The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-19
A MOUNTAIN COURT SCENE

Old Job Dawson had been duly elected
to ill the responsible position of Justice
Of the Peace, and this was the first case
which had demanded his attention. Job
was an old veteran mountaincer, and had
lived in the shadow of the lofty peaks,
hunting, trapping and fighting indians, to
use his own words ''sense Adam. war a
kid' In that rough region an accusation
Of great crime against any one is but
forer3nner of changing bee," and a
trial even is seldom thought of. But in
the present instance wild 'tcuss'' who
had been frequenting the settlements had
appropriated a Sc broncho'' Indian ponyl
belonging to neighboring ranchman,
and had been pursued, captured and
brought back. Old Job was summoned
to try the culprit, and spot in the
rocky gulch near the 'squire's cabin was
selected as the sight Of the investigation.
A molly crowd of hunters, trappers,
miners: and raucheros had assembled.
Some were lying on the ground others
sitting on the rock, all anxiously await
ing the 'squire's coming Job soon came
from towards his cabin, and, with a dig.
nitied air, seated himself upon a boulder,
took off his bearskin cap, and said:
"Fellers, the Court ar ready to git
down to biz, an want ye to cheese yer
racket an let up on that chin music
according to law. Throw yer hair in
sight, an pay 'tention to the Court
Every6ody's hat came off at his COM
mand, and ''His Honor" glancing around
the circle, said:
"Whar's the cuss? -
Three mountaineers armed with Hen
ry rifles and six shooters stepped forward
with the thief, young man wearing a
bold, devil may.care expression. His
| hands were securely fastened behind his
back with buckskin thongs. Clad in
buckskin from head to foot, he presented
a picturesque appearance as he faced the
Squire.
"What do they cali you when yer at
home = asked the Court.
"Ain't got emmy home, leastways in
these parts, sullenly replied the prisoner.
"Ain't hey? Well, what's the name
you tuck wen you left the States, then?''
~. ''The boys hyer OH the hills call me
Tiger Jim.''
Wall. Tige, yer spotted as boss
thief, an | reckon thar's sumthin' in it
or the boys wudn't brought you in.
You can't expect toney trial like you'd
git down to Laramie or in enY of those
towns along the read. We hewitt eny
paper, pens Or ink, or eny O that sort O
foolishness up hyer in the hills, an thar
ain t one o US as could engineer 'em eff
we had, so we'll jist grind her through,
an d. the best we kin for you. In the
name o. the law l now Ak you did you
collar tibet hoss-but stop 'er rite thar,
doggone it. forgot to swar you. Cum
mitey near forgittin' it. Hold up yer
right han'!''
| ''f1old up nothin'. How kin I when
they'r tied ti,er'n blazes?'
''Thet's SO. Yer k'rect, Tiger, but
CESS any member O. the body II be, cord.
in to law in extreme cases. Stedey him
q little. fellers. SOS he kin hold up his
right foot
"Tige" raised his moccasin.covered
foot while guard on each side held him
in position.
SHOW, then, I amt fly on them ar law
yers afydavy's, but I'll make her stout
enuh to hold q Mexican mule. Tiger
Jim, do you swar by the holy Moses, &C.
cordin' to the laws Of Wyoming Terri
tory, theft every time ye CHIP inter my
racket yell give US the squar' truth.
An eff yer don't, do you hope that ye
may git chawed up by grizzly. chopped
to pieces by Sioux, strung up to pine
with = rope 'roun' yer thievin' neck. an