West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1877-12-01
The Sad Fate or Young Man Who
Pointed Pistols at People.


Look outw exclaimed the young
man, scarcely able 10 control his laugh.
ter. Pm going to shootr
lie pulled the trigger and the harm.
less pistol went of. The girl fell, and
there was u good deal of blood i'm her
vicinity. He rushed To her side, his
eyes wild with apprehension. "I didn't
mean To y said he apologctically." Upon
my soul, l didn't know it was loaded ~
IL can not believe itw she gasped.
It's heavens own TRUTH he said
with great carncstness.
IL can not help itp' she said fecbly
adding with unmistakable truth, "Nc
matter; | shall die Just the same"
The jury in the case was one of the
stupid ones known all over our beloved
country. The pistol was harmless
one. Ii could not possibly have loaded
itself. The young man said he didn't
load II. Nobody could tell who loaded
II. IL was only known that sever,I per
sons had killed their alleged swecthearts
under precisely the same circumstances,
with the important exception that the
loading of the weapon and all the at
tending circumstances were known Ia
the jury. 1t was shown beyond uucs-
tion, however, that the pistol had been
loaded, and that the facctious young
man had fired il of, previously express
ing determination To do 80. 1t was
enough for the stupid jury, and like
wise for the judge. The latter, indeed,
seemed To enjoy the proceedings
1--WE shall inilict on you slight
pleasantly" he said, with broad grin.
"Thc sentence of the court is that YOU
bc hanged by the neck until YOU are
dead. But don't be alarmed. 1t is only
Joke"
The sheriff was equally happy. He
read the necessary documents to the
youth, as the latter stood with his neck
decorated in the usual fashion, pausinp
TO laugh, and at times nearly splitting
his sides with suppressed mirth. eve
shall do you up in prime order" he said
pleasantly. 1--WE shall give YOU some
thing To enjoy to your dying day. There
are no brcakagcs To this" and he shook
the rope merrily. "There are no way
stations on this route, my son. You
will go through like CREASED lightning,
not even pausing for refreshments You
will, perhaps, see some of your friends
on your arrival Please say good
word for me, will you? Tell them, if
they have anything in my line that
needs transacting, that Pm the man foI
them. Let me adjust this conveyance. "
His hands shook 80 with laughter that
hc could hardly fix the rope properly
but finally the left ear of the amusing
person was properly adorned.
Sec hcreW whimpcrcd the doomed
youth, you act as though you were in
earnest. You wouldn't KILL innocent
man, would you? IL think this j,
carrying the joke too far"
by no means" said the happy sheriff,
winking with irresistible humor. "Not
for anything in the world, my son. Can
you not place confidence in me2 This
is q joke. Are you afraid of this scaf-
fold and that little cord? Foolish boy
they are perfectly harmless"
lie winkcd at person i'm the back
ground who was chuckling silently tO
himself, his face wreathed with smiles.
The latter responded i'm q lively manner,
" Up she goesw and the practical Joker
shot in the air like rocket and came
down like q stick.
Beautiful! beautfulw exclaimed
the sheriff and the bystanders, and a
great roar Of laughter followed, even
the attending clergyman putting his
head under his arm, in evident fear that
otherwise he would laugh himself to
death.
The body was taken down after a
while, and physician, after a slight ex-
animation, pronounced the young man
dead = his neck had been broken.
WhatW said the sheriff with start.
" "Dcad?' He examined the rope atten-
lively, and quickly added, with look
OF profound astonishment, :" see how
it is. Alas! it must have been loaded. /"