The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-31
Carrying Pistols.


The penalty Is forfeiture of the pistol, u
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 tho
midst of the trial of 4 cause. hc asked
the attorneys to suspend a 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, decld-
ed way: "Gentlemen, saw pistol on
man In this room few moments ago,
and cannot reconcile 1t to my sense of
duty as a peace officer to let such vio-
lation Of the law passed unnoticed. 1t
may be that it is my duty to 60 before
the grand jury and indict him, but if
that man will walk up to this stand and
lay his pistol and fine Of one dollar
down here. will let him off this time,
otherwise 1 will 20 before the grand
jury and testify against him.
The Judge paused, and an attorney
who was sitting down just before the
stand got up, slipped his hand in his
hip pocket, drew out neat ivory -han-
died Smith q Wesson six shooter, and
laid 1t and Il dollar down before the
Judge.
This is all right" remarked the
Judge, ''but you are not the man l 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 1t and dollar bill upon the stand.
''This is right again. said the udge,
"but you are not the man, speak Of"
Thereupon, a large man, just outside
of the bar, walked around, ran his hand
in his bosom, and drawing out huge
old army pistol, laid 1t and dollar on
the stand.
81 DECLARE" exclaimed the Judge,
"if this don't beat all; you have done
right, my friend. but you are not the
man that l saw with the pistol"
This process went OH until nineteen
pistols ana nineteen dollars were lying
on tho Judges stand. Then there was
a pause. and 1t appeared as If the crowd
was pretty we'll disarmcd; at loast, If
there were any more pistols in 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 mon 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 tho courthouse
81 will give him one minute to accept
my proposition, and II he does not do 1t
In that time, will point him out to the
Sheriff and order him to be taken into
custody"
Immediately two mon from the back
part Of the house began to move toward
the Judges stand. Once they stopped
and looked at each other, and then,
coming slowly orward, laid down their
pistols and their dollars. AS they
turned to leave, the Judge said: "This
man with the black whiskers is the one
that PAW with the pistol"
Then Judge Lester gave 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 to
add that In that county the habit Of
carrying pistols was broken up.