The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-15
Sketches Of Western Life.


COLONEL ARCHIBALD YELL, OF ARKANSAS.
The first case on the docket was called, and
the plaintiff stood ready 1t was a case that had
been in litigation for FIVE years Gen. Snloot
arose for the defendant, and remarked in an over
bearing tone:
"Our witnesses are absent, and therefore de.
mand that the case be continued until the next
term, in course"
"Let the affidavit be Fl ed, for not till then can
| entertain motion for continuance was the
mild reply of the Judge.
ado you doubt my word as to the facts p
Gen. Smoot exclaimed sharply, and involuntarily
raised his huge sword-cane
"Not at all" replied the Judge with his bland
est smile "but the law requires that the facts
justifying continuance must appear on record.
and the court has no power to annul the law, nor
anv will to see il annulled"
The judges calm and business-like tone and
manner only served to irritate the bully, and he
retorted, shaking his sword-cane in the direction
Of the bench" Whichever may be the law, |, for
one, will not learn it from the lips of an upstart
demagogue and coward'
Judge YelPs blue eyes shot lightning but he
only turned to the clerk and said-@ Clerk you
will enter a fine of fifty dollars against Gen
Smoot, ns see him named on my docket, for
gross contempt of court and be sure you issue
an immediate execution"
He had hardly communicated the order, when
Gen. Smoot was seen rushing towards him,
brandishing his sword-cane all his features with
ing murderous wrath and paid as a corpse
Every glance was fixed on the countenance of
the Judge for all wished to know how he would
brook the coming shock of the duelIist's fiery
assault But none, however, could detect the,
slightest change in his appearance. His cheek
grew neither red nor white nor nerve seemed
to tremble his calm eyes surveyed the ad.
vancing foe, with ms little sign of perturbation
ns chemist might show scrutinizing the eff
fervescence of some novel mixture. He sat
perfectly still with a little staff of painted iron
in his right hand
Smoot assembled the platform and immediately
aimed n tremendous blow with his enormous
sword cane, full at the head of his foe. AT
that blow five hundred hearts shuddcred. and
more than dozen voices shreked, for all ex-
pected to see the victims skull shivered into
atoms. The general astonishment then may be
conceived, when they beheld the little iron staff
describe quick curve, as the great sword cane
flew from Smiths fingers and fell with loud
chatter at the distance of twenty feet in the hall
The baffled bully uttered n cry of wrath, wild
as that Of some wounded beast of prey, and
snatched his bowie from his sheath, but ere it
was poised for the desperate plunge, the little
iron staff cut another curve, and the big knife
followed the sword cane He then hastily drew
revolving pistol, but before he had time to
touch the trigger his arm was struck powerless
by his side
And then for the FIRST time did Judge Yell be.
tray perceptble emotion. He stamped his foot
till the platform shook beneath it and shouted
in trumpet tones--"Mr. Clerk, you win blot this
rufhan's name as foul disgrace from the roll
Of attorneys Mr.. Sheriff, take the criminal TO
jail"