The Turnbo Manuscripts
by Silas Claiborne Turnbo
1844-1925
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By S. C. Turnbo
The following incident aid not happen in the Ozark region but as it is an unusual occurrence we give it here.
Samuel Johnson was the father of Sam Johnson who was drowned in White River
Marion County, Ark. the 9th day of February 1860. The last named lived in
Ozark County, Mo. a number years before he met his tragic death in the river.
One of his sons W. C. (Carroll) Johnson is a prominent farmer and stock
man who resides on Brattons Spring Creek in this same county. Mrs. Polly
Martin wife of P. H. (Dick) Martin another well to do man who also lived
on the same creek is a daughter of Mr. Johnsons. These are his only surviving
children, Mr. Samuel Johnson father of the one that was drowned was a farmer
in the state of Tennessee and never lived In the Ozark Country. Huldah another
daughter of Mr. Johnsons who married the writers brother J. N. (Newt) Turnbo
and who is dead now furnished me with an account of her grandfather Samuel
Johnson catching a thief in a steel trap one night where he lived in Tenn.
The account of which was given her by her father Sam Johnson. She said that
her grandfather had been missing a quantity of corn several times that had
been stolen out of the crib. He suspected a certain man who lived in the
neighborhood as being the thief. One day this suspect come to Mr. Johnsons
house and the latter told him of the corn he was losing out of his crib.
Apparently the man was greatly surprised which made Johnson believe the
stronger that he was the thief and he requested the fellow to assist him
to devise a plan to catch the rascal and the man agreed to do it. There
was an opening between two logs at the back end of the crib that was large
enough for a man to reach his hands in and take out corn and Johnson suggested
that this would be a good place to set a steel trap for part of the stolen
corn had been took out at this opening. The suspect did not agree to this
and said that the trap ought to be put just on the inside of the crib door
and Johnson says "I will set the trap where ever you suggest and put
it there in the presence of the fellow." This was late in the afternoon
and after the fellow had gone away and being thoroughly convinced that his
visitor was the man he wanted, changed the trap from where it was put on
the inside of the door to the inside of the opening between the logs at
the back end of the crib. There was just room enough to pass the trap in
at the opening. The trap was so large that if the thief was caught he would
not be able to pull the trap out. Mr. Johnsons wife prepared supper early
in order for the family to retire to bed before the usual hour so that the
light in the house could be put out and no noise be made in the dwelling.
Johnson lay awake some time and listened but hearing no noise at the crib
sleep over come him and he fell into the dreamy land but soon after mid
night he was awakened by some one hallooing at the crib. It was a noise
of distress and sounded piteous. The man was certainly suffering in agonizing
pain. But Johnson did not go out to see about it until after day break and
found the same man that was there the evening before with his right hand
caught in the big steel trap. He was powerless to pull the trap through
the opening or open the jaws of the trap to release his hand. His moans
were continual for he was suffering dreadful and Johnsons heart soften and
felt pity for him and after giving him a short lecture for his advantage
he set him free. And after doing so he says "Your hand is severely
bruised by the jaws of the trap and you will not be able to work for some
time yet and you must stay for breakfeast and I will fill your sack full
of corn that you brought with you last night to steal enough to fill it
with. But the man sulled and started off. At this Johnson become angry and
says "you must stay" and the man stopped and went to the house
with him. When breakfast was announced Johnson showed the corn thief a seat
at the table but the scoundrels appetite was not very good and he touched
the victuals very light. Soon after breakfeast Johnson says come go to the
crib with me and after getting there Johnson picked up the sack that the
thief had brought there and filled it with corn and says to the man "Take
it and go," and he went and kept going for he left the country forthwith.
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