Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1876-01-14
IN THE FAR WEST.
a MOUNTAIN COURT SCENE

cs Sa'Ioh VI u great CRIME against any OF
I'd is but !oicrunncr Of changing bee
and trial is seldom thought Of. But
p the present instance will 'cuss' wi
had been frequen ing the sctllcmen
: had appropriated ''bronchO'' linda
Dony) bclol ging to a neighboring ranc
man, and had been pursued, captured an
brought back. Old Job was summont
to Try the culprit, and spot IN a rock
g"lch near the 'squire's cabin was s.
lectcd as the site for the investigation.
" motley crowd of hunters, Irappers miner
and ranchmen had assembled. Som
a were lying upon the ground. and Other
sitting upon the rocks, all anxlousl
a awaiting the 'squire's coming. Job 500
: came from towards his cabin, and with
) dl2bified air seated himself upon bould
er, took off his bearskin cap and said
the men:
:, "Fellers, the court are ready to g
down to biz, an l want ye all to chees
yer racket an let up on chat chin mus:
according 20 law. Throw yer ha'r i
sight and pay tention to this he,
Court"
Every hat came of at his command
and his Honor glancing around til
circle, said:
'Whar is the dam cuss?'
Three mountaineers armed with Herr,
rifles and six-shootels, s epped forwar,
with the thlef-a young man-wearing
bold, devil-may-care expression. Iii
hands were securely fastened behind III,
back with buck-kln thongs. Clad il
buckskin from heal To foot, he presantcl
Ia picturesque appearance Is he faced the
squire.
"What do they call you when yer a
homer" asked the court,
"Ain't got any home. leastways ir
these parts," sul!enly replied the prison
l'F.
'Ain't, hey! Well, what's the name
you tuck Wen you left the States, now
what?
The boys here on the hills call me
Tiger JIm.'
WALL. Tige, yer spotted as hoss thief,
an I reckon thar's sum him in it, or the
boys wudn't brought you in. You Gin t
expect torney trial like you'd git down
to Laramie; or in any O. then towns
along the road. We haven't any paper,
pens Or ink, or any o. that sort o foolish
ness up hyer in the hills, an thar Amt
one Of Us that could engineer them if we
bad, so we'll jist grind her through, an
do the best we can for you. In the name
o. the law now ak you. did you collar
that hoss-but stop 'er rite thar, doggone
it. forgot to swar you. Come mighty
near forgettin' it. Hold up your right
han'v
Hold up my right han? How kin l
when they are tied tighter than thuader
and blazcs?
That's so. Yer k'rect. Tige but guess
any member O. tine body ill be 'cordln' to
law in extreme cases. Sttddy him a
little, fellers, SO he kin hold up his right
FOOT
'Tige' raised his moccasin-covered foot
while guard on each side held him in
position.
Now, then, I amt fly on them ar
lawyers affydavys. but l make her stout
enough to hold q Mexican mule. Tiger
jim. do you swar by the holy Moses. ac-
rording to the laws of Wyoming Territory
that every time you chip in my racket |
you give US the squar' truth? An eff yer
don't do you hope. do you hope thet you
may git chawed up by grizzly, chopped
10 pieces by Sioux. strung up to q pine
with rope roun' yer blasted, thlcvin'
seck, an fail to connect on heaven wen
yer life goes out, to the best of your un-
lerstandin' as provided by law, SO help
,er God, eh?'e
THAT thar's jist what I docs. Pardy,'
aid Tiger. /
Now, Tige, you are under oath, and
v'ry time you speak yer want to hit the
ull's eye. Now. Tige, did ye nip that
Oss?'
wall, Uncle Job, there's no use o.
ving about it, an tell you jist how II
'ar. Last night you know thar war .
,mboree over to Al. wilkins rancho in
lilIer's gulcb. and war thar. Al. had
cen to Laramie City and got a key of
ood old bulge, an we all got pretty
Ill. Arter the dancln' war over l pulled
ut for Bowles' rancho, whar I'm hangin'
ut, and as was staggerin' down around
fountain Cat Hill l runs right onto the q
roncho that war picketed out in the ?
rass, and I were jise drunk enough to 10
Ount him and lit out. I know I am
3ing to swing for It., and Ill die game Q
70. I amt wutb cuss any way and if q
warn't for my poor old mother back in y
le States there the tears commenced to u
III down bic bronzed cheeks) who never q
oses her eyes without prayin' for God II
send me back to her. I'd laugh at death e
ID help ye to fix the rope, but when q
ink of that darling old soul I git weak. =
than Z wounded antelope. ! Tell ye. = !.
llers. hsye- -teen atoagh cuss evsr|''
nee struck out for these mountains.
ID l s'posc the world'll he better thoutlsu