Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-07-31
An Accommodating Judge.

portion of which we give-is told of Judge
j, of jackson, Texas, and John Rolfe, a
backwoodsman. Rolfe-a tall hunter, dressed
in deerskin, 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
wouldn't chisel, went without eating the
whole day. / slept in the woods, and yesterday
morning got up as hungry as a panther; and,
as walked along, thinks I, what am to do
| never saw game SO scarce; there wasn't so
much as squirrel to be found. I'm above
cheating any man out of his dinner, but I felt
that dinner must have. just then a fellow
came riding along the road. I talked to him,
and tried to borrow, swearing to pay, at any
place he might name in week; but the critter
told me he paid his way out of his own pocket,
and he'd too little to divide.
"How much have you got e. says L.
"Two-ffty," says he
Snow, thinks I, that is too little to divide. So,
while he is looking the other way, | 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 do; my con-
science misgives me. I'm 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 ST.
lence.
'Then you really think you 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 vapor.
The Judge smoked and considered again.
"Well, we'll try to hang you,' he said.
There was an expression of gratitude in
Rolfe's eye as he replied:
''Thank you. That will ease my conscience. I"
The Judge again knocked the ashes from his
pipe, and spoke?
''Well, come here in half an hour. IN try
to get jury"
Rolfe and myself, laying our pipes on the ia;
us to take drink, which, having done, we bade
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 al
ready told me-
Whereupon Rolfe repeated the statement he
had before made.
Snow, gentlemen, - continued the first speak
er, II wish to say, if this gentleman-Mar.
Rolfe your name is, eh well, there S some fine
old brandy, make yourselves perfectly at home
whether, gentlemen, you find John Rolfe gull
ty, or not guilty, of murder. In addition to
what he said, will observe for your informa-
ton, that 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:
1.-The case is tolerably clear, and we rather
think he's guilty.
There's more tobacco on the table, said the
Judge to Rolfe, "the best you can find any
where. You have heard what these gentlemen
have said. "Well, he continued, little un'
easily, Il don't like to tell you in my own
house !; but" ...
'Let that be no hindrance, {" said Rolfe, fill
ing and lighting his pipe.
swell, then continued the Judge, come
here at ten o'clock tomorrow morning, and LII
have you hung"
Rolfe looked disconnected, and appeared NOR
titled at the idea of asking favor.
"You-you have been so kind to me. he
said, hesitatingly, that hardly like to ask you
for anything more.
''Not at all, replied the Judge, "Out with
it. you are welcome to it before you ask
"Well," :" said Rolfe, II wish-to-morrow il
my ague day, and the shakes come on at ten,
would you be so good as to hang me at nine p
with the greatest pleasure" answered the
good hearted Judge, shaking Rolfe by the
hand. "Nine it shall be-
Accordingly John Rolfe went to the inn, paic
his bill, and the next morning was hung as tht
clock struck nine. \. t<
ABOUT THE EYES. 1.-The eyes," Emerson
says ''speak all languages. They wait for NJ