The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-08-31
Jim Bleeny's GunpoWder Plot.

- Old. Rumsoner was the presiding
Judge of the Toddiesoke; circuit, and
the meanest old feprobate that ever
disgraced the bench. He rarely went
to bed sober; got up every morning
wrong end foremost, and generally
began theld day by some outrageous act
of oppression He was, the terror of
the bar-ail but Shad. Sharkie, with
whom 1T was his normal condition to
be several !" chips - behind at "po-
ker," which made him, on the whole
rather civil to Shad. faeE f1of
One morning "OId Rum" opened
court in worse humor than usual. "A
bad "run of luck" and too much bad
Whiskey, over night, had told more
than commonly on his temper bn6
The first thing in order was to inn
pannel jury of bystanders-the reg
ular jury, befogged by one of Old
RUNS incomprehensible charges, be-
ing, and having been for the last for
ty-eight hours, hung" on question
of title to a yearling calf, sworn to
positively by six witnesses on one
side, and half a dozen on the other.l8
Call a jury, and be quick about it,
AIf Bumpk kins gro oWled the Judge
t5c4ff @-S " ~ stt4tts II y
right name Il LUMP but Old Rum
Wpnld persist in miscaIling 1t. j. sts
Fhe words were the ig1af for q
general stampede. To be caught on
one of Old RUNS juries was general
ly considered about equivalent to go-
ing to jall. But the, Judge ordered
the doors to be closed in time>to- bag q
sufficient number. I09
"James Bleerly," 1 called out. ,if3i-
Jim shook his head, and tipped me
a deprecating wink which I refused
to understand. .-....sr Iizs.4l
.Take seat on the jury p 1 vocif-
Grated, with official emphasis. 54
."tJedge,"' said Jim, stepping for
ward, and blandly addressing the
Court, !" I'd be happy to oblege ye,
but the. fact is it's ompossible., .idf
What do you mean ?" foared his
Honor. 1se I'., - 6 tEzi9. iiole5 -icH5
r. e g Ye .see,D1 explained Jim, ssit,s
Pops washday-her names Polly, but
I call her Pop-and she's sent me to
town arter some bluein', onless Pm
back in time-Well, We know, Jedge,
how it is yerself.o
Fierce as Old Rum was in public, ii
was currently reported, he was tame
enough at home-fact, that his &C.
quaintance with the proverb of the
ssgray mare was something more
\ than theoretical. At lfevents, Jim's
appeal to the Courts experience had
quite the opposite of q soothing eff
feet. go.
: . g Take yourseat on the Juryw thun-
dered Old Rum and ifzI hear any
more such impertinenee, Ill-Ill-"
Ft 'As All right, p said Jim Submissive
", starting toward the jury. box. 3. q
id ttLook'e here, Sheriff. he.9 whis-
pered in passing; jest let me goland
look arter my critter, and III be back
by the time you've nabbed t'other
T'other 'leven were speedily se-
cured for Old Rum would listen to
no excuse-not even that of Hans
Pretzelpfesser, who solemnly protest
ed he could ntctt gerstehe7o English.
90. g Is the Jury full, Mr.. 9Bumpkin p
inquired the Judge, looking up from
bis newspaper - i ze4aizsd 5uaG
- g Yves, your Honor" / answered,
hesitatingly g only Mr.. Bleerly step
ped out to see his horse. i'4eI -3
3 'in .s Who gave him permission ;ea
had to acknowledge did. O.
"And who gave you permission to
give him permission p" - - ha1b
To this rather complex question, I
thought it best to. make no answer.
"Call the juror at the door?" bel
lowed the Judge. 3as e , ,- s2tzl
The bailiff sent to do so returned
with the report thath had seen Jim
Bleerly leaving town, at fall gallop,
and that, in passing the courthouse,
The gave sort of military salute-but,
instead of touching his cap. he had
applied his thumb to the tip of his
nOse.O III Ias,- Jiito tf.a uGfl - .4.Jsi.. -
Old Rum turned green and purple.
It was some moments before he could
command nttefance. Rage had fairly
taken away his breath. s, ze
Makelout an attachment for con-
/ temptsagainst the fugitive! he direct
ed the clerk, as soon as he could speak
his voice quivering with passiono &
"AAnd, Mr. Pumpkin "-he laid
marked expression on the B this time
I'-Lss if you fail to have the culprit here
before court adjourns. I'll make oan
example Of yoN." Is q
knew the old sinner well enough
to know he would keep bis word, es-
I'pecially when he promised to do a
mean thing. So, leaving a deputy in
| my. place, / took the writ, as soon as
f the clerk had signed it. and set out to
serve it, a.; { sas .lsszi ~. ~
tla9 On reaching Jim's shanty-it hard
! ly rose to. the dignity of a cabin-.-I
detailed my assistants to act as pick
ietsw and marched boldly up and
knocked at the door. h5 '''+
"Come inl" grewled a gruff voice.
] z SAs1iIS entered Jim .glared atome
fercely. He was strapping six foot
er, all, Drawn and bone, and ready,
any time, to fight for the love of it,
\ Efthe hadn't come to town for "6lltiR','
as he pretended to Old Rum, he had
/ at any rate manauad to net olorinns.