may see, very much in earnest, So
much that he went the next day to the
little log cabin where the Nevilles lived
and told John Neville, with no more
circumlocution than miners ordinarily
use, that he wanted to marry his
daughter. There was not much of en
treaty in Strong’s request. He was per
fectly aware that he had millions and
Neville nothing. In fact, he demanded
Regina.
John Neville, however, had no fancy
for bartering off his daughter. He re
sented Strong's suggestion, and told
him so. Regina, her father felt, should
marry—when she did marry—some one
of her own age. It was not conceivable
that she should love forty-one-year-old
Sam Strong, good fellow though he was.
And unless she did
The Courtship.
In short, the decision was left with
Regina herself.
Thus It devolved upon Strong to win
his bride as a man should—by telling
her of his love. He did it with pas
sionate sincerity, and Regina, to whom
the story was anew one, listened with
all her ears. Then she looked up into
Strong’s honest face, beaming with
adoration for her, and she told him
she would consider It. Fortunately,
Strong knew how to play lover wisely
and he consented to wait. But mean
while he took occasion to tell her more
than once the same sweet story. And
after a while Regina waked up to the
fact that she was a woman, and In
love. So she bound up her rippling hair
and looked as serious as she could and
Oar Tile
Is Off
Its Base.
But we are going to make it stay
down, and that mighty soon. We are
a long way better off than last week.
Then is "was cornin’,” but now it "has
come,” and we are up to it hard and
fast. We see our finish near, and then,
without even the thought of a prom
ise to "do it soon," we'll sell bicycles
world without end.
Watch us and watch |
The Columbia Wheels.
You’ll see them move and move easy,
too. We can supply all wants prompt
ly and efficiently, and If you need any
thing, come here and it will be attend
ed to. Repairs while you leave your
wheel. Quick and permanent.
T. A. BRYSON,
Wheels of the Columbia make,
242 BULL STREET.
told her parents that she intended to
marry Samuel Strong because she loved
him. Convinced of her earnestness.their
resistance gave way, and six months
after the day when Strong had first
seen her running barefoot along the
mountain trail Regina Neville became
the bride of the owner of the Victor
mine.
The Wedding. .
The wedding was in the log cabin on
the hill and the ceremony was of the
briefest. Strong looked ten years
younger for the occasion, and was as
happy a bridegroom as you might find.
As for Regina, she looked very sweet
and bridelike in a simple white muslin
gown she had made herself. Her feet
were rather uncomfortably buttoned
into neat little shoes, and her hair tvas
bound tightly up with a white ribbon.
She no longer looked the mountain
maiden, and she was to look it still
less, for in a week's time she was on
her way to Europe with her adoring
husband. They stopped in New York
on the way, and the clothes and Jewels
that the bride was coaxed into accept
ing would have lasted her for years
had they not been supplanted by still
finer ones as soon as the millionaire
and his bride reached Paris.
After a long tour the Strongs return
ed. To Denver this time, however,
where they hare lived ever since. Their
temporary home was at No. 1029 Coro
na street, which they intended to oc
cupy until the new palace at No. 1321
Clayton street should be completed.
This home Sam Strong had designed
as a nest for his “little Texas girl,” as
he fondly termed his wife. Here he had
planned to pass the greater portion of
his life with his family and surround
ed by every luxury which his great
wealth could pui-chase. He had secured
four adjoining lots in order that he
might erect a conservatory and a bowl
ing alley. His hopes were dashed by
the hand of death even as the same
grim spectre disarranged the plans of
another wealthy young man who once
owned the same residence and who
thought, like Strong, to make it the
home of the one he loved best. Years
ago William B. Mayham, the son of
the well-known real estate dealer,
erected the house in anticipation of his
approaching nuptials with beautiful
Lucy Love. Soon after his marriage,
and before the happy couple could oc
cupy the residence, Mr. Mayham was
seized with appendicitis and died. His
widow retained control of the property
until about a year ago, when she dis
posed of it to Strong. The fatal some
thing which seems to control the des
tiny of those who occupy the place
decreed that he should never know that
pleasure.
The Tragedy.
