The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-10-14
rHE Bitter BIT.
"A Wild Tale in Which Revolvers, Rattle
snakes and Ingratitude Play Parts.


A wild Tale in Which Revolvers. Rattle-
snakes and Ingratitude Play Parts.
About fifteen years ago set up shop
as lawyer in a young town in Nebras-
ka, and the very first case that came to
me was one to delight lawyers heart;
An aged woman named Mary Sharon
had decided all her property to her son
William, on the understanding that he
was to support her and do-so-and-so
during the rest of her life. After year
or two he became anxious to get rid OF
her, being vigorously encouraged by
his wife, and matters we're made so hot
for the old lady that she could no longer
stay in the house. Indeed, she was
turned out of it, and but for the charity
of neighbors would have died of hum
ger and exposure. While she had
COPY of the agreement, drawn in legal
| form and good evidence in suit, none
| of the five or six lawyers in town would
take her case for fear of the son. Will
| liam had given out that he would kill
| any lawyer who meddled with the case,
! and he had the record of being des-
| perate, revengeful man. When the
| mother came to me she frankly warned
| me that must look out for Bill, but
when had looked into the case de-
termined to become her counsel, Bill or
no Bill. My first move was to send for
the son, to see if he desired to carry
out his agreement, He came into my
Office in a staggering, defiant way,
having a revolver buckled to him and
three drinks of whisky behind his vest
buttons. He cursed the mother, me.
the law and all else, and wound up with:
| ..Now. then, you go ahead. The
minute you make trouble for me I'll
make corpse of you.'
..And now you look here" l answer
ed, as 1 brought six.shooter to cover
his head. I'm in this case to the bit
ter end, and whenever you feel like
shooting don't wait tor me to begin"
Bill was boaster and coward. He
turned white as -four and became as
humble as lamb He went out of the
office like cur, but knew the feeling
raging in his heart, and realized tha
. he would bring about my death it he
could do it with safety to himself.
had the proper papers served and the
suit opened. Bill made his threats and
, boasts, but kept clear of me, expected
! he would fill up some day and come in
to town for shooting scrape, but h
l | had another plan to work on. We ha'
a sure case, as his friends informed me
but he was determined to bluster
out.
NV office was over store, and reach
ed by outside stairs. There was iron
and a back room, and the latter, bein
a bachelor, was used for my bedroom
It was the fashion to leave all door
> open during the day, and when lei
!. nv office on an errand, or to go
|, court, it was not locked. When it bt
+ came known around that had take
!. Mrs. Sharon's case and bluffed her so
= Bill had plenty of small business
look after, and was much of the time
the Justices courts.
One day just before the big suit WI
n to come to trial went into court on a
ordinary suit and was detained three
"a four hours. The Office was left ope
i as usual. As I returned to it three
# four citizens accompanied me, and
:. we reached the foot of the stairs
,f heard a terrible yell from the room
c. above. Next moment Bill Sharon can
rushing down the narrow stairs hatles
to eyes staring from their sockets, al
such a look of terror on his face as
It never saw before or since. He rush'
it past us, shrieking and yelling, and
N was only when he was clear of US tn
s. we made out the horrible truth. i,
great rattlesnakes were hanging to hi
es lone bv the right wrist and the 9th
To- by the right leg. They squirmed a
of twisted and Topped as he ran, and
screams and exclamations brought
,r- the whole town. He ran about bio
as and then lay down in the street a
he rolled over and over, and the snakes
SO 90 of him and were killed as th
BE crawled away.
.st Bill had been bitten in three plac
The only antidote suggested was whisl
ed and a good two quarts were pou,!!
on down him without the slightest rell
at 1t did not in the least stupefy him
'th quiet his excited condition, and in
its hour he was dead-his bloated DC
ul- and purple face presenting horrl
VI sight. 1t did not take much headwt
to discover how it all came about
wanted revenge on me, and his P
eld was to leave the rattlesnakes in my b
room. He had taken them there i
en-. box after Seeing that the coast '
clear, and had dumped them out on
floor. The box was there TO prove
Ie- l In his haste to be gone he had b.
loi careless, and as the serpents were lo
ensd they turned on him and taste!
sh their fangs in his flesh. 1t was retri
oof ton, but none of us could help but