Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-10-13

The Man With the Stigmas


asked to see Marshall paper. After
he had read it he laid it down and said:
'I've got good thing for your paper.
1t actually happened up in Marshall,
shortly after Currie was acquitted. 1t
just goes TO show how many fools there
are IN this world. This fellow has had
ever so many fighting scrapes in the
Indian Territory and Texas, aud had so
many people get clear himself, that he
thought there was no danger Of man
being hung, no matter how many MUIR
ders he committed. He was ignorant,
didn't know how to read; but he was as
proud and sensitive as the mischief
He was as high strung as Currie.'
We'll, what did he do:'
He went before the grand jury him<
self. He said that he had complaint
to make, so they let him in. He told
them that he wanted something done
about our camina, Courts they needed
reform: He went on to give his own
experience: In the spring of 1875 1
had to correct a man who had been
saying something about stealing a
horse. 1 was arrested right off, and
actually compelled TO give bond, not
withstandlng it was a clear case Of self
defense. 1 got the drop on him when
be was asleep. II was more than
year before was tried and vindicated
and all that time I had to go about with
a stigma on me, or rather with two
stgmas, for the summer Of 1875 had
10 self defend myself against another
map with a. shotgun. twas two years
before that case got back from the
Court Of Appeals, and all that time L
vas going about with two stgmas on
me, or rather three stlgmas on me, for
in the, fall OF 1875 1 had to remon-
sFate with a barkeeper who wanted
cash, in advance It was clear case OF
sen:defence, for Il was insane at the
time and not responsible-had been
drunk for a week, and watching for
chance to- shoot him all that time. l
ought to have been cleared at once, but,
instead of that, there l was going about
under indictment With three stignas on
me; ror ~ Christmas Day, 1878, my
unpractlsed mind got away With ime,
and run a knife-into q stranger
What is it you want OF us?' said the
foreman Of the grand jury very respect.
fully.
He said: Il want 10 see the law re.
formed so that, when gentleman has
the misfortune to get into a difficulty,
he can be vindicated right of, instead
of going about with stigmas on him. I'd
rather give up killing people altogether
than have any more fresh stigmas put
on me, Now, what I want you all to
do is to indict me right off,
what have you done?' asked the
foreman. his eyes sticking out with as.
tonishment.
Haven't done anything yet, butt
am going TO as soon as | get my papers,
what papers?'
MY yindication papers. | want my
certificate that l have been tried and
and acquitted before shoot one more
mau. You just indict me for killing
somebody-neyer mlnd who. Just
leave the name of the victim blank.
Then III be arrested for killing Mr..
-. I'll come right up Ike little
man with my witnesses and doctors,
and show was not morally response
bic; that was under the influence OF
emotional insanity. As soon as I've
got certified copy Of the verdict. then
I'll 90 and pick ME oxt a man and
shoot hn. know three or tour meu
who need it right bad. Then you see
there won't be any stigma on me, be-
cause I've got my vIndication BY the
jury already IN my pocket. The clerk
can get the name of the victim from the
coroner, and ill out the blank space in
| the indictment and the other Court
papers. 1t will save Governor Roberts
and all the other courts a heap OF
trouble. won't have any flesh stigmas
on me aud it's all the same to the
victims. His folks know WILL e1oush
that the courts wouldn't d. nothing to
me anyhow. See?
The foreman said he didn't see how
they could we'll do that, as 1t was con-
trary to law to punish man before he
had done anything wrong.
All right said the man with;.the
stigmas, Il don't care so much icr Que
more stigma-one stigma more or less
don't amount to much with me now.
I'll see you later, Mr.. Foreman
The Marshall man paused. The
Ners man asked him: DO you mean TO
say that actually happened ? lDo you
know that to be a fact?'
DO know it to be fact9 Why, mau
alive, amt | the identical foreman, and
didn't come down here TO Galveston
to stay here until the fellow has left
town. That's what I am doing here
now