The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-04

A Chief-Justice struggling apparently
for his life with Galway Squire in
crowded railway carriafe for the pos
session of a loaded rite T. n lively Incl
dent, sufficiently uniquA of it, kind,
even in Ireland, to warrant notice. IL
came about in this wav: The Chief
Justice of the Court Of Common
Pleas, who was going through the
Connaught Circuit as one Of the
Judges Of ,AsSize entered a first
class railway carriage the other
day at the town Of MuIln@ar, where he
had just finished the criminal business
for that district An unexpected class
of work here turned up for his lortlship.
In this carriage was seated a gentleman
with a rifle between bis legs. This
gentleman, as it subsequently, turned
out, was a DIR. Isdore Burke, the
brother of a Mr.. Walter NJ. Burke, who,
when Notwithstanding was sort OF
popular patriotic pastime in the West
of Ireland, was popped at by some
peasants from behind ditch and shot
dead. This unluclSy landlord was at
the time driving his Gig along Gle road,
and seated at the rear OF the vehicle
was a dragoon, carving loaded car
bine who was detailed as a special
escort to Mr.. Burke, who was known
to be a "marfed men" Another
bullet from behind the hedge lodged in
the head of the poor Dragon, who was
also killed on The spot. Dr. Isadore
Burke, who is now in possess, on of the
property of his murdered brother, has
had his life threatened, and, according
to the practice which has prevailed
very largely among landlords in the
West, be brings his rife about with
him everywhere he goes. He carries a
rifle instead of a revolver, because the
former may have 3 deterrent effect on
an intending assassin and also because
it is comfortable to be able to return q
long shot if the marksman who initiates
the firing should miss his aim When
the Chief-Justice, who wore the tall
hat and frock-coat of civil life and was
not recognized as one of her Majesty
Judges, took his scat. he found himsel!
looking down the long barrel of q rifle
which was reposing he Ween the knees
Of the opposite passenger. The Judge
instinctively removed his head into
corner of the carriage, and something
like the following dialogue passed
between him and the proprietor of the
rife: MAY | ask you, sill" asked the
Judge, If that gun between your LEGS
is loaded?" Yes, sir" replied the
landlord promptly, sit is loaded" ant
he trifed tenderly with the trigger
Then, sir said the Judge, Il obiec
to travel in a carriage with loaded fire
arms in that case, sir reioined The
landlord, ''you are at liberty to leave
the carriage" Whereupon the Judge
proceeded to expound the law bearing
on the carrying Of loaded firearms il
public conveyances under circumstance:
dangerous to the lives of travellers
thereby, and he formally requisitionec
the landlord to remove fhe gun. TIL,
latter irreverentlv remarked: Fiddle
sticksn' Then the Judge seized thu
barrel Of the rifle, ehucking it under thu
nose of an elderly lady, who divet
beneath the seat for safety AMI shouted
for the police. The Judge and tn,
landlord struggled for the possession o
the rife SO recklessly that it seems ,
miracle it didn't go Off and create .
vacancy on the Irish Bench. A police
man who was on the platform rushed
up under the impression that Wilfu
murder was being perpetrated in tn
carriage. The Constable made tn
contending parties known to eacl
other, and then the landlord let go hi
end Of the rifle. which was taken b,
the Judge, who handed it to the guart
of the train, who put it away in tn
luggage-van. -Dab}in Cor N. Y. Times