ner from town to town, and the knowing ones were thus enabled to keep themselves supplied with so necessary a commodity.

An old settler, named Zimmer, had been for a year or two engaged in peddling liquor in the county, and, some time in the summer of 1857, drove into Centerville. That evening, some of the young bloods of the town procured an auger, went to Zimmer's wagon, while he was dreaming of profits to be obtained next day, and bored a hole through the bottom of the wagon-box, and so into the barrel, which was thereby emptied of its contents, by virtue of the law discovered by Newton under the apple tree while his houskeeper was "cleaning house." What became of the liquor is shrouded in mystery-whether it was absorbed by the thirsty soil, or whether it was conveyed in jugs to surrounding hay-mows, cannot now be ascertained.

When Zimmer discovered his loss, he proceeded forthwith to a magistrate, to to whom he unbosomed himself, and warrants were issued for the arrest of those naughty young men. The papers were served, and the young fellows were taken before the Justice. The prosecution decided to dismiss the complaint as to R. S. Morris, in the hope' that his evidence would hold the rest. Sheriff Ferren then served the subpoena, the witness promising to attend in a few minutes, returned into court and tossed the document upon the table. Judge Tannehill picked it up, and in a moment of abstraction, chewed the subpoena into pulp. Meantime, Morris had got half a mile out of town, and was improving in his gait at every step. The attorney for the prosecution at last became impatient, and asked the Justice for a bench-warrant. The Justice appeared willing to comply, but, as a preliminary, required Sheriff Ferren to certify his return on the neglected subpoena. The Sheriff made a vigorous search for some time without success, and finally exclaimed, "Dog on my cats! I had service on him, anyway!" His remark was true enough, but as the law required a written return, his verbal one, though forcible, was regarded as insufficient, and the prosecution was reluctantly abandoned.

It is needless to add that the sympathy of the court and the community was with the young men, and so Justice raised one edge of her hoodwink and winked at the transaction, holding one hand over her mouth in order to keep Zimmer from knowing what she thought about the case.

THE ONLY CASE OF HANGING.

Some time in 1856, William Hinkle, of Davis County, was arrested for the murder of his wife, by poison. The woman had died suddenly, and Hinkle, before a year had elapsed, made preparation to marry a girl who had been working in the family at the time of his wife's death. This led to an investigation, and Hinkle was arrested and indicted. He took a change of venue to Appanoose.

The case was called April 12, 1858, John S. Townsend being Judge, and the trial began on the following day. Those composing the jury were Henry Robley, Alexander Jones, Gilbert McCoy, James P. Anderson, Jonathan Rinker, Henry Stephenson, Isaac A. Brannon, John Gordon, William B. McDonald, John Barnett, George W. King and Henry Ellidge. trial was concluded on the 16th, and the jury, after a short absence, returned with a verdict of murder in the first degree.

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The next day, Judge Townsend ordered the prisoner to be hanged within one mile of Centerville; but, a motion having been made for an appeal to the Supreme Court, the case was continued, and the prisoner was remanded to jail in Bloomfield pending the hearing of the appeal.

A special term of the District Court having been called July 6, 1858, and notice having arrived that the verdict and judgment had been affirmed, Judge Townsend ordered the prisoner brought into court, and he was produced on the 8th, when he was sentenced to be publicly executed on the 13th day of August following, between the hours of 1 and 3 o'clock in the afternoon, within one-half mile of the town of Orleans, a little village in the eastern part of Washington Township. This was the nearest convenient point midway between Bloomfield and Centerville, and the Judge no doubt thought that the people of the two counties had a common interest in seeing Hinkle die.

Nor was he disappointed; for on the appointed day, it is said, ten thousand people assembled to witness the execution. An eye-witness states that Hinkle went up to the platform with a firm step and resolute bearing. The trap fell, and, as the rope received Hinkle's full weight, he being a heavily built man, it snapped and he fell heavily to the ground. He was picked up and with difficulty replaced on the scaffold, fear having seized him at last. He was asked before the rope was adjusted the second time if he had anything to say, to which he answered that he was innocent, a statement that he had never varied from. It was generally believed at the time that he had placed the poison in the young woman's hands for the purpose of compassing his wife's death, and that his denial was therefore technically true.

THE UNDERGROUND ROUTE.

For several years prior to the war, it was no unusual circumstance for negroes to pass through Appanoose County, while fleeing from slavery in Missouri to freedom in Canada. Just what was done to help them on their way, and who were the people helping them, is not clearly understood, even in the vicinity of Cincinnati, which was a prominent station on the subterranean road, except by the persons who have furnished the facts upon which the following summary of incidents is based.

Thus, it is a commonly-received tradition that Luther R. Holbrook and family, who reside at Cincinnati, used frequently to hide and care for fugitive slaves, sometimes disposing them under their own bed for greater safety. This is denied point-blank by the family, who add the proviso that they never had a chance to do so.