The Strongs had never been separat
ed since their marriage until Aug. 20,
when Strong left to go to Cripple Creek
for a few days to look after his mining
interests. His wife, who has not been
well for a year past, grieved over the
parting and clung to her husband as
he left, begging him to telephone her
every day.
Arriving at Cripple Creek. Strong met
his father-in-law, John Neville, with a
group of other men, and went into a
saloon to drink with them. A quarrel
started between Crumley, the owner of
the saloon, and Neville. This Strong
interrupted by warning Crumley not to
interfere with his “daddy,” as he call
ed him. The heated words continued
until finally, to shield Neville, Strong
pulled out his revolver and the two
men fired. “It’s for Regina’s sake!”
someone heard Strong mutter. And a
moment later his head was shattered by
Crumley’s bullet.
The next morning Mrs. Strong re
ceived a telephone message calling her
to Cripple Creek. With no suspicion of
calamity in her mind, she made the
Journey, and did not know of the trag
edy that had befallen her until she saw
her husband’s dead body.
“It was for your sake,” was all the
comfort they could give her. "He died
speaking your name.” And this is the
young widow’s only consolation.
Mrs. Strong, who Is the executrix of
the estate and many times a million
aire according to the provisions of the
will, has been prostrated ever since.
As yet, therefore, she has given no
hint of the disposition she will make
of the fortune which two years ago,
as Regip.a Neville, the mountain girl,
she had never even dreamed of. It Is
for this reason that Colorado Is await
ing with intense interest her return to
health.
Among the locations made by Strong
were the Strong mine, which he sold
for $65,000; the Wilson creek placer,
which he sold to W. S. Stratton; the
White House Nos. 1 and 2, and Cap
tain, which were later on sold to the
Portland company, as well as a num
ber of other claims on Battle. He own
ed at his death the Jolly Tar, adjoining
the Strong on the south, tind two acres
of ground right in the midst of the
Portland estate, for which he has re
fused in the neighborhood of $75,000 in
cash. Among his holdings was 600,000
shares, or 60 per cent, of the entire
stock of the Free Coinage Company.
He also held 100.000 shares of Vindi
cator, 15,000 to 20,000 shares of Portland
and large blocks of Anaconda, Isabella
and other good shares, as well as a
number of patented claims within the
mineral belt.
BILLY THE KID.
The True Story of a Western "Bad
Man.”
E. Hough. In Everybody’s Magazine.
History has it, with what accuracy
let us not Inquire too closely, that
when Billy the Kid was yet a boy, not
more than 14 years of age, someone
addressed to his mother a disrespect- j
a time when resentments were swift
ful remark. This was In Arizona, arid at
and deadly. The story goes that the
boy drew a knife, fatally stabbed the
man, and then fled the country. From
that time Billy the Kid became an out
law, and an outlaw he remained for
seven years, which completed the span
of his short life.
To-day there is a little lowly heap
of earth located at Las Cruces, New
Mexico. To the curious stranger some
idle native may, now and again, point
out this little grave and explain, with
a certain pride, that Las Cruces pos
sesses the final resting place of the
worst bad man that ever infested the
Southwestern border. An ancient Mex
ican, who sometimes shows this grave
to visitors, once made the cautious re
mark regarding its occupant that, had
he lived, he would probably have turn
ed out to be a bad man.
“And how old was Billy when he
died?" asked one curious stranger.
"Twenty-one, senor,” replied the an
cient. "He died, almost one might say,
before he fully began to live.”
“You say he was bad?” remarked an
other stranger.
"He Is said to have killed many men.”
“How many? How many, amigo, had
this man killed at the time he himself
died?"
“He had killed," replied the ancient
Mexican, “twenty-one men, one for
each year of his age, may the saints
defend us,” said the Mexican. “He was
a good man, and very kind to poor peo
ple. Yet, had he lived, he might, ac
cording to the opinion of some, have
turned Into a bad man.”
Near the present home of Pat Gar
rett is the grave of Billy the Kid, one
of the worst of the outlaws of the
West, and certainly bad as man could
be. As the grave received him, he was
a short, undersized little man, with
legs none too good, and the habit of a
riding man. His eyes were bluish gray.
