The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-19
A WILD WESTERN SCsSE.
SQUIRE COLE TAKES POSSESSION
Of FLEMING'S COURT,
Which IL Adjourned Out of Respect
TO His Prefenee-Are We in
Texas or Tennessee!

Judge MADDEN, President OF the Tax.
ing District, will be called upon today
to decide a question that will prob
sbly test his nerve as 1t has never been
tested before. No one who knows the
clear headed eut0crat of the Taxing
District questions for moment his
personal courage or the stict sense of
justice with which he presides over
The Police Court. Today, however, he
will be conf onted with a state Of facts
new to him. He will have before him
terror, a man OF admitted desperate
character, and one who is said to have
killed his man on several occasions,
The officers Of the law have a whole
come regard for him, end do not care
to handle Linn singly. He gem
orally carries a gun" and when
under the influence of liquor
is not svelse to using ii. He
is known as Squire Cole, and is said to
reside few miles from town on the
Horn Lake road. He Is the hero OF
many desperate eIc)unter, snd was
two years or more ago on trial for Car.
rying concealed we apons, but nothing
came of 1t He has Gefed the law fce-
quently, it appears, AID successfully,
too. 1t remains 10 be seen whether
there is justice enough in this
District 10 punish his latest
tscapade as it deserves. About
two months ego, it appears, that
two black scouldrels named Jack and
VIM. Butler, respectively father and
son, were arrested on the complaint
OF Peter Hooper, respectable and
law abiding German citizen, charging
them with the larceny of a hog, as
sault and battery and attempt to COM
NIT murder. L seems that Jack But
Ter stole Hooper's hog, and when the
latter went to Buffers house to search
for it, william, the father, drew
shotgun on I'm and persuaded him to
abuptly terminate his researches. A
warrant was sworn cut September 9th
for the arrest OF the Buffers, but owing
to the interference of Squire Cole" it
was never served until yesterday.
Yesterday, before Justice Fleming.
the Trial began. Squire Cole aud his
two proteges, the elder and younger
Buffers, were present, as was Peter
Hooper, the pro ecutor.
Mr.. A. X. Han cock, an attorney at
law, against whom Squire Cole is
kown 10 have an old grudge, conduct,
ed the prosecution. Nj. Hancock,
when interviewed by on APPEAL re-
porter last night, said:"I was eugrged
in the sse to prosecute the Bntlers.
Tom Cole came into court, apparently
under the il fluenCe Of liquor. He
constantly interrupted the proceedings
and drew bis pistol, which dropped
from bis bands ON the floor. When
with by the Court be
made use of such expressions as "You
can't arrest me-" go on with your
rat killing" etc, and be kept on in
this way until l cav that he was in
timidsting the witnesses and every
body else. so moved the court to adj
journ, which was done acco, dinghy.
Afterward somebody telephoned for
the police and Capt. Hackett and three
policemen came and took Squire Cole
into custody"
SO it appears that the place of all
others where life and llbafty are con-
slider d safest was invaded by DIES.
psrado and the administration OF just
ice postponed until it pleased Mr.
Cole to allow the majesty Of the law
10 assert itself. These are the plain
f6c's. Making every allowance for ex-
statements, there is no
doubt that Cole appeared in a place
over which the majesty OF the law ex-
lends its protecting arms, that he
zane the g armed and desecrated the
temple of justice by his lawlegs con-
duct. There can bs no dispute about
he facts a drz9n Witnesses will
swear to them. 1t remains to be seen
that sort Of thing can be done
with impunity in the city of Memphis
simply because the perpetrator is a
Dad man and desperate. The pub
ic will await the issue with anxiety,
put with confidence that justice will
De done without regard to considera.
ions OF personal safety.
Since the above was written it has
d en- brought to light that Cole is
/ depu y sheriff. This only adds 10
he enormity Of bis offense. He
Ihould be stripped Of his commission,
Is we as sent to ioil.