Another story is told with considerable glee, and is applied both to Solomon Holbrook and J. H. B. Armstrong. As related of Mr. Holbrook, the story runs that, during a very dry season, probably in 1860, a negro came to his mill at Cincinnati to have some grinding done. The negro lived in Missouri, and was a slave. There were several other grists ahead of the negro's load, but Mr. Holbrook proposed to the darky that if he would run away to Canada, he would not only grind his wheat at once, but would furnish him some money for the trip. The negro was advised that he could convert the team and wagon, as well as the flour, into cash on his journey northward, and thus reach Canada with a little capital. The negro consented, started northward with his flour, made a circuit around Centerville and got home sooner than his master expected, having Mr. Holbrook's donation for his own pocket-money. Others apply the same story to Mr. Armstrong; but it is pure fiction in both cases-a good story, but too romantic for history.

The following circumstances, however, are strictly authentic, having been communicated by the old officers of the Cincinnati Station :

The first case happened in the winter of 1852-53. A negro lad, about sixteen years old, came to the house of J. H. B. Armstrong, in Pleasant Township, in the night, and applied for shelter. He was fed and lodged till the next night, when Mr. Armstrong took him to the house of his brother-in-law, Mr. Calvert, near Centerville. On the way, after a silence of half an hour, the boy broke into a guffaw loud enough to startle the prairie chickens for a mile around. Mr. Armstrong asked him rather sharply what he was making so much noise for. The boy continued his laugh, and exclaimed: "How mas'r will be disappointed when he goes to look for dis chile." The boy's statement was that his mother had reared fourteen or fifteen other children, who had all been sold as they grew up. He and another lad had pledged each other to run away at the first opportunity. Their master lived in Clark County, Mo., and his son lived sixty or seventy miles further south. The young man had come up to visit his father, and had ridden a valuable horse, which got out of the stable early the next morning and started homeward. As soon as the loss was discovered, the lad was ordered to eat a "snack" at once, after dispatching which he was mounted on a fleet and valuable animal, and was ordered to ride hot foot in pursuit of the stray. He instantly resolved to make an attempt for his liberty while devouring his breakfast, and informed his mother of his design, who heartily encouraged the plan. He had no time to notify his chum of his intention, and concluded it best to take the chance when he had it. He rode south a few miles, turned into a by-road, and then made northwest as fast as he could push the horse. When he reached Armstrong's, he said he had ridden 200 miles without stopping to sleep, and the appearance of the horse justified his statement, for the poor brute had been badly punished. The lad was anxious to take the horse with him, but Messrs. Armstrong and Calvert would not allow him to do that, and the animal was turned loose near the Missouri line. The horse was soon after taken up as an estray, appraised before Mr. Armstrong, who was Justice of the Peace at the time, and who, in his notice, stated that the animal had either been stolen or had stolen somebody. The horse was kept a year, and sold for charges.

Another well-remembered case was that of Davy Crockett, which occurred in 1861. Davy was a free man, but had become frightened by the persistency of his more remote neighbors in demanding to see his papers every month or so, and had decided to leave Missouri. Having got into Franklin Township, Davy was met by Moses Joiner, a citizen of that township, who was a thorough Proslavery man. Joiner halted him, but Davy succeeded in getting off for the time being, and started in the direction of Bellair. On his way, he met a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, of whom he inquired the direction to Mr. Armstrong's. The Wesleyan advised him to go to his house for supper, and he would accompany him to Armstrong's after dark. Meantime, Joiner, fully convinced that Crockett was a runaway slave, assembled a crowd of about forty choice spirits, who proceeded to Armstrong's, fully bent on capturing Davy and returning him to his supposititious master. They reached the house about an hour before midnight, roused up the Armstrongs, and insisted on searching the barn. The mows had just been filled with hay, and Armstrong sturdily objected for some time, warning them that if they went near the barn they would do so at their peril. Having protracted the argument as long as he could, he told them he knew nothing about the fugitive, but that if any one had been hiding there he had doubtless made off during the long talk they had had.

Satisfied, at last, that Armstrong was not harboring the fugitive, the crowd left for their respective homes. An hour had not elapsed till the Armstrongs were again disturbed by Mr. Calvert, who had brought Crockett over to stay all night. The mob had started too soon from Armstrong's. It was considered unsafe to keep the negro at Armstrong's, and he was accordingly transferred to the house of Daniel McDonald, where he remained two days, and was sent on in the direction of Drakeville, the next station on the line.

Not long afterward, another negro applied for relief at Armstrong's, getting in after nightfall. This man was quite well satisfied to remain there, and demurred to going further; but Mr. Armstrong hurried him off to Mr. Fulcher's, who lived a few miles northwest. The next morning, a posse appeared at Armstrong's and asked his wife if a negro had come to their house at 1 o'clock the night before. As the man had come and gone an hour or two before, Mrs. Armstrong promptly answered in the negative. Just then, Mr. Armstrong entered the house and relieved the woman, who by this time began to show some little trepidation, and might possibly have soon betrayed her knowledge of the negro's movements. The next night, Armstrong took the negro's horse to Fulcher s, and the runaway was guided by Mr. Calvert nearly to Drakeville, where Mr. Calvert made the negro abandon his horse and secrete himself in the woods, just before daylight. So close were the pursuers on the trail that the horse was found by them an hour or two afterward. This negro was a happy-go-lucky fellow, who believed himself out of danger as soon as he crossed the Missouri line, and would doubtless have been captured had it not been for Armstrong and Calvert.

