Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-30
Steal TT No. Sir.

Yesterday afternoon weakened old Pluto
was painfully saving wood in the snow on
| B street. Cold as the weather was the ma.
ture of the work forced the. Indian 70 hay
aside his blanket and toll in his shirt-sleeves
! AS the old man labored and wheezed u
turdy tramp with lorid face and very
nigh forehead approached He stood for
ome time idly watching the Indian toiling,
md growing cold in contemplating the in
tercsling sight, the tramp picked up the
blanket and walked on with il, despite the
,xpostulatory cries and whines of the In
lian, who followed in great distress close
upon the heels Of the tramp Deputy Con
stable Enders was attracted by the noise,
and when the poor old Indian had in his
broken English, explained the cause of his
woe, the tramp was taken into Gu. tody aud
| he blanket turned over 10 s relieved and
thankful owner, who hobblcd tack 70 bis
work.
This morning the tramp, who gave his
name as James Bedford, was brought before
| Justice Knox.
"Whats your plea" asked the Court.
"What is the charge?' demanded the
tramp,
"Petty larceny
Great heavens y cried Mr. Belford, start
ing back, "do my ears deceive mef"
mo, your cars are all right" said his
honor "Whatre you making u noise tori
Didn't you steal the blanketfN
"Steal it, siry No, sir; took IT, II was
mine because | wanted it, The impressible
antagonism Of race justified the transfer of
ownership. Sad, sir, as the fate Of the In
dian undoubtedly is, il is yet inevitable.
The genius Of Anglo-Saxon civilization IN
its onward march across this broad aud
glorious continent brushes the red man be
meath It's progress 1t Is as a mighty tor
rent, irresistible in its force, sweeping ali be-
fore it. Tint which but maintains the In
dian in savage and ill-led idleness under the
peaceful arts of tho white man blossoms and
blooms and teens with plenty. Where the
red man roamcd following the chase are
now busy cities and field Of golden corn -
The Indian has passed away. Who shall
say the cruelty which expelled him from
his hunting gr1uHl was not o work OF
merct alter oil? For every savage Who
drew bis bow Ia Che solituaes q thousand
civilized men and women now ton, SOW,
reap aud are happy. Standing on the
peaks of time and taking the continent for
the iieldof observation, l."
Eyes, but what about the blanketY in
terrupted the court
"Wel' replied Mr. Bellord, thoughtlully
scratching his jaw, II can't see but had as
much right TO nab that old bucks blanket
- c2psFsAs Aas 4 'ttsFsE '- SScS Their, their
good leiges struck on en-
81 agree with you, Mr.. Bedford, i" safr rn--
court
"Thank you, your honor" returned Mr..
Belford, reaching for his hat
"But permit me 10 adj" continued the
court, "that the moral ideas Of Congress
don't always agree with my notions of
what's square. In the opinion of this court
Mr., Bedford, you're about the meanest thief
I've had before me for long time, Be
cause the Indian was poor and helpless, you
thought he had no rights you need respect
III give you six months in the county Jail
10 study up the Indian question:
"rhis could not have occurred in civil
lized community" muttered the dazed Mr..
Beiord as he was led Off to the bastle