The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-04-24
POLITE TO THE DEATH.


Characteristic AneeaO = OF n HOtor1Ous
Lin JudZs-
heard the story first on the rostrum,
writes 8 correspondents, from Bentley
O'Hav, in 8 lecture on Irish wit and
hun1or, but never thought of repeating
it in print until assured by sn Irish
law ? OF our city, well qualified to
speak with authority, that might de-
pend upon the narrative &s being literslly
true. He could himself ayouch for the
eccentricitiss of Lord NOrbury, and at
times-some said when little more
wine had been taken befors dinner than
was usuaI-he carried the characteristic
to exhibitions simply ridiculous and
nonsensicsl. But to the story:
On q certain occasion Lord NoTbuTy
was holding criminal court Ia LongfOrd
on the docket Of which much business
had been forced by q series OF labor and
rent flcss, during the progress OF which
many, ives had been sacrificed. On the
occasion referred %, andson the second
day of the sessions, six men we're 81 I
raigned in g lump for riot, arson and
murder. They had attacked the dwell
ing of q wealthy landowner at night
had set fire to it, and bad shot down sew
eral of the inmates who had tried TO
was brief. The acts committed had been
done openly, and the prisoners at the
bar were connected with them as chief
actors beyond dispute. Either his lord
ship forgot, or else he labored under the
impression that he had but FIVE prisoners
before him; and, in his rendering o.
Judgment, he called only five names and
sentenced only Eve men, entirely over
looking Mr.. Martin O'hourke, who
crouehed away in q corner of the pen.
| Whether the aheriff was equally
oblivious, or whether he thought the
judge had purpOsely omitted one Of the
eulprits, We can not say enough, that
at a sign from the court, he opened the
: iron-spiksd door and led the prisoners
forth.
And then it was that the clerk of the
court, Just aroused to full sense OF the
error, lesDed to his feet and called his
/ lor1ship's attention to the omission.
" There were six of them, your honor,
and you sentenced but FIVE. The man
| O'Rourke you did not condemn at all. ,"
/ Lord Eorbury was aroused in mo-
ment. He shouted for the crier, and the
crier shouted for the sheriff; and when
/ the latter officer appeared he was die
Iected to bring Martin O'Rourke back
into court and place him in the prisons
el's box. And the thing was done as
ordered. The prisoner looked sad and
detected as he stepped again into the
box, for he knew that he was not TO be
spared.
"My very good friend" said the
judge, bowing most politely to the pris-
oner, 81 made sad mistake regarding
yourself, and beg your pardon from
the bottom of my heart. You should
have been sentenced with your cOmpsn-
ions, but, somehow, the duty slipped my
mind entirely. You will excuse me,
am sure. The requirements of the Law
and the sentence of the court are that
you, Martin O'Rourke-hew 1 could
have made such an omission is surpris-
ing-that you be taken hence TO the com
mon Jail, there kept in solitary coins =
ment until the day of execution, when
you will be taken forth to the galloWs
and hanged by the neck until you are
dead. And may the Lord have mercy
on your soulI You viii pardon me for
this delayI 1t was mistake, I assure
you but it Is all right now, and you
should be content"
a strange road to contentment
surely!