Kimball enterprise. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1883, 1883-04-27
HIS LAST COURT.

Story Of the Stcrnest Judge Ar
kansas Ever Had-The Case OF
an Outcast Daughter in RI
Court.
Old Judge Grepson, a Justice of the
peace, was never known to smile. He
came to Arkansas years ago, before the
carpet baggars" began their reckless
sway, and year after year, by the will OF
the voters, he held his placea as magistrate.
The lawyers who practiced in his court
never joked with him. because everyone
soon learned that the old man never en-
gagged ~inlevity. Every morning, no mat
ter how bad the weather might be, the
old man took his place behind the bar,
which, with his own hands, he had made,
and every evening, justat acertain time,
he closed his books and went home.
No n ever engaged him in private
conversation, because he would talk to
no me-. No ever went to his home,
citv's outskirts, because he had never
shown q disposition to make welcome
the visits of those who even lived in the
immediate vicinity. His Office was not
given him through the influence of ''elec-
tioneering," because he never asked..any
man for his vote. He was first elected
because, having once been summoned in
a case of arbitration, he exhibited the
executive side OF such a legal mind that
the people nominated and elected him.
He soon gained the name of ''the hard
justice, and every %lawyerin Arkansas re-
ferredto his decisions. His rulings were
never reversed by the higher courts. He
showed no sentiment i'll decision. He
1 ctorI ,.,~ tI,. -l,|ca.x, r. & =, s1,,, ,,E,nl.
he made study, and no man disputed
him.
Several days ago q woman charged
with misdemeanor was arraigned before
him. The old man seems more than
ever unsteady" remarked Il lawyer as
the magistrate took his seat. Il don't
see how q nan so old can stand the
veNatlons of a court much longer"
"I'm not we'll to-day" said the judge.
turning to the lawyer, "and any cases
you may have you will please dispatch
them to the best, and let me add, quick
est OF your ability"
Every one saw that the old man was
unusually feeble, aud no one thought of
a scheme to prolong d discussion, for all
the lawyers had learned to reverence
him.
SIS this the woman?" asked the Judge.
"Who is defending herr"
Il have no defense, Your Honor"
the woman replied. Sin fact l do not
think that l need any, for l am here to
confess my guilt. No man can defend
me" and she looked at the magistrate
with q curious gaze. 81 have been ar
rested On a charge of disturbing the
peace, and l am willing to submit my
case. | I'M dying consumption Judge,
and | know that any ruling made by the
law can have ,ut Ettle effect on me;''
and she coughed "a hollow, hacking
cough, and drew around her al old black
shawl that she wore. The expression on
changed, but his cyelids dropped and he
did not raise them when the woman
continued: "As say, no man sscan de-
fend me. am too near that awful APP
proach, to pass which we know is ever
lasting death to soul and body. Years
ago | was a child of brightest promise. !
lived with my parents in Kentucky. Way
ward land lighthearted, [ was admired
by all the gay society in the neighbor-
hood. A man came and professed his
love for me. don't say this, Judge, to
excite your sympathy, | have many and
many atime been drawn before courts,
butt never before spoke of my past life"
She coughed again, and caught a flow of
| olcOu III as ~ICllSl1 NlllCL SIG
pressed to her lips. L speak of it now
because this is the last court on earth
before which I will be arraigned. l was
fifteen years old when | fell in love
with the man. My father said he
was bad, but l loved him. He came
again and again, aud when my father
said that he should come no more [ ran
away and married him. My father said
l should never come home again. Ihad
always been his pride and had loved
him so dearly, but he said that l must
never again come to his home-my
home. the home Of my youth and happi-
ness, How l longed to see him.
How I yearned to put my head on his
to drink. He abused me. 1 wrote to
my father, asking him to let me come
home, but the answer that came was,
4 do not know your NV husband died
yes, cursed God and died! Home
less, and wretched, and with my little
boy l went out into the world. MY
child died, and 1 bowed down and wept
over a pauper's grave. I wrote to my
father again, but he answered.: 4
know not THOSE who disobey my com
mandmentP I turned away from that
letter hardened. I spurned my teach
ings. Now l am here"
oeFeral lawyers ruSned onward A
crimson tide flowed from her lips. They
leaned her lifeless head back against
the chair. The old magistrate had not
raised his eyes. "Great God!' said a
lawyer, "he is deadi'
The oma was his daughter.
Heavy Fruit Crop in Prospect.
From the New York Times.
The indications are favorable for one
of the most abundant crops of fruit this
season that has " been gathered in
the Atlantic states. In this state and
New Jersey the fruit trees have not suf-