Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-09-05

AeePes. NHn II, one might Tell an OK.
$50 much the BETTER" muttered Gen.
Smoot. ''lt will not then be asserted that
l attacked an unarmed man,
"Go ahead we'll all back you," whis-
pered Mex. Ball.
Can the reader comprehend this scene
Can he imagine why this clique of law
yers should harbor such deadly hatred
against the unoffending stranger? ? The
singular problem is easily explained.-
Some of them had been unsuccessful as
pirants for the office he then filled, and
they all felt that he would hereafter be a
dangerous competitor for future places of
profit and honor under the State govern
ment about to be organized. This pain
iul consciousness was aggravated to mad
ness BY the extraordinary impression
which their supposed rival had already
and so obviously produced on the minds
OF the people. Hence nothing remained
but to test his courage to the very last ex-
tremity-an awful ordeal to which every
professional man must submit who carries
his ambition to the perilous market of the
backwoods.
The first case on the docket was called,
and the plaintiff stood ready. 1t was an
old case that had been in litigation for five
years. Gen. Smoot arose for the defend
ant, and remarked in an overbearing tone,
} 'Our witnesses are absent land therefore
| demand that the cause be continued until
the next term, in course
Let the proper affidavit be filed, for not
l onfn f,tn r.
continuance was the mild reply of the
Judge
DO you doubt my word as TO the facts?'
Gen. Smoot exclaimed, sharply ,and invol-
UNFAIRLY raising his huge sword-cane.
, Not at all, replied the Judge, with his
blandest smile; but the law requires that
the facts justitying continuance must ap-
pear on record, and the court has no pow
er to annul the law, nor any will to see it
annulled.'
The judges calm and like tone
and manner only served to irritate the bull
ly, and he retorted, shaking his cane in
the direction of lthe bench Whatever NAV
; be the law, for one, will not learn its
4 principles from the lips of an upstart dem.
, agogue and coward!'
Judge Yell's blue eyes shot lightning
| but he only turned to the clerk and said
quietly-'Mr Clerk, you will enter fine
: Of fifty dollars against Gen. Smoot, as
see him named on my docket, for gros.
contempt Of court; and be sure you issu,
an immediate execution
He had scarcely enunciated the order
r when Gen. Smoot was seen rushing to
:, wards him, brandishing his sword-cane
}. wrath, and pallid as corpse.
e Every glance was fixed on the counte
nance of the Judge, for all wished to know
e how he would brook the coming shock c
= the duellist's fierce assault. But none
IS however, could detect the slightest chang
!! in his appearance. His cheek grew nei
n ther red nor white; not nerve seemed t
l. trembe; his calm eyes surveyed the ad
;! vancng foe with as little sign of pertur
baton as chemist might show when scru
IS tinizing the efiervescence Of some move
d mixture. He sat perfectly still, with tha
h slight staff painted iron in his right hand
Smoot ascended the platform and imme
o diately aimed tremendous blow with hi
e enormous sword-cane full at the head {
e his foe. At that blow five hundred heart
y shuddered, and more than a dozen voice
ID shrieked, for all expected TO see the vic
IS Tins skull shivered TO atoms. The ger
re eral astonishment, then, may be conceived
o when they beheld the little iron staff dc
At scribe a quick curve as the great sword
j. cane flew from Smoot's fingers and fe
r with loud clatter at the distance oftweI
e, ty feet in the hall The baffled bully III
at tered cry of wrath wild as that of som
e, wounded beast Of prey, and snatched hi
n bowie knife from its sheath; but ere it wa
g we'll poised for the desperate plunge, tn
Is little iron staff cut another curve, and tn
2 big knife followed the sword cane. II
5, then hastily drew revolving pistol, bl
ID before he had time to touch the trigger h
ct arm was stricken down powerless to h
ed side.
ds And then for the first time did jude
Yell betray perceptible emotion. +
ce stamped his foot till the platform shoe
sh beneath it, and shouted in trumpet tone
nd 'Mr Clerk, you will blot this ruffian
lie name as foul disgrace from the roll
to attorneys. Mr. Sheriff, take the Grimm
ce tr Jail
nd The latter officer sprang to obey Il
he mandate, and Immediately a scene OF co
fusion ensued that no pen ight describ
no The bravoes and myrmadon friends ofGe
ell Smoot gathered around 10 obstruct Il
it sheriff, while many of the citizens lie
- their opportune aid to sustain the autho
to ity of the court. Menaces, screams al
horrid curses, the ring of impinging a
to crossing steel, alternate cries of rage al
ID pain, all, commingled with the awful e
'st po>ion Of firearms, blended together
n vivil idea of pandemonium. But throue
I'LL out all the tempestuous strife, two in
es, viduals might be observed as leaders
OF the whirlwind and riders of the storm.
no The new Judge used his little iron Ca
OF with terrible efficacy, crippling limbs,
IN, still sparing life; while 'Good-Natn'
IRE Bill Buffum, initiating the clemency OF
honorable friend, and disdaining the c
w ployment of either knife or pistol, actua
ed, ,rampled and crushed down all oppositi
nh roaring at every furious blow-'This
alt- the way to preserve order in court,
les sentiment which he accompanied "
ent pea!s of wild laughter. In less than I
zeal minutes the party of the judge triumph
~