Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-02
JIM BLEERLY's GUNp0WDER PLOT

| Old RumsOner was the presiding
judge of the Toddiesoke circuit, and
the meanest old reprobate that ever
disgraced the bench. He rarely went
to bed sober; got up every morning
wrong end foremost, and generally be-
gan the day by some outrageous act OF
oppression. He was the terror of the
bar-al but Shad. Sharke, with whom
it was his normal condition to be sew
eral "chips" behind at 'spoker, u
which made him, on the whole, rathe.
civil to Shad.
One morning cold Rum" opened
court in worse humor than usual. A
bad "run of luck" and too much
than commonly on his temper.
The first thing in order was to i'm
pannel jury of by y-standers-the regu-
! incomprehensible charges, being, and
having been for the last forty-eight
hours, chung" on question of title
to yearling calf, sworn to positively
by six witnesses on one side, and half
dozen on the other.
"Call jury, and be quick about it,
Mr.. Bumpkin," growled the Judge. 1
held the Office of sheriff, and my right
name was Lumpkin, but Old Rum
would persist in miscalling it.
The words were the signal for gen
eral stampede. To be caught on one
of Old RUNS juries was generally con-
sldered about equivalent to going to
| jail. But the Judge ordered the doors
to be closed in time to bag O sufficient
number.
''James Bleerly," I called out.
Jim shook his head, and tipped me
Il depreciating wink, which 1 refused
to understand.
"Iake seat on the jury!' ! vocife-
rated, with official emphasis.
.'Jedge," said Jim, stepping forward
and blandly addressing the court, I'D
be happy to oblege We, but the fact is
it's impossible"
| ''What do you mean ?" roared his
| honor.
eye see," explained jim, Its POPS
washday-her names Polly, but 1 call
her Pop-and she's sent me to town
arter some blum, and onless I'm back
on time-well, ye know, Jedge, how it
| is yersef."
Fierce as Old Rum was in public, it
was currently reported that he was
tame enough at home-in fact, that his
acquaintance with the proverb Of the
gray mare" was something more than
theoretical. At all events Jim's ap-
peal to the courts experience had quite
the opposite of a soothing effect.
lake your seat on the jury -
thundered Old Rum ''and if I hear
any more such impertinence, I'll
I'll
"All right, said jim subnissively,
starting toward the jury box.
II
in passing, ''iest let me go and look
the time you've nabbed t'other 'leven. -
'Tother leven were speedily secured :
for Old Rum would listen to 70 ex-
cpse-not even to that Of Hans Pretz-
elpresser, who solemnly protested he
could NIGHT rcrstechcn English.
'Is the jury full, Mr.. Bumpkin?' %
inquired the judge, looking up from
his newspaper.
''1'yes, your Honor" [ answered
unhesitatingly "oply Mr. Bleerly has
stepped out to see his horse"
who gave him permission ?''
L had to acknowledge that did.
"And who gave you permission to
give him permission %
To this rather complex question [
thought it best to make no answer.
Call the juror at the door ~ bel
lowed the Judge.
The bailiff sent to do so returned
with the report that lie had seen Jim
Bleerly leaving town at full gallop,
! and, III passing the court house, he
gave sort of military salute-but in
stead OF touching his cap, he had APP
piled his thumb to the tip of his nose.
Old Rum turned green and purple
1t was some moments before he could
command utterance. Rage had fairly
taken away his breath.
Make out an attachment for con-
tempt against the fugitive ,'' he direct
ed the clerk as soon as he could speak,
his voice quivering with passion.
''And, Mr.. Bumpkin'- laid mark
ed expression upon the B this time
if you fail to have the culprit here
before court adjourns, I'll make an ex-
ample of you"
L knew the old sinner well enough to
know he would keep his word, espe-
cially when he promised to do a mean
thing. So, leaving a deputy in my
place, I took the writ, rs soon as the
clerk had signed il, and set out to
serve it.
On reaching Jim's shanty-it hardly
rose to the dignity of cabin-I de-
tailed my assistants to act as pickets,
and marched boldly up and knocked at
the door.
''Come in - growled gruff voice.
AS I entered Jim giared at me fierca-
ly. He was strapping six-footer, all
Drawn end bone, and ready at any
time to fight for the love of it. If he
hed'nt come to town for "bluein', - as
! L. Jo1 ~ L IL
any rate, managed to get gloriously
"bluc." and when in that state he was
entirely reckless.
"Jim, old fellow" sail III q concili-
atorv tone, II have got an attachment
for you. and want You to go with me. ,
" Well, [ amt got none for you," he
growled sllrlily; land what's more, ]
amt goin'."
/ explained that resistance would be
useless that [ had strong force out
side and that should be constrained
to take him, dead or alive. But all tc
no purpose. Jim, obstinate enough al
ali times, III his present condition was
perfectly mulish.
Seeing persuasion was in vain, I sig
nalle d my assistants. At the sight OF
them Jim seized brand from the fire
''Ye see that kag, Mr.. Lumpkin,
he said, his eyes bloodshot and his
voice husky; 'well, it's full o gun
powder-and by the long toed Harry
eff one o them onderstrappers comes
acrost my threshold, or ef you stay ;
minnit lor germ you kin git away, II
tech her off, SO help me-"
Jim, I knew, was famous hunter
and used to buy his ammunition by the
quantity. \ keS of powder was nothing
unusual for him TO have on hand. AnC
then Polly began to cry and take on il
way that went to prove the thing wa.
not joke. Besides, Jim was Just foo
enough to do what he threatened. NJ,
two assistants took to their heels like
white heads, and it must be confessed
made rapid advance in the same di
rection.
At a safe distance, we rallied ant
held council of war. We concluded
to invest the place, and hold it in sieg
for the present.
At the end of an hour Jim appeare,