Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-03-20
Carrying Pistols.
A Georgia Judges Way of isnfore-
ing the Law.

Tothe American:
Our reform Legislature, among
the many good things that ii
proposes to do for the people, is
trying, / believe, to amend the
law in reference to carrying pis-
tolls. A prominent Georgian
told me an incident the other day
that may be of interest, and
which he assures me actually oc-
Cured:
! Georgia has a stringent pistol
law. The penalty is forfeiture
of the pistol, fine of fifty dol
liars, and, at the discretion
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 case, he
asked the attorneys to suspend a
few moments, and told the Sher-
iff to lock the courthouse door
and let no man pass out without
permission from him. Then said
the Judge in his firm decided
way: "Gentlemen, | saw a pistol
on a man in this court a few mo-
ment ago; | cannot reconcile my
sense Of duty as a peace officer
to let such violation of the law
pass unnoticed. 1t may be that
it is my duty to 90 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 one dollar down here, /
will. let him off this time, other
wise | will go before the grand
Jury and testify against him"
The Judge paused, and an at
torney who was sitting down
just before the stand got up,
slipped his hand into his hip
pocket, drew out neat ivory
handle Smith q Wesson six
shooter, and laid it and a dollar
down before the Judge.
"I'his is all right" remarked
the Judge, "but you are not the
man / saw with the pistol. .
At this another attorney, sit
ting Immediately in front Of the
Judge, got up and, drawing out
a small Colts revolver, laid it
and dollar bill upon the stand.
'This is all right again." said
the Judge, but you are not the
man I speak of.
Thereupon, a large man, just
outside Of the bar, walked a
round. ran his hand in his bosom,
and drawing out huge old ar
my pistol, laid it and a dollar on
the stand.
Il declared" 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 nineteen
dollars were lying on the Judges .
stand. Then there was a pause,
and it appeared as if the crowd
was pretty we'll disarmed; at
least, if there were amy more the
owners did not seem disposed to
give them up.
"GentlcInen," resumed he
Judge, 'hcre are nineteen per
sons 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 look !
ing toward the far side of the
courthouse, Il will give him one
minute to accept my proposition,
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, coming
slowly forward, laid down their
pistols and dollars. AS they
turned to leave the Judge said:
''This man with the black wlIis-
kers is the one that / saw with
the pistol" "
Then Judge Lester gave
short lecture upon the cowardly,
foolish and wicked habit of car
rying 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 pis-
tolls was broken up. +
An ingenious Nevada lawyer
has raised a novel point of law
in behalf of a client who is un-
der sentence of death. During
the trial the prisoner was com
PEELED toexpose his arm and show
certain marks that a witness as
serted were there, thus proving
bic iHanfitv His. co1lnsel ohiee-t