Connecticut western news., 1874-07-10

the prevalently imperfect courts of jus tice. Acting without, and, in fact, in defiance of law, these committees, though doing things roughly help ma terially to make life endurable for we'll disposed citizens. Without thesense of justice which these vigilant and self constituted bodies exercise, the great Western wildernesses, with their sparse ly settled population, and feeble ju- dicial administration, wouldfnot be toll erable. ...,f ..,r.,t. ,.t. hc,,. a. 't'
 soon understood, the purport of tho visit, as addressed to my host. "You've been terror to this here neighbor- hood" continued the spokesman 1; "you've stole horses and cattle for more than two years past, and tried to put it. all on the Indians. You have murdered ;. and this, here. traveller would never have seen daylight again, if we hadn't come in. You got the Jew from Santa Fe into your shanty, and robbed and killed him. ."'aH '.i~.-s
 "Ne, captain r burst out Joe; CT bar that. I don't deny the hosses, nor the cattle and I may hev killed man or two :; so may hev Phil; but I never touched the Jew, nor killed a man in my own shanty and this here traveller should have gone his way 8 safe man." Then, turning to me, he said-t You don't believe meant killing of you, stranger ?"
 CT do not P I said, very emphati- cally, for I meant it.
 "Well, there's enough agin you without that" said tke spokesman :; " though we know you ain't so bad as Phil. You've been warned to go, time after time." 1s.3 rsi,. sFstt; .-
 "Not reglar warned, argued Joe i; " and HOW we are agoin."l .tt ..!
 "No, you ain't, you bet" said the captain, with a meaning smile, which ran responsivelyi through his band :; "no, you ain't. Your time has come 1; i but you shall have fair trial from the Vigilantes here assembled !; and what their judgment is, you must abide by. !"
 In an instant, sort of formality was given to the assembly, the captain and another being the centre of semi circle, while opposite to them were the two prisoners, guarded by four men. I suppose there must have been seven teen or eighteen of the Vigilantes alto gether. With a rapidity that. almost stunned me, the trial began and con- cluded. The prisoners offered no par ticular defense, they seemed conscious of it's inutility, and the evidence !" against them was chiefly accusation- but it sufficed. When the captain ask ed the verdict, there was unanimous reply of "Guilty :" and he addressed the culprits thus ''Say-Joe Blakey and Phil Marll, you hev heard the evi- dence in this honorable Committe of Vigilantes, and the verdict of guilty. We therefore intend to string you up, and we mean to clear the country of all thieves, right away. You have ten minutes allowed you to leave any mes- sage you wish" te q ..i .y...t4....5 gi.
 The apathy of the two men was extra ordinary; Phil only scowled savage ly at the speaker, while Joe absolutely turned to his nearest guard, and asked him for @ "chew ;" and the guard, pulling cake of tobacco from his breast, handed it to Joe, whoa broke a piece off, and began masticating it with apparent relish. Just then, I caught his eye, and I thought it was fixed on me with such hopeless yet appealing look, that l. could hesitate no longer. With an energy that surprised myself, I broke out into an appeal for the lives of the condemned, explaining how had been received by them, and given the best they had, and how Joe had helped me to find my horse in the day. " will be security,".I I concluded, "that they will leave the neighboorhood. I bear letters from good houses in New York to several persons in this vicinity, some or whom may be known to you, and which will prove can bear out my offer." drew my letters from my poe ket, and read the addresses: 1" Captain Hiram Danks ;, Major Julius Bumper i; Sheriff Gollopy; Colonel Vanwoort 1; Captain Himpus-" ..,-g ...
 "That's me-. said rough looking man. "Give it here." y', -.-" -.
 He wasn't much after my idea of 8 captain !; but, as it could do no harm, I gave him the letter. He read it, and handed it to the captain, leader of the band, who read it also.
 "Yes that's all squar enough, "said the latter; "but tae Vigilantes out here don't vally New Workers, and don't work according to New York laws"
 "Nor they don't want no New York money" said voice from the rear.
 An assenting murmur endorsed this sentiment, and felt things were look ing very black for my hosts. They were evidently of the same opinion, for Joe smiled sadly and said" It ain't of no use, squire we're just as much obliged, though. I wouldn't say no more. or you'll maybe get into trouble yourself. If things is ready, I'm ready" he con- tinued, turning to the leader.
 "Well, we shan't keep you awaiting long, Joe Blakey," responded the lat ter I hear the young men a-coming back they have been choosing tree" !"
 With horror, exclaimed, |" never dreamt of such cold-blooded work as this Look here, captain; the only reason don't offer money is, because l believe I should do more harm than good by it; but, if you hang these feeling that have their blood on my head, for they expected your visit, and I believe that, but for my presence, night. If you won't listen to anything else, you might think of that"
 I was pleased to see that my words made some impression, for instead of answering me in his calm, cruel style, the captain turned to his gang, and 8 low but earnest discussion took place. At last he turned round, and, in a very stern voice, quite different to that in which he had previously spoken, said, "Hear nae, strangerl The ,Vigilantes are sorry for your position, and respect your feelin's but this is tho decision, and warn you that if you question it by single word, you will ruin the man you most seek to help. Joe Blakey, you are considered by this honorable court as the best of the two, but you are very bad for all that. Your life is spared on condition that you hev cleared out from here in six hours, and are not found within hundred miles of here ever after. Of course we give you time to