The hydraulic press., 1861-01-26

Burr was stationed at the door leading to
the bar-room, with strict orders to prevent
an entrance. Two men were stationed at
the door leading to the kitchen, with like
orders. The others were placed in front of
the table, near the prisoner, but on the oppo-
site side. Stewart was very much alarmed,
and pale as a sheet. He appealed to the
Judge not to allow the mob to hang him
who replied, that they shouldnot, if he could
possibly prevent it.
! AT length the cry was raised, 'All's ready
bring him outl' followed by a stamping and
shuffiing of feet in the bar-room. The par
| tition door flew open, and five or six of the
most Dlood-thirsty of the mob presented
themselves in its passage. Burr, confront
ing them with revolver i'll hand, caused them
to hesitate. Judge Stidger, taking advan-
tage of the pause, passed rapidly round to
the door, and closed it, He then issued
orders for the guard to shoot down any and
every man who attempted to lay hands on
the prisoner.
The crowd outside became very impatient.
Bring him out" chang him!7 were again
heard louder and fercer than before. A
rush was made against the side door, and it
was pushed open. The foremost men of the
mob were pushed into the house. Quick as
thought, one Of them threw Il noosed lariat
at the prisoner, which would undoubtedly
have caught but for timely movement
OF Judge Stidger's hand, which was thrust
between his head and the contracting moose
\ hostile demonstration with q revolver
which be seized from the guard, accompaE-
led by pretty strong threat, caused the
ntruders to give back. On the outside tire
yells and eemandS for Stewart blood became
more clamorous than ever.
Judge Stidger subsequently addressed the
crowd, amid many Interruptions. 1t was
characteristic. "Gentlenl en," said he during
quiet moment of the noisy multitude; ''gen-
tlemen, have a proposition to make. You
have prepared rope to hang Jim Stewart.
Thus far have prevented the consummation
of your work. Iou are dissatisfied, and
won't 60 home till somebody is hung. Now
my proposition is thIs-that you 90 to work
and hang every man in this crowd who is
known 10 be a thief After all the thieves
have been hung, come to me and will de-
liver up jim Stewart; but until you do that,
you'll have to walk over my dead body before
you get him To give you employment
continued the Judge, II will point you out
two thieves that discount Stewart.
There stands one of them, (pointing to a
butcher named Smith, a resident Of the Bar,
and there is another, (pointing to fellow
named Tanner. This one (alludng to Smith
have several times saved from the Peniten-
tiarY- perhaps from the gallows. Almost
every week since he has lived on the Bar.
charges Of stealing and killing other people S
cattle have been brought against him. The
proof Of his guilt in more than one einstance
was positive but for the sake of his wife
and children I prevailed upon the prosecut-
ing parties to compromise with him, by re-
eeiving an equivalent in money for their
cattle. Gentlemen, if you must have vic
tim, take this man, one of your number, and
hang him. After you are through with
him, come and get Tanner"
Here Tanner spoke up, and asked the
Judge ''if he thought him thief?p
"a Hjef!" replied The Judge; eyes one
of the d-dest thieves that ever went un.
hung. You were a thief before you emigrated
to Texas from Ohio, and YOU left there
branded with the letters 'G T. T'-GoSE TO
TExAs If you want farther proof that these
men are thieves, call on me and you shall
have it. | see a few more of the same kind
in this crowd, whom you can deal with if
you want to, after you have disposed OF
Smith ana Tanner"
During the delivery Of these remarks, but
few interruptions occurred except those made
by the parties directly accused.
1t was thought Stewart might have accom-
plices. The Judge did not believe it. but at
his suggestion the crowd appointed u COM
mittee OF five trustworthy citizens, who
were TO have access to the prisoner and be
responsible for his safety. This appeased
the multitude
The committee, by dint of threats and
promises, prevailed upon Stewart to make a
clean breast Of the robbery. He denied
having accomplces, disclosed where the
balance of the missing treasure might be
found, and thus ended the terrible proceed
lings Of that night.
Burr took the prisoner into legal custody.
he asked three days to arrange his affairs
on the Bar, sell his property, pay his debts,
le'c., which request was granted. On the
night of the third day he managed to effect
his escape There was little doubt but Burr
had been brbed to let him off, He was
openly charged to that effect, and very gem
orally believed to be guilty.
To illustrate the proficiency attained by
Stewart as thief, one Incidental circum-
stance is worthy OF narration. Among the
articles in the trunk of the Dodges at the
time it was stolen, was gold watch, which
Stewart had formerly "spouted" at one of
the saloons on the Bar for S25, to be re-
deemed in ten days or forfel.ed When he
found himself in possession of this watch a
second time, through the robbery, he had
! the assurance to go to the saloon-keeper
with the redemption money in his hand. and
demanded its delivery. Of course, not being
able to producer it, the saloon-keeper paid Jim
! its appraised value in money-one hundred
and eighty dollars. This watch was subse-
quently found with other stolen articles
which Stewart had buried in his garden.
To be continued.
a BRILLIANT young gentleman remarked
toalady with whom he was bowling, ~ think,
miss, that you would make a capital baker,
j !InAnnl {! =: