The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-22
AToM8sToNE COURT.
"He'd Oughter Chnweti n Head on that
Tendcrfoot."

SHe'd OuEhtof CnhNeu tue menu oh thht
Tenderfoot."
STOCKTON (Cdll Herald.
"When l was practicing down at Tomb
stone" said the lawyer, "a friend OF mine
had his ear Ohewed OF n evening in a
dispute with a prominent citizen who dealt
faro. After seeing the doctor he came 10
me, and under my advice he had the pro.
minent citizen arrested on the charge OF
MAYHEM. Next day we had the man up
for his preliminary examination. My
friend was there with his head bandaged,
aud 10 were the prominent citizens and his
counsel, and the friends Of both parties.
The general public-and it's q pretty
tough general public in Tombsione-crow-
ded the court room. The hour went by,
but the Justice didn't turn up. The con.
stable went out TO look for him, but couldn't
find him in any Of the saloons. W"
SCI ted round for half an hour, but ne y
n sign OF the coHFt=turaed up. Finally,
Gen. 0'Brien, the leader Of the Tombstone
bar, stuck his head up through a trap door
in the floor aud said IN d solemn way:
"'Gentlemen, remove your hats. His
honor is here And he dragged the court
M by the collar. He was timber drunk
and had been sleeping it oil ia the cellar.
You never saw such Il lopg adjournment
from decenCy as that ornament oil the
bench was. He was covered with dirt,
and even his hair and beard were cioCk
full of sawdust. There was, | remember, Il
hattened quid OF tobacco on his cheek
bone. We had to hold his honor under
each arm as we led him TO the nearest
b~arbershop. A bath and a shampoo
brought back some life to him, and he was
able to walk without help TO the court
room. Once in the chair behind his high
desk be looked all right and we went on
with the case: We had taken the testi:
mony of three witnesses to the row and
subsequent chewing OF my friends ear on
the Excelsior faro parlors, when Gen.
0'Brien and Col. Stephens, both on the
other side, jumped up and objected to one
OF my questions. 1t was a law point and
we argued and quoted authorities for half
an hour. II was a pretty hot set.to, and
we were all on our feet when we finished
and turned round to the court for q ruling.
He was looking straight before him up
above US as though he was sleeping with
his eyes open.
"'Your honor said the general, after a
long pause, we are waiting Tor your rul-
ing.'" /,
There was no answe Then 1 Clipped
In with:
"'Your honor, will you be god enough
to give us your ruling?''"
"'wash tha'?' he said, trying to bring
his eyes to bear upon me,
"'We want your ruling"
"'Court's a'journed,'" he said, trying to
rise.
1--WE all protested, but his only answer
was to strike his desk with his fist and cry
ont again that the court was adjourned.
won't you fix the bail Of this defend.
ant?' demanded the general.
"'Now, shir,' said the court, who had
got on his feet by this time, and was frown.
ing heavily. Turn i'm loose. He'd
oughter chawed tue head of that tender.
foot, that's what he'd oughter done
"iWell, gentlemen, what do you think
the court did dext? He just deliberately
staggered over to the trap door, lifted 1t,
stepped down the stairs until only his head
and shoulders we're above the floor and
then pausisg to glare at the paralyzed
crowd OF US, growled out:
"'Yes u all go to-.
"With that he ducked and let the door
fall, and 1 suppose had his sleep out On the
dirty floor Of the cellar"