A PLOT AGAINST THE WRITER'S LIFE--MORE ABOUT TEXAS.
In July, 1864, being in trade at B----m, and having been for two years doing a commission, receiving, and forwarding business, besides buying and selling on his own account, the writer called one day at the Collector's office, in the court-house, to pay the quarter's two and a half per cent. taxes on sales. The Collector being absent, he inquired of a squad of men at one of the front doors of the court-house--among whom was his Honor District Judge S----d--if they had seen the Collector. Just then a man came hurriedly pressing through the squad, and approaching us asked if our name was N----. We had no sooner said yes, than he struck us over the mouth, cutting both lips nearly through on the teeth, accompanying the blow with the denunciatory charge: "You d--d scoundrel and thief, you have stolen $23 from my wife."
In quick succession six or eight more blows followed the first, when, bringing into requisition the little knowledge of the "gloves" obtained in boyhood, we succeeded in warding them off. His poor success as a pugilist drove him to the use of an office chair, whose blows were received with another. Then he changed to hurling the chair at us with all vengeance, which we received as before, until both chairs were demolished. By this time we were in the court-house yard, when our personal friend, Deputy-sheriff Hardin, came to the rescue, caught Mr. T----d, our assailant, under his powerful right arm, and held him as in a vise. By this time our assailant's brother appeared on the field, and ordered the Sheriff to release his brother, saying: "It is all right to whip the d--d Yankee." "No, Sir," replied the officer, "if you want to hurt Mr. N. you must hurt me." He released him on a promise to keep the peace. Meanwhile, we saw a dozen men circled around us, armed with revolvers. We could see the devil in each eye. We then began to suspect a plot. But what could the charge mean? The explanation had come to us. We remembered the clerk had said some lady had brought to the store a lot of dress goods, and requested their sale for her account at certain prices. That he had sold them for the gross amount of $230, taking out the usual ten per cent. commission of $23, and paid her the balance. We made a statement of the facts to the circle of desperadoes, and then retired to our house.