National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-12
HOW THEY LIVE IN KENTUCKY.
Pistols, Knives, Whlsky-Killing no Muir
der-Useless Courts,

fistols, KNIVES, Wnlsky-A1lung NO nur-
dsr-Useless Courts.
From the Cincinnati Times.I
A few years ago little crowd Of students OF
Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, were gath
cred in beer saloon one evening, quafing the
amber fluid and chatting gsily. There was one
young Kentuckian present, from Lexington.
student, for his benefit, and in q spirit Of good
natured railery, asked II the party knew what q
Kentucky breakfast was, and explained that 1t
was composed OF slice of bacon and glass Of
whisky, The Kentuckisn joined In the laugh
that followed al his expense, and ordered the
drinks for the party. Then another remarked
that he thought Kentucky women '.just gorge
ous;" that they were as general thing "loose;"
that he believed every Kentucky women held her
virtue very lightly. The last word had hardly
left his lips when the muzzle OF a derringsr was
staring him in the face and voice husky with sup
pressed rage was saying: "Get down on your knees,
you ID lying coward, and ask my pardon, and
Kentucky's pardon, and the pardon Of my mother
There was no mistaking the black muZZe Of
that cooked pistol, or the ugly expression Of the
man who held 1t; it meant "business," and that
man got down IN the sawdust Of the saloon floor
and did as he was ordered. Then the Kentuckian
paid the whole bill, and remarking, "If you ever
speak to me or Of me again III blow the top Of
u was the spirit Of ''old KsIntuck" to the back
l., ne.
esterQay we met LQaL same young Ken
tuckian passing through the city on his way to
Long Branch, handsome, easy, elegant, reckless,
and as prone TO bourbon straight" as ever. A
good man for a Heterogeneous, faithful, de-
voted, and q bad man for an enemy-ugly, fierce
and Incorporating.
Of course we had the invitation of the young
gentleman of the Blue Grass regions:
You must come to the Paris Fair, where you
will see Kentucky In Its glory, and then home
with me to Lexington; IN show you the most
beautiful country, and handsOmest women, and
swiftest and most beautiful horses, and give you
the best whisky In the world, and we know he is
able to, and would do every one OF them.
Over q glass of Catawb Ia wine, at which our
Kentucky friend was little disposed to turn up
his bourbon" nose, We chatted Of Kentucky
affairs We SAID: You Kentucky people have
rather bao reputation for shooting, staboing and
the like"
II know it, and it is great shame. We do not
deserve it." he returned.
You do not deserve it?p
"NO; Kentucky is comparatively quiet. law
abiding State"
"That last Oyn:hIana affair was not very quiet
THAT was ali right. Every person did his duty
in that affair as our law and custom ia at present.
Would You see relative shot and not kill the
man that did it?"
"On, of course not; we would mildly but firmly
cut his heart out with bowie knife, or work up
gradually toward his head with q reaping ma
chime, or cut him wide open with a razor, or In
line Of conduct" -
people talk about the shooting and cutting
and reckless disposal Of human life 10 Kentucky,
hut IL is untrue and unjust. Lafayette and the
four or hve surrounding counties that make what
Is called the Blue Grass region do not average
more than six murders to the county year. To
be sure, there were In Madison county last week
five murders, but 1t was election week, and ex-
eusable.n
"Oh, of course. Are any of these murderers
ever punishedf"
"Of course not. You can't touch Q man for
shooting or cutting in Kentucky. A form Of trial
may be gone through, but 1t always fiZEles out
and nothing comes oft. 1t Is impossible to hang
q man IN Kentucky courts for murder. II you
try him, ten chances to one the jury will be COM
posed of men, every one Of whom will have . Der
ringer in his hip pocket, or knife In his bell, and
would use either as quick as he'd take drink Of
whisky"
"Do you like this state Of affairs in your native
Slater"
well, no, can't say DO We seem TO get
vigilance committee, or two or three hapgings,
wouldn't do the State good. But in the courts,
as they are at present, you cannot convict q