The weekly Butte record., 1866-06-23
An Accommodating Judge.

The following story-only the con-
Guiding portion of which we give-is
told Of Judge R, of Jackson, Tex
as, and John Rolfe, backwoodsman.
Rolfe-a tall hunter, dressed in buck
skin, and armed with revolver, rifle and
bowie knife-visits Jackson, calls on
the Judge at his residence, with the
narrator), and thus relieves his mind
''You see, Judge, early day before
yesterday morning 1 started for this /.
place, and, as wouldn't chisel, l went
without eating the whole day. l slept
in the woods, and yesterday morning |
got up hungry as panther; and as
walked along, thinks 1, what am | to
do! | never see game so scarce
there wasn't so much as a squirrel to
be found. | am above cheating a man
out Of his dinner but felt that din
ner must have. Just then fellow
comes riding along the road. talked
to him and tried to borrow, swearing
to pay at any place he might name. in
week but the fellow said he paid his
way out of his own pocket, and he'd
too little to divide. How much have
you got! says l. 1.-TWO fifty says
he. Now, thinks l, this is too little to
divide. So, while he was looking the
other way, l shoots him through the
head, and gin him as decent burial as
could under an old log, and took the
two dollars and half. But it wont
DO; my conscience misgives me. am
sorry for it, and wish the fellow had
his money back, if he could be alive.
Between you and me, as it is too late
for that, think that l ought to be
hung"
The Judge called his little black boy,
ordered three papers of tobacco, and We
smoked in silence.
''Then you really think pou ought to
be hung?" he said, with compassion, as
he whitfield cloud of smoke toward the
ceiling; 81 do, in fact" answered
Rolfe, emitting a similar volume of va
por. The Judge smoked, and consid-
cred again. "Well, we'll try to hang
.you," he added. There was an express
sion of gratitude in Rolfe's eyes as he
replied, "Thank you. That will ease
my conscience" The Judge again
knocked the ashes from his pipe, and
spoke. swell, come here in half an
hour. ''Pll try to get jury"
Rolfe and myself, laying our pipes
on the table, were about leaving, when
the Judge agked US to take drink,
which having done we babe him good
morning. At the expiration of half an
hour, We returned, when we found some
twelve men drinking and smoking with
the magistrate, awaiting US. We were
politely requested to sit down. "Now,"
said the Judge, addressing himself to
Rolfe, ''tell these gentlemen what yon
have, already told me-" Whereupon
Rolfes repeated the statement he had
befofdmade. Snow, gentlemen" con-
tlnued the first speaker, 81 wish to say,
if this gentlemani3kolfe your name is,
Ell! Well, there's some fine old bran
dy; make yourself perfectly at home
whether, gentlemen, you find John
Rolfe guilty or not guilty, of murder.
In addition to what he said, will OBJ
serve, for your information. that have
sent out and found the body Just where
be stated it to be-
The jury smoked, rose up, took
little brandy and water, and then sat
down again, md smoked in silence for
some time. At last one IF them, who
appeared to be the foreman, said
''The case is tolerably clear, and we
rather think he's guilty. "There's
more tobacco on the table, said Judge
to Rolfe, ''the best you can find any
where. You have heard what these
gentlemen have said. WE'LL" he con-
tinued, little uneasily, II don't like
to tell you in my own house, butt
Let that be no hindrance," said Rolfe,
filling and lighting his pipe. "Well,
them" continued the judge, ''come here
at ten o'clock tomorrow morning, and
I'll have you hung" Rolfe looked dis
concerted, and appeared mortified at
the idea Of asking favor. "You-I
have been so kind to me,' he said, hes
itatingly, ''that l hardly like to ask for
anything more.'' "Not at ALL" re-
piled the Judge, ''out with it; YOU are
welcome to it before you ask" SWELL"
said Rolfe, 81 wish-to-morrow is nv
ague day, and the shakes come on at
ten-rosld you be so kind as to hang
me at nine" "With the greatest of
pleasure, answered the good hearted
Judge, shaking Rolfe by the hand. |
SHINE it shall be.''
Accordingly John Rolfe went to the
inn, paid his bill, and the next morning
was hung as the clock struck nine.
AZ the late Wnrnan,s RInh4r O..