the twin hells(两个地狱)-第23节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
into his neighbor's pasture。 Word was sent to the owner of the calf that if
he would come over and pay damages for the trouble of penning it up he
could have his property。 This had a tendency to arouse a bad feeling in the
heart of Lopeman； so； placing his revolver in his pocket； and asking his
grown up son to accompany him； they went to the house of the neighbor
and directly to the lot where the calf was shut in and commenced to lay
down the bars to let it out； when the neighbor came from the house with
his son； and Lopeman was ordered to leave the bars alone。 The neighbor；
who was a strong； muscular man； proceeded to chastise Lopeman； the two
sons also got ready for an encounter。 Lopeman； being by far the smaller
man of the two； began to retreat slowly as his enemy advanced
brandishing a club。 When almost near enough Lopeman to strike him with
the uplifted club； Lopeman； in self…defense； as he claims； drew his
revolver and shot him。 He fell lifeless to the ground。 The son of the
murdered man perceiving what was done； ran quickly into the house； and
getting a double…barreled shotgun； came out and fired twice at Lopeman
and his son。 The shots did not take effect。 Lopeman fired two shots at him。
78
… Page 79…
THE TWIN HELLS
At this the son retired into the house； and Lopeman and son taking the
almost worthless calf； which had been the cause of so much trouble； went
to their home。 Lopeman then went to the county seat and gave himself up
to the authorities。 As soon as the news spread over the neighborhood；
excitement ran high and there was loud talk of lynching。 The murdered
man was very popular。 His old neighbors smelled blood； and it was with
some difficulty that they were prevented from taking the law into their
own hands。 Better judgment prevailed； however； and after six months the
trial came off and the murderer was convicted and sentenced as aforesaid。
THIS MAN WAS MY CELL MATE。 He is something over sixty years of
age； of medium height； and during his younger days must have been very
hard to handle。 The first evening we occupied the cell together he told me
of all his troubles； and I learned from his own lips that I was to room with
a murderer。 I felt I would much rather be at home； than locked in that 4x7
cell with a man whose hands were dyed with the blood of his neighbor。
My alarm somewhat subsided when the time came for retiring。 The old
man； as solemnly as the Apostle Paul would have done； took down the
Bible； read a few verses； and then knelt down and prayed。 I sat there in
mute astonishment at the proceedings of this gray haired criminal。 How
was it possible for a man who was guilty of such a grave crime to be
devout。 He often told me that he had no consciousness whatever of guilt；
nor the fear and dread of a murderer。 I asked him if in his dreams he could
not often see the face of his victim。 With a shrug of the shoulders he
admitted that he could。 For six months this old man and myself occupied
that small cell together； so small that it was very difficult for us to get by
each other when the sleeping bunks were down。 We never had the least
trouble during the entire time。 A kinder hearted man I never met。
Whenever he received any little delicacies from home he would always
divide with me； and in such a cheerful spirit that I soon came to think a
good deal of the old man。 If we had both been on the outside world I
would not have desired a kinder neighbor。 His son； later on； was convicted
as an accomplice； and sent up for two years。 The old man has hopes of a
pardon in a few years。 He has a wife and several children who are highly
respected and much beloved in the neighborhood where they reside。 They
79
… Page 80…
THE TWIN HELLS
have the sympathy of all their neighbors in this affliction and
bereavement。
WHISKY AND WOMEN
Doc。 Crunk。One of the many desperadoes now behind the prison
walls of the Kansas penitentiary is this noted Texas outlaw。 He is a native
Texan； now nearly fifty years of age。 After years of crime he was finally
caught in the Indian Territory while introducing whisky among the Indians。
He had his trial in the U。 S。 District Court； was convicted and sent to the
penitentiary for three years。 For a time during the war he was a
confederate soldier。 Becoming dissatisfied with the profession of arms； he
deserted and entered upon the life of an outlaw。 He gathered about him a
few kindred spirits with which Southern Texas was infested； and organized
a band of cattle and horse thieves。 This band of banditti became so
numerous that after a time it extended along the lower line of Texas into
the Indian Territory and up into Kansas。 Their ravages were also felt in
Arkansas。 They had a regular organized band； and stations where they
could dispose of their stolen property。 The cattle that were stolen were run
to the frontiers and sold to cattlemen who were in collusion with them； and
which latter were getting immensely rich out of the operations of these
thieves。 They would steal horses； run them off and sell them to buyers who
knew they were purchasing stolen property。 For years this gang flourished。
Another mode of securing stock was the following： A great many estrays
would be taken up and advertised。 In every instance some member of the
Crunk gang would claim the property under oath and take it away。 The
leader of these outlaws stood trial for nineteen different murders； and was
acquitted each time。 He could always prove an alibi。 His assistants would
come in and swear him clear every time。 He was an intimate acquaintance
and on friendly terms with the James boys； and related many trips that he
had made with these noted and desperate men in their work of 〃seeking
revenge；〃 as he styled it。 He has no love for a colored man； and as he
works now in the prison with a number； pointing to them one day he said
to me； 〃I wish I had a five…dollar note for each one of them black skunks I
have killed since the wa'。〃 He said he considered 〃a 'niggah' that wouldn't
vote the way decent people wanted him to should not vote at all。〃 Said he：
80
… Page 81…
THE TWIN HELLS
〃I know of a number that will not vote any mo'。 I saw them pass in their
last ballot。〃 〃The most money； made the easiest and quickest； was made by
our men；〃 said he； 〃as moonshiners in Montague County。 We carried on
this business successfully for a long time； but finally the U。 S。 marshals
became too much for us； and we had to close up shop。 We had several
engagements with them； men were dropped on both sides； until finally we
concluded to quit the business and return to our old trade of stealing cattle
and horses。 The way our moonshiner's nest was found out was very
romantic。 A young woman came into the district； and tried to get up a
school； seemingly； but failed。 I guess she did not try very hard to get
scholars。 At any rate she remained with a family in the neighborhood for
some time； whom she claimed were her relatives。 One of my men fell
desperately in love with this young woman。 He would be out riding with
her； and； as none of us suspected anything； he would at times bring her
over to our camp； and we taught her how to make whisky。 She seemed
deeply interested in the business。 I told the boys several times that I was a
little afraid of that 'gal；' but they laughed at me； and so I said； 'I can stand
it if the rest of you can。' She even went so far as to become familiarly
acquainted with all of us。 We all got to thinking that she was a nice young
woman； and her lover simply thought he had secured the finest prize in the
world。 But alas！ At the proper time she fixed our camp。 She proved to be a
female detective from New York city。 She gave away our fellows； and
soon we were surrounded by a
