Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-08-02

would not suffer Toe to reside within its
limits. Hence, he might have openly
defied the officers Of the law, had such
been his pleasure, but his shrewd and far.
seeing sagacity adopted a wiser and sa.
fer course. After perpetrating any HON
icide, he invariably submitted his owr
case to the grand jury, sure of trium
plant acquittal by his friends on trial
and thus, should public sentiment evel
turn against him in the future, he would
be enabled TO plead effectual verdicts in
bar of all past offences.
AT length the time arrived which the
Colonel had SO long anticipated. A
wealthy and intelligent class of citizens
began to change the current Of opinion
in Harrison, so that in the county cleo.
ton the friends of order by slight ma.
jority, gained their candidate for sheriff
This was terrible blow to the Lynch
ers, as it deprived them Of their secure
vantage ground in packing juries; and to
increase their danger at this unpropi-
tious crisis, a new judge was also APP
pointed. The old faction. however, did
not despair. They were still numerous,
thoroughly armed, and desperadoes to a
man, and determined at the first court to
muster all their strength, so as to control
and overawe their proceedings.
Anime o'clock in the morning of the
second Monday in September, 1912, the
new Judge took his seat on the bench
He was stranger from the West, whose
name alone transpired, and whose APP
pearance at first, inspired the despera-
does with hope, and the friends of order
with doubt and painful apprehension.--
Charles Evans was young man of
twenty-two--tall, slender, extremely
handsome, and dressed with the most
fnical taste-his fingers flashed with
rings, and his person adorned in the
most gaudy' manner. His long hair of a
bright golden color, waving in curls a.
round his shoulders, and the sweet smile
of complacent vanity beaming on his
features, gave him an aspect almost lu-
dicrously feminine.
Colonel Bill Berlin gazed on this APP
partition with ineffabe contempt, and
whispered 10 his comrades-'We have
it all our own way, as Houston has kind
ly sent us Mss Nancy
If the Colonel had paid more attention
to the man, and less TO the clothing, he
would perhaps, have been led to differ
cnt conclusion; for there was strange
light in the vivid blue eyes of the stran-
ger---a light that went and cane at inter-
walls, like the play of lightning in sum
mer cloud, while the corners of the
mouth wore wild, rcsolute, sneering
expression, betokening the opposite of
pliancy and fear.
The grand jury being called and sworn,
the Judge commenced the charge, and at
the sound of his voice everybody start
ed; for the tones were as shrill as trum-
pet--stern, ringing, imperious, like the
accents of commander on parade. Ha-
virg glanced rapidly over the legal def
nitions and penalties of crime, he pro-
ceeded to descant on the responsibility of
Iuries TO aid in its suppression. His soul
appeared to catch electric fire at the
voice borrowed the rich roll
Of ,hunder-his vivid blue eyes literally
blazed with that strange light---the wild
expression grew terrible on his writhing
lips-and his words flew like vollevs oil
burning arrows. He painted the horrors
Of lawless anarchy till the very heart
sickened; he described the beauty of
regular government as a vision Of heay-
en- realized on earth; and he finally clo-
sed with the bold nnouncement--.I will
perform my duty. | will put down
Lynching wherever have the honor of
presiding, or ] will myself be put in the
gravel
Then Mss Nancy, take care of your
eyes! cried hoarse voice, louder and
more menacing than that of the Judge.
Every heart gave one shudder. The
sentence seemed like warning from
eterniiy--a revelation, as il were, from
the depths Of hell.
Who are you that thus dare to inter-
rupt the business of the COURT exclaim.
ed Judge Evans, with the grave majesty
of king.
MY name is Colonel Bill Berlin; but
most persons call me Death in the Eye,'
was the answer.
But in law you have another name,'