, 1874-01-11
held to account by The people, the illinois tesis-
lators will likewise be held to account They
should take heed while there Is yet timo.


THE KENTUCKY VENDETTA.
Tie story OF tho vendetta q. Harrodsbur5.
Ky., by which most cstirnb!e lady lost her
husband and two CONS, is too f1esh i'll tho mem
ories of our readers to need recaptulation. but 1t
conveys most important lesson upon the folly
and danger OF wearing arms. At the Coroaer's
inquest, young Daviess testified TINT his father,
who was killed, had carried a. pistol
ard boaie-luife, day in and day out,
ever since the witness could remember.
They we're his insepnrab1e companions. He
bucklcd them on, said the witness, as regularly
as be took his meals. Young Larue. one OF the
victims, Who Was only l9, lad carried pistol
from boyhood. On one day during the trial
which is now progressing. one Of the Witnesses
who Was called on to exhibit his clothing which
lo wore during the fight showed pistol on his
person. Every day during the tla'
the defendants have como armed, and
even the lawyers carry dangerous wesF~
ons A dispatch in our issue OF Saturday
states that the Court on that dayreinsed to hear
the arguments, fearing that serious trouble
might ensue. There never was q moro ou-ra-
geous defiance and contempt Of justice tha1
this. Here was bloody tragedy, originally
porpetrated or commenced in g courtroom.
growing out OF the practice Of carrying con-
cealcd weapons, in violation OF the laws
of Kentucky, and, when tho survivors
a1o brought up for trial. thoy return to the court
room armed as when the difficulty first began,
and not only they, but tho lawyers, both for the
defendants md for the Commonwealth, and
eventually the Court has to refuse to hear tho
arguments, because it is afraid Of another
tragedy. A lawyer in Harodsburg said to tho
correspondent Of tho Louisville Courier-Jo,1~
nal:
never saw s,v1der day in my life than the
which followed this difficulty. Men walked with heads
bowed about the silent, deserted streets, and scarcely
any one spoke shove whisper. The air waB hlled
with nufleh, Eoreless which Is tndescrlba-
bic. had, few days prior to the difficulty invited
eghteen twenty friends to Thanksgiving Dime: At
ms residence but only three four The table
WIS loaded with al the decacies Of tho season; our
little party Of 6re stx SGT almost Bpeechless, and
mechanically dispensed the cortes!es Of the OCCASION
Grtef and shame depicted on every face, and /
felt like taking the table to the front window elcvang
end OF It, and sliding every mofscl II continued
into the street to be deyoured By the dogs Goa for
bid that should esec enjoy another such Thanks-
giving dinner.
And yet, with this horrible tragedy go fresl, in
memory, with broken-hearted widow, be1eft Of
husband and SONS, living in their midst, these
cowardIy, blood thirsty wretches Hock into tho
same courtroom armed to the teeth and ready
to renew the shooting upon tie slightest provo
cation. The indignation which honest and law
abiding people will feel at such inhuman end
cowardly conduct Will hardly be less than the
contempt they will hare for the hmorous
Court which did not order every man
disarmed at tho door. before he entered
into its presence. Proceedings in such Court
are mockery Of justice, aud this ezemplifca-
ton Of Southern chiral>y il libel upon human
ity. To carry a concealed weapon is the first
mark Of . coward, unless person is compelled
to 30 where he knows his life is at stake, and he
cannot defend himself otherwise. To make it q
daily practice and habit OF life, appears to be
done in Harrodsburg, both upou the part Of men
and boys, is not only dangerous but bully
ing, brutal practice which s5ould be suppressed
bY the law at once. It ia about time that South
ern chivalry was compelled to give place to
honor, manhood. and courtesy.