The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-08
QUICKENED CONSCIENCES.
a Scene in Georgia Court Room.

A correspondent of the Nashville
american repeats the following story
which was told him by a Georgian who
witnessed the scene described:
Georgia has stringent pistol law.
The penalty is forfeiture of the pistol,
and fine of fifty dollars and, at the dis
cretion of the court, imprisonment for
thirty days. A short time after this law
went into effect, Judge Lester was hold
ing court in one of the mountain coun-
ties of North Georgia, and, right in the
midst of the trial of cause, lie asked
the attorneys to suspend few moments,
and told the Sheriff to lock the court
house door and let no man pass out with
out permission from him. Then said the
Judge in his firm, decided way: "Gen-
tlemen, | saw pistol on man in this
room few moments ago, and l cannot
reconcile it to my sense of duty as a
peace officer to let such a 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 and lay his pistol and fine
of one dollar down here, will let him
off this time, otherwise will 60 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-handled
Smith & Wesson six-shooter, and laid 81
down before the Judge.
"This is all right" remarked the
Judge, "but you are not the man that 1
saw with the pistol"
At this another attorney sitting imme-
diately in front of the Judge, got up and,
drawing out small Colts revolver, laid
it and 81 bill upon the stand.
"This is right again." said the Judge,
"but you are not the man 1 speak OF"
Thereupon large man just outside of
the bar walked around, ran his hand into
his bosom, and, drawing out huge old
army pistol, laid it and 81 on the stand.
81 declare" exclaimed the Judge, eff
this don't beat all. You have done right,
my friend, but you are not the man 1
saw with the pistol"
This process went on until nineteen
pistols and Sl9 were lying on the Judges
stand. Then there was pause, and it
appeared as if the crowd were pretty we'll
disarmed; at least, if there were any
more pistols in the house their owners
did not seem disposed 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 toward
the far side of the court house, ~ will
give him one minute to accept my prop
osition, and if he does not do it in that
time, will point him out to the Sheriff
and order him to take him into custody"
Immediately two men from the back
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 is the one that I
saw with the pistol"
Then Judge Lester gave short lecture
upon the cowardly, foolish and wicked
habit of carrying concealed weapons,
and assured his audience that in the
future the law would be strictly enforced.
The court proceeded with its regular
business, and it is needless to add that in
that county the habit of carrying pistols
was hroken I'M