The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-03-03
\ Case of judicial Firmness.

what NAV best be called local in
fiuences. If = Judge belongs to
one faction, or owes his election to q
particular party, his oDponents at
once declare their inab ity % receive
fair treatment at biz ha.os. 10 one
of the counties where scores had
been killed who belonged to oppos-
posing factions, and where houses
were barricaded and the law aban-
doned. where women and children
were armed, and the extermination
OF the entire population a matter OF
early possibility, the governor re-
quested Judge William L. Jackson,
of the Louisville circuit, to hold
court No body thought the Judge
would comply, but in this they
were mistaken. fer be proceeded at
once to the scene of DlOOdshed,
quietly announced MS presence 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 IN the court
house, with but little exception The
first case, one Of murder, was called.
All the witnesses responded to their
names save one.
" We must have the witness, Mr..
Sheriff. D sAid the court firmly
If your honor pleases, | cant
get him. said the county sheriff
" That's no excuse. sir; haYe him
here without fail in four hours. Let
the court stand adjourned until 2
O'Clock" And as Judge Jackson
finished speaking he arose from the
bench with dignitied ease, calmly
put on his hat. and walked from the
court room alone, to the great as
tOnishmeut of the natives whose
judge would have remained
until certain no enemy was near.
At 2 o'clock court again convened.
"Oh,yes, oh, yes, court is now open,
had scarcely died out, before Judge
Johnson asked sternly: "Mr Sher-
i'd have you brought that witness in
court?"
The Sheriff, answered in the neg
alive, gave as his reason for failure
TO obey the court that be had found
the house of the witness blrricaded
and full of armed mountaineers, who
swore they would bill any man who
tried to enter.
Mr. Sheriff, " said the court very
sharply, such an excuse Is not to
be thought OF, or for u moment en-
tertained. | want the witness here
morning, if you have to
bring him here on a litter Mark
you, sir a failure TO comply on your
part viii compel this court to fine
and imprisOn you to the full extent
Of the law. Do your duty sir.
To say that the natives were as
,onished, does not convey the slight
est idea Of their true feelings All
that afternoon and the next morn
ing there W1s a universal desire to
see the city Judge close, and the
'ellow who shook hands with him
lad all the free drinks he desired
Court opened promptly at 10
,'elook.
Mr.. Sheriff haye you the wit
less p asked the court.
Yes, your honor, hes coming"
A curious sight presented itself
low. Half a dozen stalwart men
carrying another, who was
ne missing witness. One arm hung
imp at his side, a leg refused to do
Is duty, blood trickled from all
,ver his head, and an immense ban
lage concealed one eye.
Stand no, sir, spoke the court.
md, with the aid OF his captors, the
ellow assumed asfair a position as
lis wounds would permit
What do you mean by evading
he law p asked the Judge.
- didn't know that it was your
.ourt. sir. Though they wanted to
axe me to Louisville for mooushiu-
ng. knew as to how there were
deputy marshals about, sir.
Mr. Clerk, said the Judge, ARE
here any United States marshals
lbout, sir"
The clerk said there were and
hat they had warrants for the civil
whereupon he directed the
Sheriff to bring every one Of them
nto court, an order soon complied
with. Eight United States mar
halls faced the court
=" Gentleman began the Judge,
have you warrants fer any of these
witnesses T.
'Yes, sir, for nearly all Of them,
nd four for this chap answered a
MARSHAL, indicating the wounded
nan.
Well. gentlemen. l am holding
ourt here now, and If you interfere
With me in any manner whatever,
II put you all in Jail for a year
very one of you. Let this case be
in
The trial proceeded, and more
followed than bad hap
'ened previously in the life of the
Fhole community of Breathitt.
which is now one Of the best in Ken
ucky. and where capital is now
hiding the richest camel coal in
be world, England not excepted.
Judge Jackson recently went to
.etcher county, at Gov. Knots re-
uest.
"Will YOU need a hundred men ?"
sked local friend of justice who
new the desperate affairs which
ad marked every previous trial of
be accused.
No" thundered the Judge. "this
Ourt is equal to a hundred men
self"
This remark went the rounds like
and during the long trials
Ihich followed, enabled the court
, conduct its own business without
be slightest jar
Millions Of squirrels have been
from Mississippi to the