The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-05-15
A Tombstone Justice.

"When I was praoticiug down OF
Tombstone" said the lawyer, 'sa friend
ofmine had his ear chewed off one evening
In dfBput6 with prominent citizen
who dealt faro. After seeing the doctor
he came to me, and under my advice he
had the prominent citizen arrested on
charge OF mayhem. Next day we had
the man up Tor his preliminary exami-
nation. Ny friend was there with his
head bandaged, and SO were the promi-
nent citizen and his counsel, and the
friends Of both parties. The general
public-and it's pretty tough general
public in ombstone-orowded the
courtroom. The hour went by, but
the Justice didn't turn up. The CON-
stable went out to look for HIM, but
couldn't find blm at any saloons. We
secuted round for have half an hour.
but nary a sign of the Court turned up.
Finally, General O'Brien, the leader of
the Tombstone bar, stuck his head up
through a trapdoor in the floor and said
III solemn way
Gentlemen, remove your hats. His
Honor ls here" And he dragged the
Court up by the collar. He was timber
drunk and had been sleeping it off III
the cellar. You never saw such o long
adjournment from decenoy as that Or
nament OF the bench was. He was
covered with dirt, and even his hair
and beard were lchook full of saw
dust. There was, remember, O flat
tened quid Of tobacco on his cheekbone.
We had to hold His Honor under. each
arm as we led hm to the nearest
barber-shop. A bath and shampoo
brought back some lifo to him. and he
was able to walk without help to the
courtroom. Once in the chair behind
his high desk he looked all right and
We went on with the case. We had
taken the testimony of three witnesses
to the row and subsequent chewing of
my friends ear in the Excelsior faro
parlors, when General O'Brien and
Colonel Stephens, both on the other
side, jumped up and objected to one of
my questions. 1t was law point and
we argued and quoted authorities for
about half an hour. It was pretty hot
set to and we were oil on our feet when
finished and turned round to the Court
for ruling. He was looking straight
before hlm up above us as If he was
sleeping with his eyes open.
"Your Honor, said the general, after
q long pause we are waiting for your
ruling
"There was no answer. Then
chlpped in with:
"Your Honor, will you be good en-
ough to give us your rulingT'
"Wash thal?" he said, trying to bring
his eyes to bear upon me.
1--WE want your ruling"
"Court's adjourned" he said, trying
TO rise.
I'VE all protested, but his only an
swer was to strike his desk with his fist
and crv out again that the court was
adjourned.
"Wou't you fz the bail Of this
defendant?" demanded the general.
'No, shir," said the court, who had
got on his feet by this time, and was
frowblsg heavily. "Turn i'm loose. He'd
oughter chawed the head of that tender
foot. that's what he'd oughter DONE"
"Well. gentlemen, what do you think
the Court did next? He just deliber-
ately staggered over to the trap door,
lifted it, stepped down the stairs until
only his head and shoulders were above
the floor, aud then passing to glare at
the paralyzed crowd of us, growled
out:
You can all go
"With that he duck cd and let the
door fail, and 7 suppose had his sleep
out on the dirty floor of tho cellar"