Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-21
CONSEQUENCES.
Scene in a Georgia Court Room.
Nashville American

NASHVILLE Americana
Georgia has a stringent pistol law.
The penalty is forfeiture of the pistol
and a fine Of $50, and, at the discre-
ton Of the Court, Imprisonment for
thirty days. A short time after this
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 attorney to suspend a few
moments 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 Arm. de-
cided way: Gentlemen, | saw a pis-
toll on a man in this room a few mo.
ments ago, and | cannotreconcile it to
my sense of duty as a peace officer to
let such a violation of the law pass
gnnoticed. 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
a fine Of 81 down here, Twill let him
off this time; otherwise l will 90 be-
fore 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 a neat ivory
handled Smith & Wesson six-shooter,
and laid one dollar down before the
judge. +.
This is all right" remarked the
judge, but you are not the man | saw
with the pistol"
AT this an another attorney, sitting
Immediately in front of the Judge, got
up and drawing out a small Colts re-
%vOlver, laid it and-a 81 bill upon the
stand.
This is right again" said the judge.
but you are not the man | speak Of"
Thereupon a large man just outside
Of the bar walked around, ran his
hand into his pocket, and drawing out
a huge old army pistol, laid it and 81
on the stand.
II declare, exclaimed the Judge.
if this don't beat all you have done
right, my friend, but you are not the
man | saw with the pistol"
This process went on until nineteen
pistols and $40 were lying on the
judges stand. Then there was a
pause, and it appeared as if the crowd
were pretty well disarmed at least, III
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 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 the far side Of the courthouse, "
will give him one minute to accent
my proposition, and if he does not DO |
in that time | will point him out toll
the sheriff, and order him to take him
into custody"
Immediately two men from the back
part Of the house began to move to-
ward the judges stand. Once they
aud looked at each other, and
then, coming slowly forward, laid
down their pistols and their dollars.
AS they turned to leave, the Judge
SAID This man with the black
Thiskers is the one that | saw with
the pistol"
Then Judge Lester gave a short
lecture upon the cowardly, foolish and
habit of carrying Concealed
weapons, and assured his audience
in the future tho law would be
eni6rced. The court proceed
cd with its regular business, and Il is
needless to add that in that county she
habit Of carrying pistols was broken
up.