Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1876 — The Misfortunes of a Kentucky Bridegroom. [ARTICLE]

The Misfortunes of a Kentucky Bridegroom.

A rich thing occurred at Chamois during the recent train-robber excitement, that is too good to be lost, and which is another illustration that Kentucky’s fair daughters still are held precious by the sterner sex. Perhaps it is proper to say in tlie lieginning that we obtained the particulars from Maj. Larry Ilazen, one of the most famous detectives in tlie United States, whose long and successful career has made him the terror of the most expert thieves aud desperate murderers in the country. His headquarters arc at Cincinnati, though lie is at present stopping at the Ives, in this city. Upon an introduction we found him to lie a most courteous gentleman, and he freely gave us tlie particulars of a Kentucky elopement that ended in Missouri. It is tlie story of a stolen bride, which suddenly becomes a lost one, a sharp transaction in horse-flesh, and a very queer bridegroom. Shortly after the train was robbed, a stranger on horseback might have been seen under arrest at Chamois. Who he was none in the vicinity knew, and liis sudden appearance there, almost simultaneously with tlie robbery, was regarded as suspicious. Accordingly a dispatch was sent to Capt. Thatcher and Maj. Hazec, who were in this city, informing them of the arrest, and they at once departed to interview him. When they arrived at Chamois, sure enough, they round a rustic and rather disconsolate looking individual fast in the clutches of the officers, who were guarding the supposed railroad bandit with intense vigilance and several siK)t-guns. Maj. Hazen took him in charge, and the astonished prisoner, who had been both mystified and terrified by his summary reception, asked the Major what was the trouble. Major: Well, my friend, you have been arrested by these men as the leader of the train-robbers, and you’ll find that it is trouble enough, unless you can prove otherwise. The fellow’s eyes began to stick out with astonishment, and when the Major began with his inquisition as to who he was and where he was from, he reflectively answered: “ Wa-all, stranger, I’m from Kaintucky.” “ Still being plied with questions, which were becoming more close and searching, he writhed about and dodged as if anxious to conceal something, but finally owned up, and with a face as solemn as lugubrious lie slowly said: “ W-a-1-1, gentlemen, to be honest about it, the on’y thing I ever stole in my whole life was my wife; and I stole her about ten days ago in Kaintucky.” He then ” fessetj up,” and related the whole transaction, which proved to be a novel elopement, that led him into Missouri under the apparent suspicious circumstances which produced his arrest. His name was Boulard, and he was from near Hopkinsville, Christian County, Ky. About ten days previous he eloped with the daughter of an old farmer who woula not let him marry her. However, he took a horse, and placing his bride behind him, they struck out on their matrimonial and geographical journey, crossing the Ohio River at Henderson, and pushing on into Illinois. His wife had relatives somewhere near Jes ferson City, and thither they were bound. When he reached Illinois he traded his horse for another, and made about twen-ty-five dollars on the trade. At Belleville, in that State, his troubles commenced, for there he was arrested for a horse-thief. This caused him considerable delay and vexation, but finally convincing the authorities of his identity and innocence, he was permitted to depart. At St. Louis he concluded to send bis wife tlie balance of the journey by rail, and bought a ticket for her at mat point. He was to follow on horseback to some point near Jefferson City, where he would take the cars for the short distance intervening. By this means he could arrive in good style, and not let his wife’s people know that he was “eanmost busted ” financially. When he arrived at Chamois his horse gave out, and he concluded to take tlie cars there. So he went to the agent to make the necessary arrangements, and he noticed the latter looked at him mighty hard, but knowing nothing of the tram robbery, he paid no attention to it until he found himself arrested on suspicion as one of them. He did’nt know where his wife was; supposed he had lost her; but thought she was with her relatives, somewhere between Osage and Jefferson City. And that was his story. Major: Well, my man, you’re in a mighty bad fix about now. Your wife is lost, and here you are now, arrested as the chief of the train robbers. Maj. Hazen then questioned him about the horse, and asked him if, when he stole the old man’s* daughter, he didn’t take the old man’s horse, too. The Kentuckian evaded this point, when the Major said: “ Never mind, if the old man can forgive you for stealing his daughter, I guess he can throw in forgiveness enough for the horse, too!” The Major then searched him, and found about twenty dollars in money, a bogus grange certificate, and two big apples, which he said he was saving for liis wife. A search was then made for his marriage certificate, and he was asked what he bad done with it. After scratch ing his head reflectively, he said: “1 reckon I must have given it to my wife and—forgot it!” He was then asked why, when he was arrested in Illinois, he did not get a certificate from the authorities. ' He replied: “ Well, I didn’t think I’d be arrested everywhere I went in this country, but you b«t I will get one before I travel any more!” He then declared that he had had enough of traveling, and if he could only find his wife he would get a little piece of land and settle down on it forever. Maj. Hazen being satisfied that the man was as innocent as unfortunate, wrote him a pass for safety. Tlie unhappy benedict was very grateful, and assured uie Major that when he found his wife he would write to him, when the former slyly remarked : “ Yes, and I’m going to drop the old man a line about that norse, too!” ‘‘Oh, you nteedn’t mind that,” said “ Kaintuck.” “ The old man’ll be mighty hot for awhile ’bout my running off with bis gal, but he’ll get over it afore long, and things will be all right again.” stole his wife, got arrested for horse-steal-ing, lost his wife and found himself again arrested as the chief of a gang of trainrobbers, all in the brief space of ten days. —Sedalia {Mod Bazoo.