West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-05-17
Carrying Pistols

Georgia has II stringent pistol law
The penalty rs forfeiture of the pistol, "A
fine Of fifty dollars and at the discretion
of the court, imprisonment for thirty
days. A short time after the 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 cause, he asked
the attorneys TO suspend few mo
ments, and told the Sheriff to lock the
courthouse door and let no man pass
out without permission from him.
Then said the Judge In his firm, decid-
ed way Gentlemen, ] saw pistol on
man In this room few moments ago,
and cannot reconcile IL to my sense of
duty as peace officer TO let such viO-
latiOH of the law passed unnoticed. IL
may be that 1t Is my duty to go before
the grand jury and indict him, but If
that man will walk up to this stand and
lay his pistol and a fine of one dollar
| down here. | will let him of this time,
otherwise will go before the grand
jury and testify against him."
The Judge paused, and All attorney
who was sitting down just before the
stand got up, slipped his hand In his
hip pocket, drew out aIneat ivory-han-
died Smith IL WessOn six shooter, and
laid IL and dollar down before the
Judge.
This is all right" remarked the
Judge, but you are not the man ! saw
with the pistol"
At this another attorney, sitting i'm
mediately IN front Of the Judge, got up
and drawing out a small Colts revolver,
laid it and a dollar bill upon the stand
"This is right again." said the Judge,
"but you are not the man, speak OF"
Thereupon, large man, just outside
of the bar, walked around, ran his hand
in his bosom, and drawing out a huge
old army pistol, laid il and dollar on
| the stand.
"I Declare" exclaimed the Judge,
''if this don't beat all; you have done
right, my friend but you are not the
man that ! saw with the pistol"
This process went on until nineteen
pistols ana nineteen dollars were lying
on the Judges stand. Then there was
a pause, and II appeared as If the crowd
was pretty well disarmed; at least, II
there were any more pistols ia the
house their owners did not seem dis
posed TO give them up.
! "Gentlemen, ;" resumed the Judge.
here are nineteen persons who have
acted like men in this business, but the
man that ] saw with the pistol has not
come up yet, and now" continued he,
| pulling out his watch and looking to-
ward the far side OF the courthouse
81 will give him one minute 10 accept
! mg proposition, and " he does not do 1t
| 300 that slime, I viii point him out 10 the
| sheriff and order MIN 70 be taken into
/ custody"
Immediately two men from The back
| part Of the house began 10 move toward
| the Judges stand. Once they stopped
and looked at each other, and then,
| coming slowly forward, laid down their
pistols aud their dollars. As they
turned 10 leave, the Judge said "This
man with tlie black whiskers is the one
that saw with the pistol"
Then Judge Lester gave a short lee.
ture upon the cowardly, foolish and
wicked habit Of carrying concealed
weapons, and assured his audience that
in future the law would be strictly en-
forced. The Court proceeded with its
regular business, and it is needless 10
add that in that county the habit Of
carrying pistols was broken up.