The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-09-06
AN ACCOMMODATING JUDGE.

cluulng portion OF which we givc--is
told by Judge j, Of Jackson, Texas,
of John Rolfe, backwoods man.
Rolfe, Il tall hunter, dressed in deerskin
and armed with a revolver, rife and
bowie knife, visits Jackson, calls on the
Judge mt his residence, with the narra-
tori and thus relieved his mind:
" You see, Judge, early day before
yesterday morning, | started for this
place, and as | wouldn't chiscl / went
without eating the whole day. / slept
in the woods, and yesterday morning |
got up as hungry AZ II panther; and a |
walked along, thinks /, what am I to
do? | never see game so scarce there
wasn'tso much as Il squirrel to be found.
Pm above cheating and man out of his
dinner, but felt that dinner / must
have. Just then II 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 told me he paid his way out
of his own pocket, and he'd too little to
to divide
"How much have you got ?" said I.
"Two-ffty," said he.
"Now, thinks |, that is too little TO
divide. SO, while he's looking another
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 II half. But it won't
do; my conscience misgives me. Pm
sorry for it, and wish the fellow could
have his money back, if he could be
alive. Between you and me, rs it's too
late for that, / think 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 you ought
to be hung"' he said with compassion.
as he whitfield cloud of smoke toward
the ceiling.
i do, in fact" answered Rolfe, emit
ting a similar volume of vapor.
The Judge smoked, and considered
again.
"Well, wc'll try to hang you," he
added.
There was an expression of gratitude
in Rolfe's eyes rs he replied:
THANK you. That will ease my con-
science"
The Judge again knocked the ashes
from his pipe, and spoke:
Well, come here again in an hour
I'll try to get jury"
Rolie and myself having laid our
pipes on the table, were about leaving,
when the Judge asked us to take II
drink, which, having done, we babe
him good morning.
At the expiration Of haitian hour, we
returned, when we found some twelve
men drinking and smoking with the
magistrate, awaiting us. We were po-
litcly requested to sit down.
" Now" said the Judge, addressing
himself to Rolfe, "tcll the gentlemen
what you have already told me-"
Whercupon, Rolfc repeated the state
ment he had before.
"Now, gentlemen" continued Tho
first speaker, 81 wish you to say if thi
conference.-the. Rolfe your name is
eh? Well, there's some fine brandy
make yourself perfectly at home; gen
tlemen, do you find John Rolfe guilty
or not guilty Of murder? In addition
to what he said, will observe for you
information, that have sent out an,
found the body just where he stated
to be-"
, The jury smoked, rose up, took lii
tie brandy and water, and then sat dow
again, and smoked in silence for som
, time. At last one of them, who AZ
peared to be the foreman, said:
"The case is tolerably clear, and W
: rather think he's guilty."
"There's more tobacco on the table,
, said the Judge to Rolfe, "the best 70
can find anywhere. You have hear
, what these gentlemen have said. Well,
he continued, a little uneasily. 81 don
like to tell you in my own house ="
"L Let that be no hindrance," sal
, Rolfe, filling and lighting his pipe.
"Well, then" continued the Judg'
"comc here at ten o'clock in the morr
, ing, and I'll have you hung"
, Rolfc looked discontentcd, and ~
penred mortified at the idea of asking
, favor.
f You-you have been so kind to me,
he said, hesitatingly, "that | hardl
like to asl, you for anything more"
"Not at all, )" replied the Judge. "Or
r with it: you are welcome to it hci0l
, you ask"
"Well," said Rolfe, 81 visit,
= morrow is my ague day, and the shake
come on at ten-would you be so goo
rs to hang me at nine?"
1 "With the greatrst pleasure" al
F, swrred the gOod-heartcd Judge, shakin
t Rolfc by the hand. "Nine it shall be,
: Accordingly John Rolfe went to til
/ inn, paid his bill, and the next morl
l ing was hung as the clock struck nine
q THE EDIToR's TRIALs.-Few person
: nave just conception OF an eultor
( trials. They are as numerous as tn
f sands upon the sea shore, He is eN
0 peeted always to have somethin
: funny. If he does not his paper
: dull and prosy. If he does not hay
| it full of accidents, elopements, q
murders, it is uninteresting. If h
q does not publish every nonsens
: cal communication, he is blockhea
and not fit to be an editor. If he doe
not give everybody but the fault tindo
. n rub occasionally, the paper is stale an
; unworthy of support. If he does, e>
g cry body else is mad and threatens I
l stop the paper. If too much or too lii
A tie truth is told he is threatened with
5 libel suit. If it contains no polltica