Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-12-30
Arkansas IN EARLY DAys.-We


first lime.
The first case on the do ket was call
ed and tie plaintiff stood 10 ,dy. II,
wac case that had been in litigation
for five years. General Smooi arose
Tor The defendant, and remarked, in an
overbesring tone
" Our Witnesses are absent, and
therefore l demand that the case be
continued until tho next term, in
course"
Let the affidavit, be filed, for no, till
then can | enceTtain motion for con-
tinuanee," was the mild reply Of the
Judge.
do you doubtln word as to the
Facts 2" General Smoot exclaimed
sharply, and invo!untarily raised his
huge sword cane.
Not at al, replied the Judge, with
Ills b!andcst smile J" but the law re-
qnires that he facts justiiying con-
unuance must appear on record, and
The court has no power to annul the
law, nor any will to see il annulied."
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.
whatever may be the law, l. for
ono viii not learn it from the lips Of an
upstar, demagogue and coward -
Judge Yells blue eyes shot like light
ming but he only turned to the clerk
and said
" Clerk, you will eh,cr fine of fifty
dollars agains, General Smoo,, as see
him named on my docket, Tor gross con.
tempt of court and be sure you issue
an immediate execution"
lie had hardly communicated the
order when Gen. Sm0ot was seen iusii-
ing towards him brandishing his sword
cane, all his features writhing murder
ous wrath, and pa!Iid as corpse.
Eve. yglancc was fixed OH the countc-
nance Of the Judge, for all wished to
know how he would brook the coming
shock OF the duclIis,'s fierce assault
But none, however, could detect the
slightest change in his appearance.
His check grew neither red nor white,
not nerve seemed to tremblo his
calm eye surveyed The advancing Toe,
with us little sign Of perturbation as n
chemiS, mi ght show, scru,nizing the
eilcrvesccnce OF some novel mixture.
lie sat perfectly still with little stall
OF painted iron in his right hand.
Smoot asccnded the platform and i'm
nediately aimed tremendous bic "
with his enormous sword cane, full at
The head OF his foe. AT that blow five
hundred hearts shuddcred, and more
than dozen voices shr:eked, for all
expected to sec his victims skull shi-
vercd into atoms. The general aston.
ishment !hen may be conceived, when
they bcAeld the little iron slah describe
quick curve, as the grca sword cane
flew from Shoots fingers and Ic!l with
n loud clatter at the distance of twenty
feet in the hall The bafiled bully Ut
tered cry OF wrath, wild as that of
some wounded beast OF prey and
snaichcd his bowie knife from its
sheath, but cre il was poised Tor the
, desperate plunge, Tho little IRON staff
cut another curve, and the big knife
/ followed the sword cane. He then
hastily drew revolving pistol but be-
fore lac had time TO touch the trigger,
his arm was struck powcrless by his
side.
And then, for the fret time did Judge
Yell he,ray pcrceptible emotion. He
stamped his foot ill the platform shook
beneath it and shouted in uumpe,
tones:
" MIR. Clerk, you will blot this
rui'ian's name. as foul disgrace, from,
the roll Of attorneys. Mr.. Sheriff take
the criminal TO Jail "
The latter officer sprang to obey
the mandate, and Immediately a
scene OF confusion cnsued that no rcn
could describe. The bravoes and
myrmidon friends Of General Smoo,
| gathered round to obsuuct The sheriff.
while many Of the citizens lent thcir
aid to sustain the authority OF the court
II Nenaces, screams, aud horrid curses
the ring Of impigning and crossing
steel, alternate cries OF rage and pain
ali commingled with the awful explo.
sion Of firearms, blended together q
vivid idea OF Pandcmonium.
But throughout the tcmprs,uous
strife. two individuals might be obscry.
Cd as leaders in the whirlwind anC
riders Of the storm. The new Judge
used his little cane nh terrible eiici
c1.cy, gripping limbs yet sparing life
Bill Bullion, initiating the clemcncy o.
lis honorc friend, disdairing the en-
| pI"ymenI of knife or pistol, actually
trampIed and crushed down all opposi
;ion roaring at every furious blow
this is he way 10 preserve order in
court, ia sentiment which he accom-.
panied with reals OF laughter. In les.
than Two minutes the party of the
Judge trlumphcd- the clique of Gen
Smoot suffered disastrous defeat, ana
II Tho hu.Iv Lime.r w,s i,r,o ,r,,,, , -