Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-09-02
GOOD SHERIFF. JOHN.
Curious Episodes in the Career
Of a Georgia Officer.
Sheriff Johns Courage and His Ha-
tired of Everything Cruel and
Mean-HOW He Defended a
Poor Man-Summary r
Punishment of o
Tramp.
GAtlanla (Ga3 Constitution. !


the defendant time to pay up little b!
little. In one instance, however, /;
creditor made Sheriff John levy on &
little farm, the wagon, mules, hoes
plows, furniture and kitchen utensils
When the sale day arrived, John took
the creditor back of the cOurt-houst
and said /:
DO you want me to sell that proper
ty p
Yes, and mighty quick, too. In
bound to have the money!
We'll, you are in mean business,
said John, drawing himself up TO hi:
full height, and looking down az the
other with eyes that fairly blazed. +s.1.
Il only want my own was the reply
can't man have lis OWE p
Look here snapped the sheriff,
that's all rot, and you know it. You
know that the man who is always howl
ing about getting his own don't care il
he gets slice that don't belong to him.
Now, look at this case. No claim filed,
no affidavit of illegality, no homestead.
What does that show I? Don't it show
that the man is honest. Such a man
won't trick you. He's as good as gold.
You know what has kept him behind
a sick family and bad crops. If you
sell him out you ruin him. If you wait
you'll get your money. My advice is
to wait
You can just let up, Sheriff John.
and mind your own bnsiness,' respond
ed the irritated plaintiff. Il amt 60
ing to be cheated out of my just dues
by lazy, trifling rascal
He said no more. Sheriff Johns
iron hand was on his throat.
'I'll knock your fool head off your
shoulders if you don't take that back,
said John, in his grim, cool way. You
shan't speak of an honest and unfortu.
nate man in'that style
The bewildered man apologized and
retracted.
Now continued the sheriff, will
the very devil i'll his eye, you know me
and you know what l think about this
Is this matter to be pressed any fur
ther ? l simply ask you, with YOU
knowledge of me and the way feel a
bout it, do you order me to make The
sale p
Sale Why, no 1 don't care about
forcing sale. All wanted was judge
ment. Just wanted to scare him up ;
little, you know. Pm willing to let i
ran on, and let him pay me when hC
can.'
Il thought you would listen to reas
on said John. Il knew there wouldn'
be any sale.
And the two walked back to the
crowd with serene faces and with moth
ing to indicate that there had been any
unpleasantness between them.
The greatest trial that Sheriff Johr
eyer had to undergo was when a young
man was convicted of murder and sen
fenced to death. 1t looked very mucl
like a case of self-defense, and Johr
took that view of it. After court ad
journed he tried to ease his mind 10y
thrashing three of the jurors. The 9th,
er nine were prudent enough to hide
out, and thus the peace of the cOmmu.
nifty was not alarmingly disturbed. AS
the day set for the execution approach
ed John grew desperate and gloomy
He spent every afternoon sitting in the
jail talking with his prisoner, who a.
that time was the only inmate. The
Jail stood in lonely place, and at that
season of the year midsummer wa:
not Visible from any house on account
of the foliage of intervening trees. AS
the two sat there with tile door wide
open the prisoner frequently remarked
that it would be easy to make success
full break for liberty.
You could do it powerful easy,' as
sented Sheriff John. You could get
clean out of town before l could raise
the alarm, because L am lame, and
shouldn't be surprised at any time if
had fit. Likely as not if you should
take run the excitement would pros
trate me for an hour or two. Their
you would get to your uncle's, you
know, ,and he would put you on horse
and you would go through the hill.coun
try and get to the mountains. Why
you'd get off dead certain
Then the prisoner would puff away
at his pipe and would go off into ;
brown study. Two days before th'
time for the execution Sheriff John told
the condemned man that he would 81
down town and get some tobacco.
'I'll leave the door open so you cal
get the fresh air. said he, with down
cast eyes ,and then hewent off whistlln!
merrily. He was gone an hour, an(
when he returned the prisoner was il
his usual splace. John gave him SOM
| tobacco and growled
well, of all the big fools, you are tin
biggest y