The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-04-01
A STERN JUSTICE

4 81 Elm JtDllNh
Holds his Lat Coart-Father, the Judge
and Daughter, the Criminal, Appealing TO
the lar OF usAven-Ons of Opis Reed =
Charming sketches.
Old Judge Grepson, a justice OF the peace
was never known to smile. lie came to
Arkansas before "carpet- beggars" began
their reckless sway, and year after year, by
the voice Of the people, he held his place rs
magistrate. The lawyers Who practioed in
his court never jokel with him, because
they soon learned the old man never en-
gagged Ia ieyily. Every morning, no matter
how bad the weather, the old man took his
place behind the bar, which, with his own
hands be had made, and every evening just
at certain time he closed his books and went
home No one ever engaged him IN prl-
yate conversation, because he would never
talk TO any one. No one ever went to his
! home, little cottage among the trees IN
the outskirts OF the city, because he had
never shown = disposition to make wei
come the visits OF even those who lived in
|
given him through the influence OF
| "electiOneering, because he never
asked any man for his vote. lie was first
elected because having been once sum
moned before a court OF arbitration he ex-
| htbited the executive side of such a legal
mind that the people nominated and elected
| him. He soon gained the name of the
head Justice aud every lawyer in Ar
| kansas referred to his decisions. His rul-
| inss were never reversed bv the higher
courts. lie showed no sentiment in deCis-
| ion. lie stood upon the platform of law
which he made n study, and no man dis
puted him
Several days ago woman charged with
misdemeRnor was arraigncd before him.
| THE old man seems more than ever I'M
| steady, remarked lawyer, rs the magis-
trate took his seat, II don't understand
/ how man 10 old can stand the veSation OF
a court life much longer"
i 81 am not well TODAY, said the Judge
| turning to the lawyers aud any cases that
/ you may have YOU will please dispatch
/ them to the best, and let me add, quickest
Of your ability.
Everyone saw that the old man was un
| usually feeble and no one thought OF s
scheme 10 prolong q discussion all the
| Judges had learned to almost reverence
! him.
as this the woman" asked the iudpc
WHO is defending her?'
81 have no defense, your honor said
! the woman. an fact do not thinl; that
need any, for | am here to confess my
guilt No man can defend me, and sh(
! looked at the magistrate with q curiou,
| gaze, 81 have been arrested on q charge O.
! disturbing the peace, and am willing Il
! submit my case. | am dying of conyump
! non, Judge, and know that any rulinr
made by the law can have but little effect
on me- and she coughed hollow, VA
cant cough, and drew around heI
an old black shall that she Wore. The ey
preston on the face Of the magistrate no
manned the same, but his lids drooped and
he did not raise them when the woman
| continued: And say no man can de
fend me. / am too near that awful an
proach which to pass we know is certain
lasting death to soul and body. Years az,
| was child OF brightest promise. | liyet
with my parents in Kentucky. Waywar,
and light hearted, was the admired of nj
the gay society of my neighborhood. A
man came and protested his love for me
uoh' I say this, Judge, to excite your sym
pathy; nave, many and many a time
been drawn before the courts, but | neye
spoke otmy past liie.n She coughed agail
and caught flow of blood on her handker
ohiel, winch she pressed 80 her lips. :"
SPEAK OF 1t now because | know this i
me last court on earth before which will
DC arraigned' l was 10 years old when
married this man. My father said he wa
bad but / loved him. lie came again an,
again, and when my father said he Shout,
aud married him. Ny father said
should ever come home again, | had nj
/ ways been his pride, and loved him 3,
dearly but he said l must never come I,
/ his hcme-Ay hOmo-the home OF M,
! youth and happiness. How longed 10 SO,
MN. How yoarncd to put my head mo,
ms breast. My husbond became addicte,
! To- dunk. lie abused me. | wrote to m,
| iA'her, asking him 10 let me come home
/ put the answer that came was, II do no
know YOU My husband died-yes, cursed
tod aud died. Homeless and wretched
ana with my little boy, went out into IN,
world MY child died and / bowed dow
ana Wept over pauper's grave. | wrot,
10 my father again, but he answered. ii
| know not thosewho disobey my command
ments" | turned away from that letter
hardened | embraced sin. rn,bed
madly INTO vice, | spurned my TEACHINGS
! | was tlDe and again arrested. Now / nm
| here -''" AM
several lawyers rushed forward, A Grim.
son tlde lowed from her lips. They leaned
! her lltelesS form against Il chair. The Old
magistrate had not raised his eyes "Grcai
uod!' said a lawyer, "he is dead IN,
woman washis daughtcr,-[ Arkansaw Tray