American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-09-26
From the New Orleans Picayune, ]
SNAKE JOHNSON.

|
the appellation of"Snake" by the good Offices
of the clergyman who officiated at his baptism
or whether it was gwen him by his admiIing
friends-whether it was given him for any per
sonal qualities he possessed, or beca use he was
''death on snakes''-t is impossible now to as
certain, as it is matter of little moment
Snake Johnson is a man Of considerable noto-
rety at Port Lavacca, Texas, where he keeps a
store with small assortment of dry goods and
groceries, principally consisting of whiskey;
and, to use his own words, makes decent and
respectable living. Snake is man Of small
pretensions, and honestly avows that che
wasn't brought up no ways superior to mo st
folks, and amt no account at algebray, but
knows as well as most folks that when he gives
ten dollars for barri of whiskey, and retails
it out for eighty, he can't be a losin' much. y
There is nothing remarkable about the appear
ance of Mr. Johnson. He is tall, round should
cred, powerfully built; has got long, sharp
nose, piercing gray eyes, a hard mouth, and a
good many lines on his face that indicate cou-
rage and cunning. In his district he is looked
up to as pretty sharp sort of chap, and has
held the Office of sheriff.
While sitting on the head of an empty whis-
key barrel short time since in his shop at the
Port, surrounded by number of neghbors
steamboats, recruits, Sc. the subject of
his having been sheriff of the county was
brought up.
Snake took out his plug of tobacco, cut off
a small piece, put it into his mouth, shut up
his jack knife, and said:-"Dd ever tell you,
gentlemen, about my actin in my official Ca
pacity as sheriff of this ere county soon after
was elected"
"No! no." exclaimed dozen voices, 'Iet's
have it.n
"Well, gentlemen" said Snake, Il won't be
ugly, an as don't think any on ye hev heerd
it afore, don't mind relatn' the circumstance!
You all on you know, an those that don't will
know it now, that alters act right up to the
mark and don't do nothin' contrary to law, to
say nothin' o. gospel"
ooh, We know! we know!" was the general
exclamation.
"Well, then, that pint's settled, an I'm glad
on it, coz | shouldn't like to hev he'd fight at
the first start, an should hev sartinly licked
the first teller that sed he didn't know it
Well, to continue, soon arter I'd been 'lected
sheriff, was a sttn' out thar onto the door
step, a thnkin' it was about time to hev Job,
when two chaps came a ridin' down the road
as eff a hull tribe Of lnuns was rearin' and
ptChin' arter 'em. They charged right up to
told 'em he'd seen him once't or twice't.-
They wanted to know war they could find him,
an told 'em | reckoned he was a sttin' on his
door STEP 'Oh!' sed they, be you Snake
Johnson?' | told 'em l reckoned was the on
ly man o. that name in these parts, an was
sheriff of the county to boot Well, they got
off an passed a small sample of old bald face
| behind their shirt collars, an sed they'd come
to get me to execute the sentence of the law.
We'll, gentlemen, ses /, Pm perfectly agreea-
BILE! Pm alters on hand, and as sheriff of this
county will see that his majesty the law shall
be obeyed accordin' TO Hoyle!
"We'l jest trouble you to mount your horse
and come up 10 -" sed they, small town
about six miles back here, gentleman! Well,
was a little kind O. GURUS to know what | was
expect ted to do, an so | just axed 'em. SEES
they, We've got a Teller up there that's been
convicted Of horse stealln' an is sentenced to be
hung, and we want you to execute him accord
in ; 20 law. We could hcv hung him ourselves,
but we didn't want TO hev no lynchin' about
it, and determined to hev the sheriff, who is
duly authorized to hang folks, to choke him
off.
"Well, gentlemen, | saddled up old Santa
Anna an we started off. When | got to the
place thar was about hundred folks thar 4
watin' for me, some gray-headed old chaps
an seine red-headed young ones, an thar was
the culprt, too, about as mean lookin' white
man as | ever did see; he was regular built
cuss, an when he was pinted out didn't feel
/ very bad at the idea OF hangin' him.
| Good" exclaimed one Of his auditors.
"GoOdm said the narrator. "Maybe you
wouldn't think it good, If you he'd your neck
as closet TO a moose as his was! Well, as |
was sayin', thar they were. An old tel!er cum
up to me, shuk hands, an ses he, "Mister She
riff, you've been called as the legl reprisentl-
tive Of the law to hang that misable cuss thar
who has been convicted Of horse stealin', SO do
your duty an put him out of his misery as soon
as possible tn, j.,
nified; where is the document"
"Fetch the document" says the old Teller,
and in about half minute another chap took a
long coil O. hemp rope out of his saddle bag
and handed it to me. "This is the rope,' ses
|. YES, sir!' ses he. 'Bul want the order OF
the court for his execution, SEES |. Order
h-l!' SEES the old Teller, kind O. rAed; she amt
he'd no court trall'"
"'What!' SEES |, 'aint had no court trial an
you want me to hang him! | 'aint agoin' to
hang no man without fair trial. That 'aint
no way to do things"
"You wont hang HING =" ses the old fell
Ter.
"Not till he's had fair trial' ses l."
"Now look here, sheriff, ses tall Teller,
who was leanin' on his rifle. This ERE Teller
was seen about my house last night, an this
mornin' my horse and Jake French's was gone
We got off on the trail early and ketched this
cuss with all three on 'em. We rested him
'pinted committee and told 'em the hull sto.
ry. They convicted him and ordered him to be
hung by the sheriff. Now if you wont hang
him, why, PLAN here he riz up his rifle, an
pinted it at the thief, who squatted right down
in bunch, tremblin' like bulls lver-Il
shoot, ses he. Hold on, ses |, hold Oh, well
= try and compromise the NATTER crossed ovel
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