Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-10-03
Il SCENE IN COURT

-IIt}11cds0IKness bet,ceen t,co APOSTLES
Of the Peace The
sheriff IaterJcres Oo1d Prevents the
E,fusiOn Of RioOd--PeeJdbIe Cone
sequences If the Doctrine Of Nom
Intervention had been strictly al
hGred tO--RhOdcricE Reeres and
Eitz Packard.
The Temple of Justice, yclept the Court
House, came near being the scene of an ar
palling tragedy yesterday, which would
have deprived society of at last one useful
light This terrible con sQd ,ncc was
averted we hasten to say because we are
not cruel enough to drar the Mortified
rca Ter through a long article before in
forming him that no blood was spilled
But to plrtical,rize
Jud re Egbcrt, clothed with all the dignity
belonging to the tribunal over which he
presides, occupied the bench. and was lis
tening TO the dry details Of a lawsuit which
was dragging its slow length along through
his court. The sheriff and baliffs were
NNottNtON oUONs ANtih, tANh NNNHtN
nances wearing that vacant stare so beht
ing to officers of the law. Q iier prevailed
in all parts of the court room, and every
thing wore that calm and dusty appearance
usual in places set apart for the admins
ration Of justice. Nothing. in fact, be-
tokened the awful storm about To burst up
on the court and assembled spectators.
The opposing attorneys in the c.use in
hearing were Mr.. C. III. Reeve and Nj. A.
o. Packard, Esq, both well known advo
Gates of the GOSPEL of the White Feather
during the war, when they ceunseled their
neighbors to- flee to Canada rather than seek
glory amidst scenes of bloodshed. During
the trial it became necessary to read a
paper bearing on the case, which Mr. Reeve,
in spite OF lis native niodesty and we'll
known reticence, proceeded to do. Mr..
Packard objected to the rendering given
10 the document by his legal opponent,
and insinuated that the mistake Was inten-
tional. In fact, he limited
That no learned commentator could moro .yiy psss
Ter some rnintell igiile pE'ce.
Or shre~d divine. in quoting. leave ont
The words which would against Linn clear the
Doubt
To say that Mr.. Reeve was angry at this
Impeachment. Of his hitherto untarnished
reputation for truth and veraciiy would
feebly depict the fires of rage. that lent
the ferocity of deadly hste TO his eyes.
twisted his nose into q resemblance of the
brokes organ of a prize fighter, and caused
several of the spectators To recognize in
the man striking likeness to the wood
cuts of Mike McCool, the 81. Louis profe: .
sional. Forgetting for the moment the lie, :
sons of peace aud GOODWILL TO all men (ex-
cept AbOlitionists) with which lie had en-
deavored to reprcss the martial ardor of
his followers. forgetting time and place his
noble nature refused TO brook the insult
and he sprang to his feet and with hasty
strides annillilaied the distance between
the perpetrator of tho outrage and himself
Mr.. Packard coollv awaited the onset.
Once he turned as if to hy. but<the deer
naiignanry which sat enfhroncd upon
every feature of his classic countenance
claimed the sacrifice of his peace princi
pies, as with the imperturabiliiy OF muly
bull he awaited the ARRAY
Al this juncture the sheriff, also non
/. resistant when rebles are concerned, re-
nembcring the duties of his Office andi the
text, blessed are the pcacemakers, inter.
, posed his person between the enraged pair
and thus we are compelled TO bring oul
thrilling narrative to lame and impoten
conclusion:
Twas ever thus from chilllIool's hour" ETC.
But like the bloody minded Aboliiionis
that we arc. re viii revel, in imagination
at least, in scenes of sanguinary conflict
u Clothe the individuals mentioned above il
} kilt and tartan place broadsworls in thei
hands; establish them in n sequcstcrc,
spot on the banks of a rapid river: call tn
n one Rhoderick Reeve and the other Fit
u Packard; it will be unnecessary to suppl
&c anImostity ifthese two are selected as tn
y drdBdtis pcrsORdc. The conflict Ina
ragged for some time; Rhoderick's create
: strength seems about to overcome Fitz'
superior skill; Rhoderick Kisses:
And now. sir kuisht. h III thine own
j No ndidcBs arm is round tss thrown
Tor perceive thou art vain carpet knigh
: Whose only boasts To wear
The lock of some fair lldy's hair"
Fitz Packard. who hls recently partake
d Of Rhoderick's hospitality. up to this poir
3 has endeavorsd to avert duel the iaur
y of Rhoierick causes him to remember ih
e purpose for which he sought the chieftan
J territory, and he retorts:
e "a thank thee, Rhodarick. f,r tn. word;
IL nerves my heart, il stesls nv sword;
! For have sworn thi. braid to Is-sths
/ In the best blood that warns thy veins :"
Il Both parties are now in earnest; Fit
q succeeds in inflicting mortal wound upo
his antagonist. but is himself disarmed
Is disdsining the advantage, Rhoderic
= throws down his clsymore and rushe
upon his foe; he bears him to ground, an
10 plucks bis bunting knife from its sheath
/. the steel glistens in mid lair, but the arr
n that would guide it is numb with death
- the blade buries itself in earth Fit
Packard frees himself from the embrac
Of the corpse rising, he adjusts his disol
dered paper collar,an proceeds to speech
d ify and dip the braid spoken of In tn
&c hearts blood of his enemy
The curtain falls.
Al
l. YOUTHFUL r. JIFFIA lNI.Su