American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-03-27


To love the things of "every day"
God bless the farmers daughter.
Annie L. JACK, IN Rural Ne'c Yorker
A JUDGE LYNCH COURT.
An Episode Near Douglas Creek Canyon
A canyon in the mountains, near the
prosperous mining town of Douglas
Greek, in Wyoming Territory. Grand
and picturesque the peak rises up Oh
either side, towering far up toward the
clouds, which hang in groups of golden
beauty overhead. The crystal water Of
the creek, from which the town took its
name, danced merrily over its rocky
bed, its plashings blending in rippling
melody with the soughing Of the breeze
through the lofty pines. Scattered here
and there over grassy plat were a
number of determined looking men,
dressed in the garb of mountaineers,
though their attention was engrossed by
some matter of more than ordinary i'm
port. A little apart from the rest,
closely guarded by two brawny mount
aineers stood youth apparently not
over eighteen years of age, with features
of remarkable beauty and form of the
most perfect mold. Near him, coiled
on the grass, lay a rope, in one end of
which q moose had been artistically
formed. There could be no installing
the scene-Judge Lynch was about to
hold court.
The youth had arrived in the camp
but three days before on the stage from
Laramie City, and had registered at the
hotel as Harry Forrest. He told the
inquisitive landlord Gall Western land
lords are inquisitive) that he was the
son of wealthy merchant in the
:" Statcs," and was on tour of pleasure
and observation in the mountains. He
circulated freely among the rough ele-
ment, which is marked feature of
every mining camp, and on account of
the unusual beauty of his face was dub
bed Handsome Harry" by the denizens
of the town.
Douglas Greek, like every other min
ing town, was infested with q large
number of the "sporting fraternity"
otherwise known as professional gam
blers. Among these was fine-looking
well-dressed man named George Wat
son.. He had turned up in the camp
about three months previous to the
date of which write, with plenty of
money, which he spent with lavish
hand. His open-handed generosity had
made him favorite with all, and his
skill in manipulating the cards could be
attested by every one who had faced
him at the gambling table.
1t was soon observed that +" Handsome
Harry" was closely watching Watson's
every movement, and several friends
called the gamblers attention to the
fact. To each one he replied that there
was familiar look on the youths face
An expression that he had seen be-
fore, though when or where he
had seen it his memory failed to di-
vulge.
Sc don't know what the boy is
watching me for" he would say, yet a
feeling Of uneasiness which he could
not hide would manifest itself, and it
was noticed that since Harry's adj
vent in the mines he began. to drink
heavily.
On the morning of the day on which
this story opens Watson became intoxi-
Gated, and while sitting in the Ell Dorado
saloon began to joke good-naturedly
with the inmates. A young miner had
Just finished the reading of a letter
which he had taken from the post office,
and while returning it to dainty white
envelope Watson said:
80 A letter from your sweetheart back
in the States, Ell, Tommy I'll bet any
man in the house ten to one that I've
called the turn"
"That's just what you've done, Wat, -
replied the miner. ats from my girl
in Michigan, and a prettier or better
girl don't live. II 1 ever strike pay
rock in this claim of mine I'll scoot back
there quick and give some preacher a
chance to make few dollars"
Clear gone on her, see, Tommy
Well, I've been there myself. l had q
sweetness once, and 1 feed gospel
sharp for two-minutes' speech, but the
felicity of the game didn't stick six
months. Oh! but she was a daisy.
though, a heightened beauty, but never
man had just bushels of shekels stored
away, and the mans previous fool
that won't tackle matrimony when it's
buried in mine of ready coined gold.
The old bloke didn't seem to cotton at all
to bis son-in-law, SO when 1 got grab
at the pot l jumped the game and car
ried the swag with me. The old roost-
er's dead and roasting in Hades, II
reckon, and / suppose the high-strung
daughter done as most disappointed fe-
males do-supped a dose of cold poison,
or joined the big army of females of
easy virtue that every city,
The sharp crack of revolver echoed
through the room, and Watson fell
quivering in death, shot through the
head, while Handsome uarry's voice
rang out:
"Die! you thrice accursed villain,
die! and remember Ednai''
I" The gals brother, for any amount
o'dust J" cried a gambler, as the crowd
rushed up toward the youth. He was
at once disarmed and secured, a meeting
called on the spot, and, by unanimous
approval, lynch court announced for
O'Clock at the usual place, about five
hundred yards down the canon.
At the appointed hour the crowd,
with their prisoner in charge, repaired
to the spot. Watson had been speedily
buried, and Harry had persistenly re-
fused To offer any explanation of the
cause of the murder than to say: d" He
deserved it all, the villain! Hang me
as soon as you choose"
make a move that lobe Allen be
elected Jedge o. this ere court" cried
one OF the assembly, and the motion was
carried. Allen, a tall, SUM-
Drowned mountaineer, with a face al
most covered with huge black whiskeraI
stepped forward and seated biz