Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-02-07

details with this humble artist, Soth-
ern one evening called the attention
Of the young Scot to tho fellow sgloomy
and forbidding appearance. If i.
were you" said Sothern, I'D lose no
chance Of conclliating that man. l
never meet with him on the stairs
without giving him half a dollar,
AN why2" inquired the Scot.
WELL said Sothern, his would be a
most remarkable case anywhere else
than in America. The fellows a muir
derer." "a murderer" gasped the
Scotchman. do you mean he's con
mitted the actual crime of mur-r-der2"
More than that" persisted Sothern.
IL mean to say he has been tried, con-
victed and sentenced to death-that,
as a matter of fact, he is under sem
tence of death at the present moment
Before the Scotchman sufficiently re-
covered to ask another question,
the porter came in with a scuttle
of coal. "Ah ~ cried Sothern,
"Jonesl This gentleman is astonished
to hear that you are-well, it's no use
mincing matters-under sentence Of
death.'F "0f course | am" growled
the porter. For numbering your
stepfather, wasn't it?' "Yes," said
the porter, with a scowl. 1T was my
stepfather this last time" You're
out on bail while your counsel is wait
ing to be officially informed that the
court of appeals has decided against
YOU, aren't your" YES, sir" quoth
the porter; "Mr. Judson's my bail"
Then, mon," inquired the Scot, in
tones of trepidation, we anticipate
being executed in ra-plity?" "Of
course | do" said the porter with a
delicious semblance of contempt"
Deed an a'd ma wait for that event"
said the Scotchman, his eyes wide
open. I'D gle theem a slip, mon.
Ye're too conscientious a'thegither."
Whats the good?" growled the por-
ter, I'm sure to be hung sooner or
later, and I've made up my mind. It's
all right. I'll be on hand as soon as
I'm notified, sure?" And he vanished.
The Scotchman diseoursed two hours
upon the extraordinary system of legal
procedure existing in America, and
then he went to bed. Early the next
morning, he knocked at Sothern's
door, his hat on his head and his
csrpet-bag in his hand.
"Iook here. Ned l' he cried. as soon
as he saw Sothern. lave been
thinking a deal about hal por-r-rter
that night. l wonder if a curious log
ical Interference has occurred to you
as it has to me?"
Fire awayl' said Sothern, from
under the blankets.
'Weel," argued the Scot, that mon
being under sentence Of death already,
is beyond the deterrent influence Of
any other legal penalty"
II suppose so"
"Con, cious as he is that his days are
numbered, he is ~obveeously without
the domain of moral argument or
statutory proheebition.
of course"
"Then," said the Scot, warmly,
there's no influence, moral, legal or
otherwise, to prevent this fellow from
getting up in tn middle O. the night
and knocking me on the head wi an
ak. They Gamma hang him twice, even
in America, and until they hang him
once we're all at his Marcy"
Precisely" gurgled Sothern, "and
that's why | subsidize HIM with a dol
lar a day."
"Precaiselyl said the ingenious
Scot, turning on his heel, IAN that's
why am going to change my quar-r-
tiers to the Fifth Avenue hotel.
Under the circumstances it'll be a
bit safer-and a good deal less expain-
sive."