The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-05-16
OUICKENED CONSCIENCE.

\ correspondent of the Nashville
american repeats the following story,
which was told him by Georgian who
witnessed the scene described
Georgia has "a stringent pistol law
The penalty is forfeiture of the pistol
and a fine Of SO. and. at the discretion
OF the court, imprisonment for thirty
days. \ short time after this law went
into effect Judge Lester was holding
court in one OF the mountain counties of
Georgia. and right in the midst of the
trial OF cause. he asked the attorneys
to suspend a few moments and told the
sheriff TO lock the court house door aTd
let no man pass out without permission
from him. Then said he judge. III a
firm. decided way: : ''Gpntltmeu. | saw
pistol on man in this room "a few mo-
meuts ago and | cannot reconcile it to
my sense OF duty aS q peace officer TO lei
such Il violation of the law pass UuuO-
ticed. Il may bc that it is my duty TO
go before the Grand jury and indict him.
but If that man VIII walk up to this
stand and lay his pistol and a fine OF =
down here. l viii let him of this time.
otherwise / viii go before the Grand
jury and testify against him.
The judge paused and an attorney who
was sitting down just before the stand.
-
ct. drew ont q neat ivory handled Smith
4 WessOn siN-sh00tcr and laid 81 down
before the judge.
THAT is all right, = remarked the
Judge, but You are not the man that /
saw with the pistol.
At this another attorney. sitting i'm
mcdiatejy in front of the Judge, got up
and. drawing out a small Colt revolver.
laid it and a Il bill upon the stand.
-Ihis 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 arm into
his bosom and, drawing out a huge Old
arm pistol. laid it and 81 on the stand.
i declare, - exclaimed the judge. IF
this don't beat al you have done right
my friend, but yOu are not the man that
I saw with the pistol"
This process went on until nineteen
pistols and S1g were lying on the Judge 5
stand. Then there was d pause and it
appeared IS if the crowd were pretty
well disarIned at least il there were
any more pistols in the house their own
ers did not seem disposed TO give them
up.
'-Gentlemen.' resumed the Judge.
! here are nineteen persons who have
acted like men III this business, but the
man | saw with the pistol has not come
up Vet and now. " ne continued, pulling
out his watch and looking toward the
far side of the court house, I VIII give
him one minute to accept my proposition
and if he does not do it III that time
VIII point him out 20 the sheriff and or.
. der him to take him into custody
Immediately two men from the bach
( part OF the house began to move toward
/ the judges stand. Once they stopped
and looked at each other. and then, com
. ing slowly forward, laid down their pis
tolls and their dollars. As they turned
to leave. the judge said
This man with the black whiskers i
the one that ! saw with the pistol.
Then Judge Lester gave a short lee
tuTc upon the cowardly, foolish an,
wicked habit of carrying concealed
| weapons. and assured his audience tina
in the future The law would be strictl
enforced. The court proceeded with il
regular business. and il is needless to adj
that in Chat county the habit of carrying
pistols was broken UP.