Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1896 — OBLIGING COL. WRIGHT. [ARTICLE]

OBLIGING COL. WRIGHT.

They Made a Big Mistake, But That Didn't Count. There wasn't uny particular excitement over the hanging of the man pointed out and arrested at Big Bend as the chap who stole a pack mule from Col. White’s camp, over on Fish river. One of White’s men, who was over_ after bacon, happened to meet the stranger, and he wen£ to Jim Redfern, president of the vigilance committee, and said: "Jim, is it a good day fur a hangin’?” “Wall, tolerably fa’r,” replied Jim. “The kuss who stole our pack mewl is down in the tin-front saloon.” “I see. And you want him hung?” “I don’t keep no great shakes about it myself, but I reckon the kurnel would be pleased.” "I’m willin’ to obleege Kurnel White, as he’s a good friend of mine, but do you think the , critter down thar has dny objecfc9WeHjS~to -bein’ hwng^ H * "He don’t look like a man who’d kick about it. ’Pears more like a critter who’d be glgd to be off the airth.” “Wall, we’ll take chances on him,” said Jim, and he went to his-shanty and got a rope and asked eight or ten of the boys to go along. When the crowd reached the tin-front saloon the stranger was just cornin’ out. “Say, we want you,”* remarked Redfern. ‘ . “What fur?” “Goin’ to hang you!” “Cause why?” “Fur stealin’ Kurnel White’s pack mewl.” “Wall,rflre away!” L * He was escorted to a thee whereon a dozen or more men had been duly hanged, and lifted upon an empty whisky barrel and the noose placed over his neck. “Want to say anything?" asked Jim, as all Was ready. “Nothin’ ’tall.” “Then let ’er go! ” An hotir later White’s man, who had started for home, returned to hunt up Mr. Redfern and say: “Look-a-yere, Jim, that feller didn’t steal our mewl.” “No!”

“They got the feller and the mewl over at Clay City and hung him this domin’,. J thought this was the feller, but I must, hev bin mistook.”“I see. Wall, he’s bin hungand buried and we can’t help hjm any. We’ll jest let the next one off to even up things, My compliments to the kurnel, and tell him I shall always stand ready to obleege.”—Detroit Frep Press, The best of material, the most careful workmanship, and prices the lowest, at the Peoples Picture Gallery, t Fine frames only a dollar and a half apiece, „at the Pavilion photograph gallery.