His chin, so far from being broad and
strong, was narrow and pointed. His
teeth were large and projecting, the
teeth of a carnlvor. Providence alone
knows through what miscarriage in the
aeons of evolution the soul of some
fierce and far-off carnlvor got into the
body of this little man, this boy, this
fiend in tight boots and broad hat. He
died at the age of twenty-one. A man
for every year—lndeed, had Billy lived,
he might have grown to be a bad
man!
And this is how the little tiger at last
fcund his end. He and the scant re
mainder of his gang were on their way
across the line into Mexico, when Billy
finally made the fatal mistake of his
lifetime. It was all about.a woman. It
became known, In what way it would
be violating Pat Garrett’s confidence to
state ; that upon a certain night Billy
the Kid would be at the ranch house of
one Maxwell, far down to the south of
Lincoln, in the Rio Penasco country, if
being his purpose there to say good-by
to a sweetheart, a Mexican girl.
Pat Garrett, with two deputies, ap
peared quietly at Maxwell's ranch
house on the evening specified. They
were not announced. It was a bright
moonlight night, so that objects could
be plainly discerned for some distance.
Garrett left his two deputies at the
gate, close to the door of the ranch.
He found Maxwell in bed. Arguing
that, If he would permit a visit of this
sort to his place, he would also inform
the visitor in case he had opportunity.
Garrett commanded the ranchman to
lie quietly in bed where he was. He
enforced this demand with an alter
native which had sufficient weight. He
then stepped back of the bed where
Maxwell lay, and in order to keep the
latter quiet, he rested one arm across
him, and with the other kept his own
pistol handy.
Pat Garrett was a good shot with the
heavy six-shooter. Once, while some
of us were practicing with pistols, Pat
Garrett, at a distance of some ten or
twelve yards, put five bullets from
his six-shooter in a postal card which
was nailed against a tree. "Now I
will be particular,” said he. "and shoot
the stamp mark off the corner;” which
latter he did practically as stipulated.
Along toward midnight a horseman
rode up and stopped his horse not far
; from the ranch house. He came
through the gate where the two depu
ties were sitting. In order not to make
any noise, this horseman kicked off
his that, as he actually step
ped over the threshold of the door, he
stood with his boots in his left hand.
This surely was a moment of mortal
danger and of mortal terror to the two
deputies who held guard without. They
were saved, by Providence alone knows
what of change in the mental action
of this little fiend, who was now play
ing the last act of his red drama. For
the first time and the only time in his
life, Billy the Kid entertained a sus
picion, and failed to shoot first and ask
with a certain doubt upon the two fig
hts explanation afterward. He looked
with a certain doubt upon the two fig
ures squatted down in the semi-dark
ness.
"Quien es?” (Who is it?) he asked.
“Amigos” (friends), one of the depu
ties had strength enough left to utter.
He knew perfectly well who the little
man was, standing there at the door,
with his boots in his hand and the muz
zle of his revolver now pointing to
ward him hesitatingly.
Now the figure of Billy the Kid
standing thus, half hesitating, in the
moonlight at the open door, perhaps
with some vague softer thought of
love and good-by in his soul, just as
there had been a thought of heme and
mother at the beginning of his career,
presented an object visible enough at
a distance of a few feet to any one
within the room. The long left arm
of Pat Garrett held Maxwell tight to
the bed. His own long legs slowly
uncoiled as he rose up from his place,
crowded between the bed and the wall.
The Kid heard some sort of sound be
hind him, and quick as a flash he
whirled, hesitation no more a part of
him. It was too late. The aim of
Pat Garrett, even thus in the half-dark,
was accurate as ever. Billy the Kid,
his face toward the firing, fell forward
into the room. Yet so quick was his
own mental and muscular action that
he had, before receiving his death
wound, fired his own shot in reply. Gar-
TOO LATE FOB CLASSIFICATION.
FOR RENT, THREE LOVELY
furnished or unfurnished rooms, with
use of bath and gas. 219 Duffy, east.
~FOR _ RENT, - 2-STORYHOUSE, 121
Duffy, west; 8 rooms with gas and wa
ter: good yard with back entrance.
Apply 123 Duffy, west.
