The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1866-05-03

pot-pellied, yellow-faced specimen of q
dirt-eater. He wants me to take his
place" .f..... H.... .4a
"You take his place! You take, in-
dignantly interrupted the Sheriff; 'durn
you, you'd look heap better takin'
Eph, Tolley's place. Call Bill Sim
mons.n H. .aE D. -.nf3
After some delay Bill Simmons ap-
peared, and Mr.. Sheriff, taking piece
of clothss-line about four feet long out Of
his pocket, tossed it to him and said:
=. "Mr. Deputy, go fetch Tolley out here"
Up to this time I had been vainly
looking to find some preparation for the
fatal scene, but the only thing visible
was an enclosure about forty feet square,
five feet high, massc of rails laid In the
fashion Of "worrn fence, !" and resenn-
bling~a suspicious pig-pen more than
anything else. In the centre of the en-
closure stood pole Of black jack, forked
at the top, and lying beside 1t was an
other pole, about twelve feet long, peeled
of its bark. ss".
"Mr. Sheriff." said I, "are not these
proceedings rather irregular? The law
says an execution must take place with
in an enclosure, and -.
"Well, amt that an enclosure, sa-ay?
The law d MT say I'm to build stone
wall, nor It I've gotter chunk up the
cracks, nuther!" ~. T.. ~.
"Where is the gallows ?" I ventured
to ask.
esquire" said the sheriff, with i'm
pressive dignity, esquire, don't you fret
your gizzard, I know my bizness, and
you'll oblige me by tendin' to yourn.-
Hold your hosscs and you'll see. hafnt
been sheriff of -- county twenty-five
years for nothin'." -.st.... ....... ..
| Enter Bill Simmons with Tolley. He
had tied the bit of clothes-line round the
culprit's neck, and was leading him
along as you would horse to water.-
Tolley was almost as short in stature as
the sheriff, very stoutly built, and had a
sulky, don't-care-a-cuss sort of look on
his stolid face. He was quite complas
Gently chewinga a bit Of wheat straw. He
nodded familiarly to all hands, spoke to
two or three in the party, and aeked me
for chew Of tobacco, informing me at
the same time that he was "dry rs a
meeting house." carry two kinds
one for myself, and the other for tobacco
beggars, but thinking it a shame to send
man into eternity with a wad of mig
ger-head in his mouth. pulled out my
choice honey dew and handed 1t over
That was the last I saw of it. Tolley
deposited an enormous quid in his cheek
and coolly handed the plug to the. little
pot-bellied dirt-eater, and invent from
one to another as long as it lasted. Lord
George, to think of u man with one foo
in the grave should be capable Of ar
act of ingratitude and downright rob
berry.
The sheriff now read document t.
Tolley, informing him that he was to b'
hung by the neck, etc., winding up will
the addition:
"And now, Tolley, you're durnet
pretty looking skunk, amt you'" IL
teach you, durn you, to set agentleman'
house afire, and be guilty Of arson.-
Come along hcre!' And he took tn
rope from the deputy's hand and LEI
Tolley, who followed him like lamb t
the slaughter, into the enclosure. Oh
Bob whispered to me-"Frank, give tn
poor devil drink" but the fate Of III,
honeydew steeled my heart against tn
appeal.
Arrived at the fatal pole, the sheri1
ordered the doomed man to "set dow
thar which he did. The end Of til
rope was then tied around the peele
saplin on the ground.
"Now, Tolley, gitup!" and Tolley wit
apparently stolid indifference, slowl
rose to his feet The sheriff then pu
one end of the sapling into the fork {
the upright, and pulling out his watcl
handed it to Bill Simmons, saying
"Now, deputy, you time i'm, while
hold i'm up"
Judge of my horror, George, when
saw this old devil thus coolly prepare
choke the wretch to death with NO mo-
compunction than if drowning bin
puppy. Ibegged Uncle Bob to interfer
but he declined doing SO.
:. "All ready! Now, Bill Simmons, W
= time i'm edzackly; mind you, nary min
more nor less"
With this he mounted low STUN
: and with herculean effort raised Il
: small end Of the sapling at arms leng
: over his head. The tension Of the ro
just raised Tolley to his tip-toes, Al
}, didn't seem to Inconvenience him muc
= but the sheriff-you should have sc'
him. At the end of about the secol
. minute he was Hvid, absolutely purt