Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1866-08-02
An Accommodating Judge

The following story is told of judge j.
of jackson, Texas, and John Rofe, a
hackwoodsman. Rolfe, tall hunter,
dressed in decrskin, and armed wilA>aplel-
yer, rife aud bowie-knife-visits jackson,
calls on the Judge at his residence, and
thus relieves his mind:
"You see, Judge, early day before res
terday morning [ started for this pEce,
and, as | wouldn't chisel, [ went itlout
eating the whole day. slept in the woods,
and yesterday morning [ gdtup as hungry
as d panther; and, as I walkaa11k..,
aI----l-1,tt-,e.sz,-JI iki-o q
game 50 scarce: there basn'..1 ~ 60 !
squirrel to be found I'm above eNeating<
any man out of his dinner, but I felt that
a dinner must have. JUST then fellow
come riding along the road. [ talked to
him, and tried to borEdW, swearing to pay,
at any place he might name in week;
but the critter told niche paid his way out
of his own pocket, and he'd too little to
divide.
"'How much have you gotY says T.
4" 1.-TWO fifty says he.
'|Now, thinks [, that is too little to d.
vide. So, while he was looking the other
way, I shoots him through the head, and
gin him as decent burial as [ could under
the old log. and took the two dollars and a
half But it won't dc; my conscience.
misgives me. Pm sorry for it, and Wish.
the fellow had his money back, if he could
be alive. Between you and me, as it is
late for that, [ think [ 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 you ought to be
hungY" he said, with compassion, as he
whitfield cloud Of smoke toward The cell
ing. ~
Il do, in fact" answered Rolfe, emit
ting a similar volume Of yapor.
The Judge smoked and considered
again.
"Well, we'll try to hang YOU" he said.
There was an expression of gratitude IN
Relics eye, as he replied:
''Thank you; That will ease my COT
science"
The Judge again knocked the ashes
from his pipe, and spoke:
"Well, come here in half an hour. ~
try to get jury" g
Rolfe and myself, laying our pipes onF1
the table, were about leaving, when the
Judge asked us to take drink, which,
having done, we babe him good morning
At the expiration of half an hour we.
returned, when he 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 you have already told me-"
Whereupon Rolfe repeated the statement
he had before made
CHOW, gentlemen" continued the first
speaker, 81 wish to say if this gentleman
Mr.. Rolfc, your name is, Ell? well,
there's some fine old brandy, make your
selves perfectly at home whether you find
John Rolfe guilty, or not guilty, of muir
der. In addition to what he said, [ will
observe for your information, that I have
sent out and found the body just where he
stated it to be-
The jury smoked, rose up, took little
brandy and water, and then sat down
again and smoked in silence for some time.
AT last one Of them, who appeared to be
the foreman, said:
''The'oase is tolerably clear, and we ra-
ther think he's guilty"
. ''There's more tobacco on the table,