The Land Claim — page 113: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JIM’S EVIDENCE. 109 was not the Captain of their band, but had newly been initiated in it. On the evening previous to the murder, an - appointment had been made for himself and Carnes to meet next morning in the woods, to lay plans for further operations. He had seen Carnes shoot and afterward hide his gun, before he (Carnes) perceived his approach through the trees. They retired, on meeting, to a thicket in a ravine, where they must have remained until Newcome was taken; after which they went across the prairie over toward the Platte, to get some ponies stolen from the Kansas Indians. No one listened to this recital with more intense interest than Flag and Allen, for it furnished the one missing link— the one item of positive evidence which was lacking to make every thing clear. “Did you see Mr. Newcome at that time?’ asked a citizen. “Yes: I was about half-way between Newcome and Carnes. [I was lookin’ for Carnes, and at first thought it was him when I saw Newcome. He was going along, holding his gun kind o’ careless, shakin’ his head and seemin’ to be mac about something. His gun went off bout the same time Carnes fired, and I reckon it was jist an accident from his bein’ so careless. It’s likely Carnes knew who would be arrested, for I heerd him say thar’ was an awful quarrel atween the Doctor and Newcome ’bout the claim. An’ that’s all I know to tell.” “ Why didn’t you come forward before, when you knew an innocent man was to suffer for the murder?’ asked Allen. “We don’t blow on one ’nother in our band, ’cept we have - good reason,” answered Jim, gruffly. What the man’s secret spite against Carnes was he did not reveal. — The crowd, now swelled and degenerated into a mob, was growing more and more excited every moment. _Apprehend- ing violence, the most quiet and orderly citizens withdrew, and returned to their homes. Allen, although he still remon- Strated against the abuse of the law, now saw that remonstrance Was in vain, and not wishing to witness the operations of Judge Lynch, hastily extricated himself from the throng, and eseaped to his office, which he locked to prevent intrusion. conmicloooks. com