The Irish standard., 1886-11-27
GOOD SHERIFF JOHN.
Curious Episodes in the Career
of Georgia Officer.
Sheriff Johns Courage and His Hatred OF
Every Thing Cruel and Mean-How He
Defended Poor Man-Summary
Punishment of Tramp.
ATLANTA {Ga.) Constitut;on.]

Cl1ng IOf him TO go so far as to sell out his
debtors property He generally held OF
to his judgment and gave the defendant
time to pay up little by little. In one in
stance, however, creditor made Sheriff
John levy on little farm, the wagon
mules, hoes, plovvs, furniture and kitchen
utensils When the sale day arrived Johr
took the creditor back of the court house
and said:
"Do you want me to sell that prop
erty?'
''Yes, and mighty quick, too. I'm bound
to have the money"
''Well, you are i'll mean business" said
John, drawing himself ND to his full height
and looking down at the other with ewes
that fairly biazed.
Il only want my own" was the reply
''can't man nave his own?"
':Look here,' snapped the sheriff, :sthat's
all rot, and you:.knowit You know that the
man who is always bowling about getting
bis own don't care it he gets a slice that
don't belong to him. Now. look at this
case. No claim filed, no affidavit Of ille-
gality, no homestead. What does that
show? Don't it show that the man is hon.
est. Such 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 business" responded the
irritated plaintiff. IL amt going to be
cheated out of my just dues by a lazy, tri-
fling rascal"
He said no more. Sheriff Johns iron
hand was ON his throat.
'1'll knock your fool head off your
shoulders if you don't take that back, -
said John, i'll his grim, cool way. |'You
shan't speak of an honest and unfortunate
man in that style"
The bewildere;l man apologized and re-
tracted
e'Now," continued the sheriff, with the
very devil in his eye, 'Syou know me, and
you know what I think about this Is this
matter to be pressed any further? sim
ply ask you, with your knowledge of me
and the way feel about it, do you order
NE to make tue sale?'
Sale! Why. no; l don't care about
forcing q sale. All wanted was judg-
naent Just wanted to scare him up lit
tie, you know. I'm willing to let it run
on, and let him pay me when be can"
II thought you would listen to reason.''
said John. II knew there wouldn't be any
sale.'
And the two walked back to the crowd
with serene faces, and with nothing to in
dictate that there had been any unpleasant
ness between them.
Tie greatest trial that Sheriff John ever
had to undergo was when a young MAJ
was convicted Of murder and sentenced t.
death. 1t looked very much like q case Of
self-defense, and John took that view of it.
After court adjourned he tried to ease his
mind by thrashing three OF the jurors.
The other nine were prudent enough to
hide out, and thus the peace of the commu-
nifty was not a-armingly disturbed. AS the
day set for the execut tion approached John
grew desperate and gloomy. He spent ev
cry afternoon sitting in the jail talking
with his prisoner, who at that time was the
only inmate. The Jail stood in lonely
place. and at that season Of the year (mid-
summer) was not visible from any house
ON account Of the foliage of intervening
trees. As the two sat there with the door
wide open the prisoner frequently re-
marked that it would be easy to make a
successful break for liberty.
s'You could do it powerful easy" as
sented Sheriff John. You could get clean
out Of town before I could raise the
alarm, because ] am lame, and II
shouldn't be surprised at any time
if / had fit. Likely as not if you
should take run the excitement would
prostrate me for an hour or two. Then
you would get to your uncle's, you know
and he would put you on horse, and you
would go through the hill country and get
to the mountains, Why, you'd get off,
dead certain.n
Then the prisoner would puff away at
his pipe and would go off into a brown
study. Two days before the time for the
execution Sheriff John told the condemned
man that he would go down town and get
some tobacco.
''1'll leave the door open SO you can get !
tho fresh air." said he, with downcast eyes,
and then he went OFF whistlin2 merrily. lie
was gone an hour, and when he returned !
;he prisoner was in his usual place, John
gave him some tobacco and growled:
We'll, of all the big fools, you are the
oiggestp'
Then he locked the door and sadly and
slowly made his way homeward. The day
before the one appointed for the hangins
. pardon came, and the happy sheriff
1ugged every man, woman and child he
net on the main street. without regard
% race or color In fact his jubilation
vas so noisy and covered so much terri
ory that the recipient Of the pardon was
llmost entirely forgotten.
One day when a tramp was caught steal
ng box of sardines from store, Sheriff
John was called in to take him in charge
"Mebbe he's hungry said John, doubt
ully.
Mot bit of it,n answered the mer-
hant II gave him good dinner and
quarter and plug OF tobacco. Now, wi.
-ou arrest himl"
"No, I'll be burned if / do," exclaimed
he sheriff. "The law is too good for the
Ike of him. iii just kick the low-down,
d-for-nothing cuss out of town.
He was as good as his word. he booted
he fellow out of the store, and followed
i'm until the fugitive crossed the town
imitS
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