Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1884-12-19

How he Tanned Despsrado Dspaty-
Marshal.


louisville Timesl
81 was glad 70 see Judge Finley sc-
Quilted p said an old lawyer ia the Gus
to1n-houss this morning "Finley IS q
fine fellow; a thorough partisan, it is
true, and Of Gery passions, but as brave
as a lion, a true friend and a sincere party
man. happened 70 know Finley when be
was District Attorney. He had his Office
Ia this building, and 1 really believe that
with bat one exception be didn't have
friend here. All the Office holders were
jealous Of him. His one friend was Col
Onei Buckner. who was then Internal
Revenue Collector. Colonel Buckner knew
Finley and his father. He served ia the
Legislature with one or both Of them, and
had a great admiration for the manly
qualities and warm heart Of the Judge.
AT the time speak of John Wyatt was
a Deputy Marshal Everybody here
knows John Wyatt, the most recklessly
and desperately brave man that ever
pulled a trigger. He was the terror Of
all the lawless spirits in the mountains
and was as daredevil a man as ever
hreathed. / don't know, and probably no
one knows how many men he killed.
Well, Jack Wyatt, for some reason or
other, took dislike TO the District Attor
ney which he took no pains To conceal.
Finley said nothing, and Wyatt grew bold
er. One morning Finley moved the Court
that Wyatt bs dismissed from his position
for drunkenness and for reckless shooting
at innocent people. This, OF course, great
ly incensed Wyatt.
Zone day Finley went TO see Colonel
Buckner, and told him of Wyatt's conduct
You know, Colonel said he, Il am no
coward; but want to uphold the dignity
of my position, and don't care TO get into
tronble with any one. Now, what shall l
dol'
"'Well,' replied Colonel Buckner, Il
would advise you TO protect yourself
against the insults or attacks of any ruff
han'
''Finley never said word, but marched
out He walked up TO his own Office and
sat down. Then he went down into his
inside pocket and drew out knife, about
two feet in length and a couple of inches
broad, and slowly and deliberately began
to sharpen it by rubbing it on his boot.
When the KIN fe was satisfactorily sharp
sned Finley placed it on the table beside
him, and, leaning back in his chair, waited
for his ehemy TO appear.
sin few minutes Jack Wyatt, with a
pistol protruding from his pocket swag-
gered in. He slammed the door after him,
and started in an insolent, aggravating
way at Finley.
"sGet out of this room,' said the district
attorney, calmly.
Il would like to see you put me out, you
blank blanked blankety blank" roared
Wyatt.
What followed Wyatt used to tell him.
self:
Before I knew where l was, or what l
was doing, Finley had sprang over the
table, seized me by the throat and dashed
one 10 the floor. l was no more in his
hands than chicken. / saw a long knife,
the very longest it seemed to me, that /
had ever seen, flash before my eyes like a
CLEAN of sunshine, and then his knee was
pressing on my chest with terrible force.
With his left hand he forced my head back
until my neck was >as .taut as a fiddle
string, andswith his right he pressed the
knife against my windpipe. l wouldn't
have given two cents for my life. l felt
the cold steel pressing against my throat,
and every instant expected to be killed.
I couldn't saream if l wanted to. l lay in
this position for an age, when Finley
hissed out through his teeth: IF you bat
an evelid, you blanked scoundrel, Pl cut
your blanked throat like would a
snakes" And you bet was scared to
ally. When he let me up / swore l would
never bother him any more, and | never
have
''And from that time on" said the old
lawyer, Judge Finley had easy sailing"