Show THE COWBOYS PROOF Marksmanship Showed He Had Not Shot at Brakeman to Kill Jack Vance a cowboy from tile ranch of the Butte Crock Cattle company com-pany was on trial I at Alliance Neb on a charge nf shooting at a brakeman brake-man on Iho LUirllngton railroad with Intcnl lo kill him Ho hud recclxed hi pay a few days before and waa en gaged at Ihe I time of the shooting In the picturesque pastime of painting the county red Vance vehemently denied any Intent to perforate thu brakemen He imH tho court that while It wcii true that ho did take out his reolver and school I after the brakeman had pushed him off tho I train hr was merely giving a prearranged pre-arranged signal lie and a friend hnd been down the road a few miles and wnntxl tf ride back to I the nearest station sta-tion to tile ranch Realizing that If they were found by any of the train crow they would bo put off they had arranged that if 1 one was put off tile train ho should notify his partner by firing his revolver once Tho trainman with visions of what he firmly bolleved vas a narrow escape from death shook his head and I he Judge looked unbelieving Vances cowboy frlond corroborated the story bul seeing that his talc failed lo I ie colve crtdence the Tiefondant asked thr court lo please step outside The Judge asked what for Ill I I I prove i my Innocence 1 your Honor Hon-or Vance said The court was curious and venl outside out-side So did UIQ Sheriff lawyers nnd spectators Vance pulled out his revolver re-volver and holding a postage stamp between tho fingers of his left hand clipped off each corner In succession Next ho asked a spectator to suspend a hickory nut from a thread Walking Walk-ing off thirty foot ho wheeled and at the first shot cut the thread Taking six tacks he > placed thorn loosely in a plcco of wood This ho placed against a pool tventyfie yards away Bor owing a watch from a bystander ha opened the face for a mirror shot with his back lo inc mark and drove each tack Into the wood without si miss Tho brakeman had been looking on In openmouthed wonder As Vaneo concluded the brakeman stepped up lo Ihc Judge and tapping him on the arm said Yes you Honor f guess I was mistaken mis-taken That man wasnt shooting at l flCDeflVel Times J |