PRINTER WANTED, VAISBERG
Printing Company, 16 Whitaker street.
“wanted! TO RENT, A SMALL
house of six or seven rooms; cottage
preferred; immediate possession. P.
O. Box 17.
RECEIVED, A FULL LINE OF Im
ported and domestic woolens for fall
and winter suits, made to order from
sls up; pants $4. A. Getz, the tailor.
Jefferson and State; also cleaning and
dyeing.
“WANTED, TO'BUY, LIGHT ONE
horse hack on easy terms. 607 West
Henry. _
FOR SALE, GREEN GROCERY,
cheap: $75; now is your chance; going
out of business. Chance, News office.
ROOMS“FOR RENT;
water convenient; large yard. Waters
road apd Fifth street.
“STORE FOR RENT CORNER
Farm and Mill streets; possession Oct.
1. Apply at drug store.
*FOR SALE, GOOD STAND FOR
green grocery and bar. Address H.,
News office. ,
“elegant FRONT ROOM “with
veranda in most desirable location;
hot and cold water; furnished or un
furnished; breakfast if desired. Ad
dress W. A., care News.
rett fired again as the Kid fell. Thus
there were three shots in all fired, but
of these only two were ever located; the
first shot, which killed Billy, and the
shot from the Kid's revolver, which
went high and lodged in the wall above
the bed.
BVTCIIEKS ARE IMMUNE.
Meat Dealers, It la Said, Never Die
of Coimnniptlon.
Prom the New York Mail and Express.
"Butchers never die of consumption.”
The big man with his sleeves rolled up,
wielding the cleaver at the block, said
this as he threw a beefsteak on the
scale.
It sounded more like a trade super
stition than a fact, but so far as dili
gent inquiry has been able to discover
it is true, although not generally known
outside of the great chopping craft.
Butchers are no longer lived than
men in other walks of life. They are
subject to all the other ills that human
flesh is heir to, but consumption they
do not have. So far as a reporter was
able to learn not a single case Is on
record of a butcher in this city being
afflicted with the Incurable wasting of
the lungs which claims its hundreds
of thousands of victims annually.
The fact is well known among
butchers and has been often the sub
ject of their comment, although none
of them can give a reason for it.
“No." said a man who has swung
sides and rounds in Washington mar
ket for the last 20 years; "I have had
rheumatism and typhoid fever and
lots of other things, but nothing has
ever been out of gear with my lungs,
and the same is true of every other
butcher in this town. I know nearly
all of them, and I never heard or one
of them having consumption. They
don't drink blood or take any especially
good care of themselves either. I
don't know why it should be so unless
it’s because the continual Inhaling of
an atmosphere of fresh meat is
strengthening..
“I have often thought when hearing
of consumptives going to Colorado and
Egypt that I know of a climate nearer
home that would do the business Just
as well. If they would stay in thts
stall for awhile and swing meat, they
would get well quite as quickly as they
would on the-top of Pike’s peak.”
AUCTION SALES FUTURE DAYS.
AT^AUCfION?^~
TOBACCO, GROCERIES. FURNITURE,
IRON SAKE.
C. H. DORSETT, Auctioneer,
Will sell MONDAY, 9th Inst., at 11
o’clock, at 22 Congress, west,
5 boxes Tobacco, lot of Canned Goods,
Baking Powder, Biscuits, Matches,
Counter Scales, Gold Dust, Counter,
barrel Cider, Snuff, Mince Meat, caddy
of Tea, Side Saddle, Trunk, Parlor
Lamp, Lounge, Mattresses, Ice Chest,
Oak Bedroom Sets, Chairs, Sidehoirl,
Hat Rack, Parlor Set, Steel Range, Bed
Springs, Pictures. Show Cases, Kero
sene Can, and sundry Other articles.
—also—-
Small Iron Safe, Combination Lock.
SPECIAL NOTICED.
A WORD TO THE WISE.
Savannah Beer for Savannahlans.
Cail for Savannah Brewing Company's
celebrated
-CABINET BEER
drawn from the wood at
REMLER'S.
Corner Drayton and Liberty streets.
NO TIPS HERE.
