The Van Buren press., 1877-11-20
He Didn't Know 1t was Loaded,

Look out" exclaimed the young
man. scarcely able to control his laugh
ter. "Im going to shoot -
He pulled tho trigger and the harm
less pistol wnet Off The girl tell, and
thore was good deal of blood in her
vicinity. He rushed to her side, his
eyes with with apprehension. IL didn't
mean to p he said apologetically, Up.
on my soul, | didn't know that it sas
loaded -
al can not believe ii I" she gasped.
Its heavens own truth. - he said
with great earRestness.
Il can not help it p she said feehly ;
adding with unmstakabe truth. No
matter. | shall die just the same
The jury in the case Wa one Of the
stupid ones known all over our beloved
country. The pistol was o harmless
one, 1t could not possibly have loaded
itself. The young man says he didn't
load it. Nobody could tell whe loaded
1t. 1t was only known that several per.
soD5 had killed tleir alleged sweathears
under precisely the same circumstances,
" lIll llit lllloI lhul tANtIlttbi l4ltL ltlN
loading Of the weapon with all the at.
tending circumstances wuTa known to
the jury. 1t was shown beyond qnes
ton, however that the pistol had been
loaded and that the young man had
fired it off, previously expressing de.
termination to do so. 1t was enough
for tie stupid jury, aud likewise for the
Inl,ra Inrt fp,ln.I
enjoy the prodeedings.
We shall inAict on you a slight and
plcasatry," he said, with broad grin
The sentence of the Court is that you
be hanged by the neck until you are
dead Bat don't be alarmed 1t only
a joke.
The Sheriff was eqGaIly 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. Nv q
shall do you up in prime order" he
said pleasantly, 1--WE shall give you a
something to enjoy to your dying day.
There are no breakages to this and
he shook the rope merrily, There are
no way stations on this route, my son.
You will so through like creased light
hlnL, not even pausing tor refreshments,
You will, perhaps see some of your
friends on your arrival Please say
a good word for me, will your Tell
them, if they have anything in my llne
that needs transacting, that IN the
man for them. Let me adjust this con-
veyance."
His hands shook so with laughter
that he could badly fix the rope on
properly; but finally the left ear Of
tnt |"de"s Pel7on was lnui,ehy -,'~."-
ed
" See hcre!' whimpered the doomed
youth You act as if you were in earn
est You wouldn't kill an innocent
man, would you? II think this is car
ryiug the joke too far"
By no means," said the happy
Sheriff, wnking with Irresistible humor.
" Not for anything in this world my son
Can you not place confidence in me
This is only joke. Are you afraid Of
this scailold and that little cord Fool
ish boy! they are perfectly harmless"
lie wlnkcd at Il person in the back,
ground who was chucklng silently TO
himself, his face wreathed with smiles.
The latter responded in lively manner,
Up she goes = and the practical joker
shot in the air like q rocket and came
down like stick,
" Beautiful, beautiful exclaimed the
Sheriff and the bystanders, and great
roar Of laughter followed, even the at
tending clergyman putting his head un.
der his arm. N evident fear that other.
wise he would laugh himself to death
The body was taker down after while
and Il physician, after slight examina-
ton, pronounced the young man dead
his neck had been broken.
What! :" said the sheriff with a start.
" Dead p He examined the rope atten-
lively, and quickly added, with look of
profound astonIsbment, ~ see how it is
Alas! it must have been loaded -
Rochester Chronicle