The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-04-17
Pistols.

There ought to be sVme move made
towards enforcing the law against
carrying pistols by the citizens of our
State. 1t the same experiment was
tried here as was lracticcd by Judge
Lester, of Georgia it might prove
beneficial. 1t is as follows:
"Jpdg, Lester was holding court in
one of the mountain counties Of North
Gcorgia, and right IN the milsl of the
trial of a case hc asked the attorneys to
suspend ffw moments, and told .hc
sheriff to lock the court house door and
let no man pass ont without permission
from him. Then said the Judge, in Els
firm, decided way: "Gcntlemen. /
saw pistol on a nan in this room a
few moments ago, and I connot recon-
cile it to my sense of duty as peace
officer to let s"ch violation of the law
pass unno,iced. 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 fnc Of one dollar down here | will
let him off this time ; otherwise | will
20 before the grand jury and testify
against him."
The Judge paused, and the attorney
who VAS 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 laiT it and a dollar before the
Judge.
"This is all right, remarked the
Judge; but you are not the man that
saw with the pistol"
At this another attorney Immediate
ly 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 arc not the man l
speak Of"
Thereupon large man, just outside
of the bar, walked around, ran his hand
in his bosom, and drawing out a huge
old army pistol. laid it and dollar bill
on the stand.
81 declare" exclaimed the Judg &c
air 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 vent on until nineteen
pistols and nineteen dollars were lying
on the Judges stand. Then there was
pause, and it appeared as if the crowd
WIS pretty well disarmed; at least if
their owners did net seem disposed to
give them up.
"Gcntlcmen," resumed the Judge,
"hcre are nineteen persons who have
acted like men in this business, but the
msn 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 the court house,
II will give him one minute to accept
my proposition, and if he does not do ii
in that time l will point him out to the
Sheriff aud order him taken into Gus
tody." .
Immediately two men from the back
part Of the house began to move to-
wards Tic Judges stand. Once they
stopped and 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 whiskcrs is
the one that I saw with the pistol"
Then Judge Lester gave q short
lecture upon tho cowardly, foolish and
wicked habit Of carry concealed wea
pons, and assured his audience that in
the future the law would DO strictly en-
forced. The court then proceeded with
its regular business, and tits needless tc
add that in that county the habit o1
carrying pistols was broken up"