The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-11
SANCTITY OF AN OATH

"Abolsh all legal punishment for per-
jury" said |, dogmatically, at the end of a
desultory argument with some of the other
clerks in the San Francisco Mint, "and not
one witncs in dozen would speak the
truth. AS for their oaths-bahl They
don't care that for thcm''-snapp1ng nv
fingers like the cluck of hen.
81 don't know, boys" said John Flcm-
ing, who had taken no part in the discus
sion, laying down his pen, and squaring
about upon his stool; 81 don't know that
can say anything on this question worth
listening to, but if you will stop your con-
founded figuring a moment III relate a lit
tie experience of mine that may be of ser
vice to this young gent'o nan who knows so
very much about the nature of an oath and
most other things"
There was a general swapping together
of lcdgcrs and all manner Of books; Gov
crnmcnt clerks do not require much of a
pretext to stop work We all gathered
about John, like bees about Hymottus, and
he began:
was witness, once, in a murder case
at Pinkerton's Bluff, on the North Sandy,
Just above the falls. Bob D., a friend
of mino-kpew him In tho States
charged with having killed Dave Thatcher,
known in oil that region Us Bet-you Dave.
Hc had been a born dcbator, had Dave.
He was never known to agree with the
opinions of any man at the Bluff, upon any
question under heaven; and he made use
OF the one argumcnt-'I bet You five dol
lars.'
Tie moment he heard any one make an
assertion, express q belief, or hint q rumor
frequently before possessing his mind of
the speakers full meaning-hc'd bet him
five dollars it wasn't so! When nobody
was talking he would try in all indirect
ways to entrap some one into indicating an
opinion upon some subject, ind then lie
was down upon him with that everlasting
wager. He would put up tho money, too,
and what's more he would commonly win !.
unless there was dead sure thing against
him; and this WIS 80 frequently the case
that it kept him poor. If, in Dawes pres
cnce, man dared affirm that his dog was
yellow, quick as lightning came an offer to
bet him five dollars he wasn't; and it came
with such positive energy that if the man
hadn't seen his dog since morning 1t was
ten chances to one that he would back
down, or haggle for time to go and take
another look. Ianevcr saw Dave myself,
II was after hiH timo that came to the
Bluff; bgt tho fqme Of his extraordinary
wagcrs, and the no less extraordinary way
in which he something's won thom was in
cverybodys mouth.
On the fifteenth day of July, in '5s,
Dave and my friend Bob D. passed the
whole evening together in the bar-room of
tho Spread Eagle Hotel, and during the
Time Bob lost threc straight bets with him.
About nine O'Clock they departed together
quarrellng about tho manner In which laoh
had been slencod but not convinced.
Daye was never afterward scon alive {:
but the next spring dead body, almost
past recognition, was discovered hidden
away in chqpparal, near the side of the
road over which the two must have passed
to REACH their houses, about two miles from
town. Nearly everybody said the body
vas that Of Dave, and gs it had o bullet il,
it--not some old bullet, sueh 9s one might
have somewhere ip his system, but com
Paratively fresh one, which had passed
through the hcart-Bob was taken into
custody, charged with the deed. In the
meRn tlmg Ind mQyed up from bel9W tho
falls apd aa THO Wh9le town had taken tic
other sdo | determined to stand by tho
friend whom had known In the States.
At the trial the court room was packed
with people, and the tide Of public opinion
set SO strongly against the prisoner that the
Judge had to draw his sX-sho9ter Q dozc,
tlmes t9 keep ardap After q SeoFo Of VIII!
nesses haa becn examinod for tho prosco,i,
tion, every ono Of whom made things look
very black for Robert, tho State rested its
casc Then the attorney for the defence
arose, Qnd SIMPLY said; >
"Your Hanor,' shall make no pFclml.
nary statement. an9 I !shall call but one
witness BY him 7 shall prove an alibi, ol
give up tho case" >t
ftEhl What's that" shouted tho Dla
,trlot Attorney, hopping upon his feet-as
fuRsy a little rasQal as ever anorted law be.
fore q deaf Justice of the Pca0e "Wi
you provo that tho prisoner was not OF
Spanish Town road tho night Of tho alleged
murder9"
"No! I'll prove that tho deceased wa.
mott
There was a marked sensation in cour
rs my name was called, and I was solemn
ly sworn to tell tho truth, tho whole truth
and nothing bNt tho ttYtb. " ~
1875" I began, 'ciircumstaStially, II wa,
Walking along the river bank, on tho sid,
Of town opposite the Spanish Town road
and just above tho fNlla. wouldn't trpu
bio myself, If wero you''--turAlng to th,
District Attorney--s'to ask what Il wa!
walking there fot, because II isn'tanybody'
IA 81 appeal to the Court |" sereechcd th'