The San Francisco Restaurant at 114
Drayton is doing a staving business.
Meals to order only 25c. Elsewhere
50 cents.
JOE CHANG. Proprietor..
P. S.—The business men eat at my
house.
No TIPS allowed here.
DOORS, SASH, BLINDA,
And everything in the building material
line. We are headquarters for these
goods, with the largest and most com
plete stock in the South. Buy White Pine
Doors, Sash and Blinds for your new
home.
ANDREW HANLEY COMPANY.
WALL PAPER.
When in want of 'Wall Paper come
direct to us. This |s the place to find
the assortment and the right prices.
We show an immense line and we
can post you as to what is the proper
style.
SAVANNAH BUILDING SUPPLY CO.
Corner Drayton and Congress.
Phone 519.
BECKMAN’S CAFE,
112-114 Whitaker Street.
Cooling and refreshing beverages
carefully prepared. Also loaches ot
all kinds at short notice. Imported
Wnrsburger Beer always fresh on
draaght and bottles. Phone 710,
WHERE DOES IT PAY
To buy a fine suit of clothes, and when
it gets soiled, to send it to a house that
is not reliable, and will only press the
dirt in? Then send them to the NEW
YORK DYERS AND CLEANERS.
Whitaker and State. Born in the busi
ness. Lace curtains and straw and
felt hats done up in style. Phone 943.
TIIE WAY TO CLEAN CARPETS.
The only way to {et your carpets prop
erly taken up, cleaned and taken care of
for the summer, is to turn the job over to
the District Messenger and Delivery Cos.,
telephone 2. or call at 32 Montgomery
street, and they will make you an esti
mate on the. cod of the work. Prices
reasonable. They alto pack, move anu
store furniture and pianos.
C. H. MEDLOCK. Supt. and Mgr.
Never Fails to Cure
Haggard’s Specific Tablets
have accomplished more in the
treatment of chronic cases of
Indigestion, Nervous Debility,
Constipation, Kidney and Blad
der Troubles, Impotency, Lost
Vitality and all kindred diseases
of male and female than any
remedy heretofore known to
medical science. They have
and will accomplish all that is
claimed for them. We chal
lenge investigation if any one
doubts the statement. Call on
your druggist and try them. If
they can’t supply you, they can
be had on receipt of price from
the Haggard Specific Cos., 404
Norcross Bldg., Atlanta, Ga.
Price, $1 per box or six boxes
for $5. Pamphlets free on appli
cation.
—FOR SALE BY—
LIPPMAN BROS, and SOLO
MONS CO.. Savananh, Ga.
J. D. WEED & CO.
General Southern Agents for
COLT’S PATENT FIREARMS.
OLD NEWSPAPERS. 200 for 26 cents, at
Business Office Morning News.
SPECIAL NOTICES.
FINE RYE WHISKY.
The best whisky In the city for
the price Is the
GOLDEN WEDDING WHISKY.
price, 11.00 bottle, three bottles for
42.(0, twelve bottles for (9.(0, ex
press paid.
Look at the labe' and be sure you
get genuine GOLDEN WEDDING
WHISKY. It Is a large gilt label
with the picture In the center with
a marriage taking place.
LIPPMAN BROTHERS,
Bole Agents for the Distillery,
Llppman Block, Bavscnah, Ga.
SCOTCH WHISKY.
Direct from Greer, Glasgow.
Scotland.
COGNAC BRANDT, FRENCH
CLARET WINES. GERMAN.
RHINE and MOSELLE WINES
direct from France and Germany.
Ail of these goods are in the
United States Custom House beta,
which Insures their purity and ele
gance.
LIPPMAN BROTHERS.
oonoA'i
PALACE OF SWEETS. j ‘
Headquarters for
CHOCOLATES AND BON SONS,
FRENCH ICE CREAMS,
SHERBETS, SODA WATER
AND CUT FLOWERS.
BOTH PHONES SOT.
DESIROUS OF INCREASING THE
SALE OF MACARONI AND
SPAGHETTI,
which we Import direct from Italy every
month, we will, as an advertisement,
during the summer months give sway a
pound of macaroni or spaghetti free with
every pound of our 45c Mixed Tea. This
Tea is superior to any 60c tea in the
city. Try It and be convinced.