The case of John and Archie was another notable one. These two slaves lived in Central Missouri, and had traveled 200 miles toward freedom. They had been hindered three weeks in Missouri, owing to John having been laid up with rheumatism. Archie nobly remained with him until he was able to travel again. Arrived in the woods near Armstrong's, the two negroes camped, and John's rheumatism returned as bad as before. Early on a rainy, disagreeable morning, a knock was heard at the kitchen-door by Mrs. Armstrong, who opened it and admitted a negro. There was a neighbor in the sitting-room who did not believe in harboring colored persons. Just then, Mr. Armstrong entered, took in the situation at a glance, and hustled the negro into the kitchen. bedroom. The neighbor, having completed his call, left for home, much to the family's relief. Archie was then fed, and told the family how his companion was faring in the woods. Having ascertained where he could be found, Mr. Armstrong apprised a trusty neighbor, and some food was sent him during the day. That night, the negroes were taken to John Shepherd's, where a supper was provided for them. As Archie sat down and saw the tempting variety spread before them, he exclaimed: "My good God, John! who'd have ever thought we'd set down to a meal like this?" The fugitives were allowed to stay at Shepherd's all night, and were forwarded to Drakeville. Mr. Armstrong subsequently received a letter or two from Archie, one of which, in substance, announced that they had reached Canada in safety, and that they were getting $1 a day, instead of the usual flogging. The writer added: I hope that the good Lord will bless you for your kindness toward us, and I hope the time will soon come when we will be a people."

Here is an instance going to show that the people in Southern Appanoose were by no means unanimous on the slavery question: W. M. Cavanagh, who settled in Wells Township, probably in 1846, brought with him a negro lad, who had been presented to his wife by her father. This lad was considered as

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a slave by the family, and as such Cavanagh paid taxes on him in Putnam County, Mo., while that portion of Appanoose was in the disputed strip. About the time the land in Wells Township was thrown open to entry, Cavanagh sold the boy for $600, and the proceeds were soon afterward used in entering Cavanagh's land. When the Republican party rose, Cavanagh, it is said, identified himself with that party; but his father-in-law dying soon after, his wife inherited a negro girl as her portion of the estate. The girl was sold by Cavanagh, and the resulting cash applied to family purposes.

In 1862 or 1863, a family of nine fugitives stayed at John Fulcher's. This party was composed of an old woman, her married daughter, husband and six children. This party was hauled by David McDonald to Drakeville, from whence they made the remainder of their journey in comparative safety.

During 1862, word was sent to the station at Cincinnati that a considerable party of runaways would reach the State line on a certain date, and asking that a party be sent to help them along. A large wagon, accompanied by three or four men on horseback, repaired to the designated spot, but the negroes failed to appear. It transpired afterward that the party had started, but had been overtaken by a pursuing party and one of the negroes killed. Word was sent a second time for the rescuing party, who again went to the designated place. No negroes being visible, three of the party rode on to Unionville, where two of the number were captured by the Missouri "Home Guard," and lodged in jail. The other was chased for two hours, but managed to escape. This was supposed by his pursuers at the time to be Mr. Armstrong, who had an established reputation all through Missouri, and the man or party who could produce him before any Missouri court would enjoy a life-long reputation for bravery and daring; for Armstrong was believed to be a giant in stature and a terrible fellow generally, instead of the thin, light-weight man he is.

Mr. Armstrong, during 1864 or the following year, had three horses stolen from his barn, which is believed in the neighborhood to have been done by Missourians out of revenge for his help to the slaves leaving that State; but this is only a matter of conjecture. It is quite as likely that they were stolen by men who cared nothing whatever about the slavery question, but a great deal about the cash value of a good "hoss."

It is said that at one time, so bitter was the feeling toward Cincinnati by the Missouri people, the town was threatened with destruction by fire. Detectives. often appeared in the neighborhood, and would stay about for days at a time in search of slaves or of evidence that would implicate any citizens in the vicinity of Cincinnati in the disappearance of so many ebon-hued chattels.

On one occasion, toward the close of the war, a message was sent from Putnam County, Mo., which has always had a considerable Antislavery population, that a party of Missourians were coming across the line to exterminate the Armstrong family and leave his habitation desolate. The rumor spread into Wayne County, and, in a few hours, forty or fifty armed men appeared to defend his family and home. It was soon ascertained that the invasion was a myth, and Armstrong's friends returned home. An arrangement was made, however, with the authorities of Putnam County, so that if any mischief was meditated, a message should be sent in regular form, which would avoid the annoyance of false alarms thereafter; but the message never came, and no trouble ever arose.

The above are, perhaps, the most characteristic occurrences connected with the slavery question in Appanoose County. No instances of this sort will ever come up again, for this long-vexed question was relegated to the field of history