Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1883-04-04
JUDGE PAYNEs RECENT UNPLEAS-
ANTNESS.

Just before Judge Payne's return with
his family to Hand county from his form
er home in Illinois, several marked copies
of the Chicago Times We're circulated in
this locality containing report OF the
''desperado-like acts of one Ben Payne"
in the town of Colfax, where he got into
one or two rows" finally got cut IN the
head" was taken up and jugged. Those
of us who are personally acquainted with
the Judge saw plainly that the report bore
the ear marks of cur and that whoever
was taking the pains to circulate said copies
of the Times was of the same specie. In
short to those who were acquainted with
certain facts connected with the last
county seat fight, ii was no trouble 20 sur
mise just what brought about the report.
Since Judges arrival home, we have got
his side of the story cOrrobofated by his
home papers, and the sum and substance
CT the whole matter briefly stated is this
During the county seat warfare certain
parties desirous of defeating Mr.. Payne's
aspirationt to the probate judgeship, took
pains to find out certain enemies OF the
Judge at his former home in Illinois, and
by the way the most angelic politician
usually has two or three enemies. They
succeeded in thus procuring two or three
dirty, scurflous epistles which were duly
Didfttt Il oiuti w p''DS 'i'-
credit upon The Judge, and defeat him at
the polls. These letters We're 80 venom
ou5 in their character that they fell fsr
sholT OF their am and the Judge went sail
ing in with QUA majority ut the cleo
tion. We remember however, that alter
the election cer ain ones OF the Judges
friends asked him why he did not 90 back
to Illinois forthwith, hnnt up certain par
ties who wrote the aforesaid letters and
kick them full of holes" We don't re-
,nemner lust what the Judge said but when
he got bone, he kept an eye out for two
certain individuals, one Of them he soon
met and the Judge very properly and un-
ceremoniously proceeded TO mop the
ground with him. The Judge pad his
little So and costs and was congratulated
on every hand for his action in furnishing
the scodadrel The fellow acknowledged
whiting tue letter aud begged Judges par
don for what he had done. Afterwards
While the Judge vas waiting in the post
office with his fither-in Iaw, a brother of
the man he had just stpuafsbed came IN IN
al Intoxicated condition and asked Judges
perilission TO whip him. The Judge de-
clined the fellow insisted aud the twain
Went outside where stood y crowd Of bull
les maay of whoa lae Judge had al some
time prosecuted for selling liquor without
license, or for gambling. The Judge again
very discreetiy withdrew from the scene
and went into the post Office although he
had otfesed to settle the mairer with any
one OF their crowd they might choose.
Soon one OF the number followed into the
post office after the Judge and renewed
his insult. This was more than human
nature could stand and the Judge proceed
ed to punish the fellow. He had no soon
er commenced this however before the
plug nglies outside rushed in, one Of them
throwing weight which struck the side OF
a door near by, glancing and striking the
Judge on his forehead cutting scalp
wouad about an inch and half in length.
He e others interlered OF the melee might
hove proved serious one. We much pIe-
fe. 10 publish the Judges statement, cor
robos atsd as II is by gentlemen who are in
Hand county now who were in Colfsx at
the time OF the little unpleasantness, as
well as by the newspapers OF the same To-
liy. The action of the st. Lawrence
Tribune in the matter is simply low lived
and mean, sucn cowardly cussednesswe did
not expect OF the proprietor OF the Tribune
but his paper merits the highest censure.