Ail know of the healthy properties of
Olive Oil. We keep the pure oil. Use It
for your salad.
G. TRAPINI A CO.,
Phone 1880. 104 Broughton st., east.
CHEAPEST PLACE IN THE CITY.
We wash your clothes just white like
snow, so (air. We use Octagon soap and
the clothes never fade. We give you
satisfaction and guarantee the best work.
Shirts Bc. New Shirts 10c, Shirt Waists
15c, Undershirts 6c, Drawers Be. Collars
ltfcc, Cuffs 3c, Handkerchiefs l)4c, Bocks
2c! Pants cleaned 26c. Family clothes,
mixed, a dozen, (0c; Family, all starch,
clothes, a dozen, 81.00; Duck Skirts 20c,
Linen Suits 60c.
Our delivery wagon will call for linetk
ROBERT A TONG CO..
First Class Chinese Laundry.
Bell ’Phone 1200. 823 Broughton, ease
BETTER THAN EVER.
At Mrs. Norres, 117 Barnard. You
can get hot meals a-la-carte aa well
as cold lunches. Only the choicest
chops and steaks and other meats
served. Everything fried in butter.
Fridays of each week I will serve an
old fashion Norwegian fish dinner with
imported German potatoes. Also oys
ters served in all styles. Special at
tention given to orders for ladles for
lunch, hot meals, coffee, etc.
P. S.—Best drip coffee in the city
with pure cream, 10c.
CYPnENS SHINGLES.
We offer 1,000,000 Cypress Shingles
of all the different grades, from (1-60
to $3.00 per thousand.
Boats can load at our mills.
VALE ROYAL MFO. CO..
H. P. Smart, I resldeiit.
BEAUTIFUL FEATURES ARE IN
HERITED,
But a beautiful home can be acquired
by using TAYLOR’S elegant designs of
Paper Hangings. Entirely new color
ings. Call up Ga. phone 877 and it will
be a pleasure to call and show them to
you. Painters’ and paper hangers' sup
plies of all kinds. New designs in house
painting. Ask to see them.
138 and 140 Barnard street,
Knights of Pythias Hall.
CALL FOR THE CINCINNATI
RED HEART BEERS.
Pllaner, Old Lager. Crescent, Aurora,
Felsen. in bottles and kegs.
THE JUNG BREWING CO.,
Cincinnati, O.
WM M. BRICKEN.
Manager Savannah Branch,
Telephone 915. Bull and River eta.
SPECIAL NOTICE
To all who are tired of poor work and
deception, remove the cause by allow
ing mo to clean and neatly press your
clothes. No deception here. Satisfac
tion assured.
SAVANNAH STEAM DYE WORKS,
21 York street, west. Phone 1264.
LOOK, LOOK.
Now is the time to have your spotted
and damaged mirrors repaired, either
in furniture or mantels. Mantels taken
down and replaced without damage to
walls or paper. Work guaranteed.
THONNESSEN'S ART STORE.
York street, opposite postoffle.
LET CLARK SAY.
Let David Clark pass on your old
furniture's condition. He can tell you
pretty quick if it will do to repair and
upholster. He makes some look good
as new.
His Store is 141 Jefferson Street.
PROPERTY OWNERS,
PROPERTY OWNERS- DO NOT
wait until ordinance requiring you to con
nect to new house drainage is enforced.
It will pay you to have it done at once
by the former inspector of plumbing, W.
H. Cosgrove, 123 Drayton street.
SAVANNAH PREPARATORY SCHOOL,
MILITARY.
Barnard and Harris streets.
The Summer School is now opened in
charge of Mr. Strong's assistants. Mr.
M. A. Martin and Mr. J. J. Coale.
The fall term begins Oct. 7. Cata
logues can be obtained at the school or
at Solomons' Bull Street Drug Store.
SPECIAL NOTICE.
Sanitary plumbing, practical gas fitting,
perfect sewerage connections. Special at
tention to repairs. Call and examine the
“Acme” Instantaneous water heater,
best on the market.
E. F. BRODERICK,
242 Drayton street, plumber.
3