Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-04-23
A Good Pistol Story.

"a ttiitSl'OlutIlI VI thN -'"ou' '''
American repeats the following
story, which was told him by a
Georgian who witnessed the scene
described:
Georgia has q stringent pistol
law. The penalty is the forfeiture
of the pistol and fine OF so, and
ut the discretion OF the court i'm
prisonment for thirty days. a short
time after this law went into effect,
Judge Lester was holding court in
one of the mountain counties of
north Georgia and right in the
midst of the trial of a case, he
asked the attorneys to suspend II
few moments, and told the sheriff
to lock the courthouse door and let
no man pass without permission
from him. Then said the judge, in
his firm and decided way:
"Gentlemen, ! saw pistol on a
man in this room II few minutes
ago, and ! cannot reconcile it to my
sense of duty as peace officer to
let such violation of the law pass
unnoticed. 1t may be that it is
my duty to go before the grand
Jury and indict him, but if that
man will walk up to this stand aud
lay his pistol and fine of 81 down
here | will let him Oft this time,
otherwise | will go before the grand
jury and testify against him.
The Judge paused, and an attor
ney who was sitting down just he.
fore the stand, got up, slipped his
hand into his pocket, and drew ont
neat ivory handled Smith X Yves
son six.shooter, and laid one dollar
down before the judge.
This is all right" remarked the
Judge, "but YOU are not the man
that | saw with the pistol"
At this another attorney, sitting
Immediately in front Of the judge
got up, and, drawing out small
Colts revolver and laid it and a
enc dollar bill upon the judges
stand.
"Ths is right again." said the
judge, "but you are not the man
speak Of
Thereupon large man just out
side of the bar walked around, ran
his hand into his bosom, and, draw
ing out II huge old army pistol, laid
it and one dollar on the stand.
III declare, exclaimed the Judge
"if this don't beat all, you have don,
right, my friend; but you are not
the man that | saw with the pis
toll
This process went on until nine
teen pistols aud 80 were lying OF
the judges stand. Then there wa.
a pause as if the crowd were pretty
we'll disarmcd; AT least, if there wcr,
any more in the house their owner,
did not seem disposed TO give then
mp.
"Gentleman," resumed the Judge
"here are nineteen persons whit
have acted like men in this matter
but the man that ! SAW with tn,
pistol has not come up yet; ant
now" continued he, pulling out hi
watch, and looking toward the fl
end of the court house, IL will Civ,
him one minute to accept my propo
sition, and if he does not do it il
that time, will point him out t,
the sheriff and order him to tax,
him into custody"
Immediately two men from the bacl
of the house began to move TOWARD
the judges stand. Once they stop
ped and looked AT each other, an,
then, coming slowly forward lait
down their pistols and their dollars
AS they turnedtole leave the judge said
This man with the Ufack whisker
is the one saw with the pistol
Then Judge Lester gave a shor
lecture upon the cowardly, toolisl
and wicked habit of carrying con
cealed weapons, and assured th'
audience that in the future the Law
would be strictly enforced. Til,
court proceeded with its regula
business, and it is needless To ado
that in that county the habit ofcar