26 Aug 1926--OUR HUNTSVILLE LETTER--By W. T. Dameron --(Kathy’s notes: Edited for brevity) --Press Heifner, Superintendent of the County Farm, and the NEWS representative were discussing the other day characteristics of some “old timers” now dead. One of these was Uncle Billy Elliott, as he was called by all his friends, and they were many. Uncle Billy resided all his life a few miles north of Huntsville and was a successful farmer.......Press related several funny incidents concerning Uncle Billy, characteristic of his life. This one we will relate. “Uncle Billy,” said Heifner, “was an admirer of the notorious Frank and Jesse James, not that he endorsed what they did in crime, but had sympathy for them for the way the family was treated after the close of the war. One day a tramp appeared at the home of Uncle Billy. He was bum looking and walked with a cane, as if he had been crippled or had some bodily ailment. But Uncle Billy had no use for an able-bodied bum or tramp, and thought all cripples or deformed tramps should remain in their home city or county to be cared for by the proper authorities, instead of tramping over the country and begging for a living. When the tramp appeared at Uncle Billy’s door for a hand out, he was treated coolly by Uncle Billy who kept up a barrage of hot questions fired at the tramp, inquiring into his life, from a boy up to his “tramphood.” The tramp incidentally mentioned Jesse James and some particularly good deed the outlaw did. This caught Uncle Billy’s sympathy and his continence brightened up, and the tramp saw in his expression that he had made a happy stroke on Uncle Billy’s mind. Then the tramp asked, “Did you ever know Jesse James?” Uncle Billy replied that he did not know him personally but had heard lots about him. “Did you know him?” asked Uncle Billy. “Yes, mighty well; I am his cousin,” responded the tramp. “Well, I’ll be damned! Give me your hand, Mister, and come around to the kitchen and have something to eat,” fired back Uncle Billy, with a smile. From that time on the tramp was Uncle Billy’s guest and he fared on the best Uncle Billy had until he thought it time to hit the grit again. The tramp was well posted in the history of the James’s and he kept Uncle Billy highly enthused while he “put away” the meal of his life, and before leaving drank a toast to Uncle Billy’s health. Before taking his leave, Uncle Billy gave the tramp a new pair of socks, a clean handkerchief and enough good grub to last him a day or two, and as the tramp extended his hand to bid Uncle Billy good-bye, the good hearted old farmer placed a five dollar bill in his hand, suggesting that he make a bee-line to the nearest railroad station and take a train home, which was either St. Joe or Kansas City, with the remark that he did not want to see a cousin of Jesse James walk home. A few hours later a neighbor called at the Elliott home and Uncle Billy proceeded to tell him about the crippled tramp, Jesse James’ “Cousin,” and what he had given him. The neighbor had seen the same fellow and there was nothing the matter with him, he said, and that he could jump a stake and rider fence and never touch a rail, that he played the game to get something to eat, and what money he could beg. Then Uncle Billy’s countenance changed and blood popped into his eyes, and he said, “Well, I’ll be damned! The impostor. I’m in a notion to get my gun trail the damned rascal and shoot him down like a dog. He ought to be advertised as an impostor.” (Transcription of the Old Higbee News by-Kathy bowlin.)
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 12:05:12 +0000
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