The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-02-12
judge Lynch.

''Ddd Lne original Judge on dreaO1uI famo
ever live herep' l asked.
Eyes, he did," replied the old gentle
man, with Frightening eyes that re-
vealed delight in the topic. Judge
Lynch might fairly be called the founder
of the city, and it makes me angry to
see all these newspaper stories, not only
locating him in other States, but con-
demning his mode of procedure as in
famous and brutal"
Then you believe in the summary
method of dealing with sinful menp'
"Not SO fast, young lady, not so
fast" said the fine old Virginian,
smiling. II will tell you the story just
as had it from my grandfather, who
was proud of his acquaintance with that
shrwed ferryman who wiped the crime
of horse-stealing, for which the State
was growing famous, right out Why,
Virginians were notorious for their love
of other mems cattle, and even taught
the trade of acquiring them to the
Cherokees and Chfckasaws, much to the
disgust and shame of the better class of
citizens"
when was thisp" queried your COR
respondent.
''Not long before the Revolutionary
war, and at that time there were quite a
number of that splendid race, the
Scotch-Irish, settled here. Shrewd and
brave, cautious yet daring, dashing but
prudent, honest and energetic. Every
man of them proved great blessing to
the settlement, and not few became
famous, such as General Andrew Jack
son, James X. Polk, John Calhoun,
Sam Houston, David Crockett, Robert
Fulton, Patrick Bronte, and, later,
Robert Bonner, A. T. Stewart and Hor-
ace Greeley. These names come most
readily to mind, but there is still another
generation of them, including President
Arthur and James G. Blaine"
''And the Lynchesp'' ventured.
"Were from the same stalwart stock,
and settled in Prince William County
There were four boys in the family; and
one of them, John Lynch, was bright,
quick young fellow, and remarkably
courageous. One day in rambling about
the James River he found gap in the
mountains on either side of the water
which it struck him would make cap
ital crossing point for travellers, and
forthwith he drove his proprietary
stake, and shortly after, with few logs
and an old scow, established print
tive ferry. The horse thieves were
among the first to take advantage of the
new convenience, and young Lynch,
himself scrupulously honest, was dis
gusted and Inundated at having to take
them across. At this time the country
vryo0 oil VII
and jails far apart. The evil continued
to increase; finally the ferry became
the favorite means of escape for the
stock stealers, and John Lynch,
thoroughly aroused, proposed to put an
end to It.
what could he do single-handedP"
"Well, I will tell you what he actually
did. He applied to the Governor Of
Virginia for a commission to act as JUS
tice of the Peace. His reputation for
honesty and good Judgment were De-
yond doubt, and his commission was
granted. He was qualified, and became
Judge. The first use he made of his
power was to appoint some special con-
stables and engage few sharp detect
ives. They at once began work. with
such success that gang after gang were
captured"
'.Did they have no trislP''
Eyes. They were brought before
Judge Lynch, and he never acted until
he was positive of their guilt, and his
knowledge of the men and country was
an immense advantage to him."
''f he found them guilty he would,
according to the law, require a good
bond, which, of course, in those DAYS, a
thief could never get and when that
form was complied with, would start
them off well guarded to some far away
jail. The constables knew what the
order to march meant, and as soon as
they found themselves in thick wood,
chose a stout tree, and, a good rope,
which they carried, created a temporary
scaffold from which the horse thieves
quickly dangled. Hanging was the legal
punishment for horse stealing in those
days, but the promptness and dispatch
with which Judge Lynch melted out jus.
tice at their very door terrorized the
evil-doers of the country, and between
those he hung and those who fed, in two
years there was not horse thief in Vir-
GINA
And what became of Judge Lynchp"
He continued to live near the ferry,
round which large village grew up
under the name of Lynch's Forty, and
not until long after his death did it be-
come Lynchburg. During his life lynch
law was honored and upheld, but since
; then it has altogether lost its original
character and meaning. Now, as l
understand it, it is merely the infuriated
impulse of rough mob, who, without
waiting fer the law at hand to prove in
nocence or guilt, decide on it according
to their own inclination and take a life
perhaps more s-hlemised bhan their
own. Nc" con- &ed the gentleman,
John Lynch did his State a service in
ridding it of a lot of miscreants, who,
but for him, were out of the reach of the
law, but were he living no one would be
quicker than he to resent this barbar-
Gus mob fashion of putting man to
sudden death, when the law. the courts,
the prison and scaffold are close at hand
to mete out justice and punishment. -
Lyachburg ia. Letter.
Snake shooting is all the rage in
CoDOaoticuf Small ,-fHor ava ,,.Sl E.