Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-01
KRNTUCKY pnspERADOEs.
Judges and District Attorneys who Be
long to Factions.
From the Neto York Times.

is not understood by those who only read
accounts of the crimes committed, has
been the failure on the part of the prose
cutting attorneys and criminal Judges to
do their duty. This failure is 10 be attri-
buted to what may best be called "local
influences" liza judge belongs to one
faction, or owes his election 10 parucu-
lar party. his opponents at once declare
their inability 10 receive fair treatmeh
at his hands and will Eight rather tnan De
tried. In one of the counties where scores
had been killed who belonged to opposing
factions, and where houses were Darrlca-
ded. the law abandoned, where women ana
children were armed, aud the eXtermina-
tion of the entire population matter OF
early posi- bility, the Governor requested
Judge william L. Jackson, of the Louis
vile Circuit. TO hold court Nobody
thought the Louisville Judge would COM
ply, but in this they were mistaken, for
he proceeded forthwith to the scene of
biOOdshed, quietly announced his pres
ence, and made known his mission. These
facts excited the greatest curiosity
throughout the county, and when the
day of trial came on the whole populace
appeared ia the court house with but lit
Tie exception. The first case, one OF muir
der, was called. All the witnesses re-
sp0nded TO their names save one.
CIV must have that witness, Mr.. Sher-
If said the court, firmly.
eff your Honor pleases, / can't get
him." said the county sheriff.
"Thafs no excuse, sir; have him here
without fail in four hours. Let the court
stand adjourned until o'clock"
3 q And as Judge Jackson finished speak
ing he arose from the bench with digni-
fed ease, calmly put on his hat, and
walked from the court room alone, to the
great ast0nishment OF the natives, whose
regular Judge would have remained UNI
til peEleetly satisfied that no enemy was
near. At , O'Clock court again convened.
The bawl Of the Sheriff, "Oh yes, oh yes,
court Is now open," had scarce died out
beiore 1adge jackson asked, sternly;
'mf. Sheriff, have you brought that
witness in courtg'
y The sheriff, answering in the negative,
gave as his reason for failure to obey the
court that he found the house of the wit
ness barrieAded and fun OF armed noun
taineeTs, Tho swOre they would kill any
man who attempted to enter.
"Mr. Sheriff. said the court very sharp
", "sucA an excuse is not to be thought
90 and Will not be entertained. / want
that witness here at 10 O'Clock tomorrow
morning If you have to bring him on a
litter, Mark you, sir, failure to comply
on your part will compel this court to
fine and lmprison you TO the full extent Of
the law. Do your duty, sir.'
To say that the natives were aston
ished does not convey the signtest idea
of their true feelings. All that afternoon
and next morning there was a universal
desire to see the ''city Judge close" and
the fellow who got to shake hands
with him had all the free drinks he de-
sired.
Court opened promptly at 10 O'clock.
MIR. Sheriff, have you that witness 20
asked the court.
s'Y es. your Honor" spoke the Sheriff,
eXcitedly; she's coming"
A curious sight presented itself now.
Half dozen stalwart men appeared car
rying another, who was the missing wit
ness. One arm husg limp at his side, a
leg refused to do its duty, blood trlckled
from ali over his head, and an immense
ban0age concealed one eye.
s'Stand up, sir" spoke the court. and,
with the aid OF his captOrs, the fellow as
sumed as fair an upright position as his
wounds would permit.
"W hat do you mean by evading the
law - asked the Judge.
Il didn't know it was your court, sir.
] thought they wanted to take me to
Louisville for moonshining. | knew as
how there were Deputy Marshals about,
sir.v
"Mr. Clerk,D said the Judge, "are there
any United States Marshals in this sec
ton ~
The Clerk said there were and that
they had warrants for the civil witness,
whereupon he directed the Sheriff to
bring every one of them into court, an Or
der soon complied with. Eight United
States Marshals faced the court.
hoUon tho V,,d,o
8pu warrants for any OF these wit
neeees9a
YES, sir, for nearly all OF them. and
fonf this chap" answered Marshal,
md eattng the wounded man.
"Well, gentlemen, am holding court
here nov. and If you interfere with me in
any manner whatever Pll put YOU all in
jail foE year-eYery one of you. Let
this case begin"
, Toe trial proceeded, and more convic-
tons followed than had happened preyi-
ously IN the whole lie Of the county of
Bfeathitt, which is now one OF the best in
Kentucky, and where capital is now find
ing the richest camel coal in the world,
England not excepted.
n Judge jackson recently went to Letcher
county at Gov. KnOtts request.
''WiH you need a hundred men 20
asked a local friend of Justice who
well knew the desperate affairs which
had marked every previous trial of the ac-
cused.
"No," Numbered the Judge, "this court
Is equal to hundred men itself.o
This remark went the rounds like Wild
ire, and during the long trials which fol-
lowed enabled the court to conduct its
business without the slightest jar.
In dealing with Kentucky feuds the
only thing necessary 20 make peaceable
and good citizens out Of the lawless men
Of the mountains Of Kentucky has been
the need Of men like Judge Jackson.
whose nerve and firmness find respect as
quickly with desperadOes as with peacea.
BILE citizens. Gov. Knott expresses him.
self as much pleased with the manner In
which Judge jackson has conducted court
IN the mountains. i would rather send
him 10 try these lawless people than a
regiment OF soldiers observed the Gov.
ernor in a conversation recently.
There Is no doubt that rigid and decent
prosecution and the slow entrance Of
Eastern and English capital are doing
much TO civilize the desperate mountain
characters Of Tennessee and Kentucky.
but there is another powerful cause al
work. This il the steady adoption OF
temperance laws, nearly 40 out OF us
counties IN Kentucky having within a re-
cent period voted in favor OF local option.
with prospect that more will follow.
One Of the queerest devices for evading a
prohibtory law ever discovered was
recently observed in Wolfe county, Nv.
by a Deputy United States Marshal. II
had been noticed for some time that not.
Mltnstanqing the apparent rigid enforce.