The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-03-15
He Could Not Tell q Lie.

was made quite gosslppy six or seven
weeks ago by an animated personal diff
ficulty, in which a notably veracious
gentleman from Arkansas felt obliged TO
take the life Of his opponent in an ar
gument. " II you repeat that assertion,
SIR" observed the Arkansas gentleman,
in commentary upon the others use OF
certain forcible biographical insinua-
tions, :" give you my word that | will
shoot you" Needless Of the courteous
admopition, the too-voluble offender
presently committed the repetition, and
his funeral was attended by a large
concourse of relatives and friends.
gave him my word for it., remarked the
gentleman from Arkansas, blowing into
the discharged barrel of the pistol, and
that's pledge | always redeem" The
moral dignity of the speakers position
in the matter could not be disputed,
and excited lively admiration among
the choice spirits present in the bar
room at the time but there was still a
certain factious abstraction known as
Law to be humored. and two smiling
cOnstables invited the hero of the hour
TO bear them company as far as the par
ish prison. " / shall not 90 with you, my
good fellows" answered he, reproduc-
ing his pistol from its pocket, "and I'll
give you just three minutes to get out
OF here; but pass my word that I'll
report at the prison in half an hour
from now" There was certain playful
pointing of the pistol after this, which
induced the minions OF justice 10 retire
for further orders and before those
could be received and obeyed the gen.
tleman from Arkansas had presented
himself at the Jail, according To his
word and been placed under arrest for
" homicidal frenzy" In a day or two
thereafter grand jury indicted him FIR
murder; and IN the interval between
the finding Of this indictment and the
meeting OF the court 10 try him, the
captive was likely to realize a most irll-
some delay. The high character with
prison induced the Sheriff TO treat him
with great respect, and extend to him
privileges Of most unusual liberty but
a prison is, at the best, but unsatlslacto-
ny quarters to gentleman of expansive
nature, and the prisoner pinned fer
change. One day, while the Sheriff was
clearing the dust from the key OF the
front door of his little Basti!e, his guest
from Arkansas, who was lounging list
lessly about at the time, begged leave TO
examine the metallic curiosity. Happy
TO confer the tritling pleasure, the dig
nitary OF the county handed over the
key and was much astonished to find
himself simultaneously tripped from
10 NIT ~
confessional cerebration, leaving him
momentarily stunned. Upon recovery
of his senses, and search Of the institu-
ton under his charge, he found himself
locked in, and note of hurried explana-
ton thrust under the d.or. The note
was from the Arkansas gentleman, and,
after grateful apology for the manner OF
his departure, gave the reason therefor
"Havlng business needing my presence
at home, in Arkansas" it said
thought that might as well take run
up there during the holiday season be-
tween the indictment and the trial but
you needn't worry, my dear friend, for
/ give you my word I'll be back in
time for the meeting OF the Court" His
head being rather painful from its con-
tact with the floor, and society chatting
him upon the subject rather more than
was agreeable, the Sheriff regarded him
self the worst served OF all men that ever
put their trust in human nature, and
and contemplated the approaching ses-
sion of the criminal tribunal with dread
fear of his own arraignment. He was
present in court, however, at its meet
ing last week, says the Bastrop ConServa-
tive and, while dolefully waiting to hear
called the case of his escaped betrayer,
was tapped upon the shoulder by a gen.
tlemanly stranger who had entered be.
hind him unobserved. He turned he
stared, and could scarcely credit his
senses at beholding once more the gen
tleman from Arkansas. Here | am,
you see" said the latter, in good hui
mored enjoyment of the official sur.
prise. Gasping for breath the Sheriff
Owed into one of his coat pockets for a
writ of arrest; having served which,
with tremendous energy he shook the
gentleman by the hand. I" You're a
man of your word, if there ever was
one" he exclaimed, emotionally, and
my confidence in human nature is fully
restored" The spectacle moved Court
and spectators as pathetically as it de
served, and counsel for the defendtp t
at once entered plea of insanity, which
as regarded as sure to result in a CORE
spending verdict.