The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-11-15
The Sad Fate of a Young Man Who
Pointed Pistols at People.
Rochester Chronicle

Pointed Pistols at People.
Rochester Chronicle.l
"Look outl" exclaimed the young
man, scarcely able to control his laugh
ter. "I'm going to shootl'
He pulled the trigger and the HARM
less pistol went off. The girl fell, and
there was a good deal of blood in her
vicinity. He rushed to her side, his
eyes wild with apprehension. 81 didn't
mean to! !" said he apologetically." Upon
my soul, l didn't know it was loaded"
al can not believe it'll" she gasped.
"It's heavens own truth" he said
with great earnestness.
81 can not help It'll" she said feebly;
adding with unmistakable truth, "No
matter; 1 shall die just the same"
The jury in the case was n of the
stupid ones known all over eur beloved
country. The pistol was a harmless
one. Itcould not possibly have loaded
itself. The young man said he didn't
load it. Nobody could tell who loaded
it. 1t was only known that several per-
sons mad killed their alleged sweethearts
under precisely the same circumstances,
with the important exception that the
loading of the weapon and all the at
tending circumstances were known to
the Jury. 1t was shown beyond ques-
ton, however, that the pistol had been
loaded, and that the facetiotis young
man had fred it of, previously express
ing a determination to do SO. 1t was
enough for the stupid jury, and like
wise for the Judge. The latter, indeed,
seemed to enjoy the proceedings.
ave shall inflict on you a slight
pleasantly" he said, with a broad grin.
1.-THE sentence of the court is that you
be hanged by the neck until you are
dead. But don't be alarmed. 1t is only
a 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, pausing
to laugh, and at times nearly splitting
his sides with suppressed mirth. eve
shall do you UP in prime order" he said
pleasantly. "We shall give you some.
thing to enjoy to your dying day. There
are no breakages to this" and he shook
the rope merrily. "Thefe 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 friend.
on your arrival. Please say a gooc
word for me, will you? Tell them, il
they have anything in my line tina
needs transacting, that Pm the man fol
them. Let mt adjust this conveyance
His hands shook so with laughter tina
he could hardly fix the rope properly
but finally the left ear of the amusing
person Was properly adorned.
youth, "you act as though you were il
earnest. You wouldn't kill an innocen
man, would you? II think this i
carrying the joke too far"
"By no means" said the happy sheriff
winking with irresistible humor. "No
for anything in the world, my son. CaI
you not place confidence in me7 Thi
is a joke. Are YOU afraid of this scat
fold and that little cord? Foolish boy
they are perfectly harmless"
He winked at a person in the back
ground who was chuckling silently +
himself, his face wreathed with smiles
The latter responded in a lively manner
"Up she goesl" and the practical joke
shot in the air like a rocket and cam
down like a stick.
Beautiful beautiful" exciaime
the sheriff and the bystanders, and
great roar of laughter followed, eve
the attending clergyman putting hi
head under his arm, in evident fear tina
otherwise he would laugh himself t
death.
, The body was taken down after
! while, and a physician, after a slight e,
animation, pronounced the young ma
/. dead-hi neck had been broken.
e "Whati" said the sheriff with a star
$ "Dead% He examined the rope after
!, lively, and quickly added, with a loo
! of profound establishment, al see no
it is. Alas! it must have been loaded.