The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-12-16
LAW IND RATTLESNAK
A Wild Tale in Which Whisky, Revolv-
ers, and Ingratitude Play Their Part.


A Wild Tale in Which whisky. RevoIv-
ers, and Ingratitude Play Their Part.
About fifteen years ago set up shop
as lawyer in young town in Nebras-
ka, and the very first case that came to
me was one to delight lawyers heart,
saws writer in the New York sun. An
aged woman named Mary Sharon had
decided all her property to her son Will
liam, on the understanding that he was
the rest of her life. After a year or two
he became anxious to get rid of her, be-
ing vigorously encouraged by his wife,
and matters were 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 hunger
and exposure While she had copy of
the agreement, drawn in legal form and
good evidence in a suit none of the five
or six lawyers in town would take her
case for fear of the sou. William had
given out that he would Kill any lawyer
who meddled with the case, and he had
the record of being desperate, revenge
full man. When the mother came to me
she frankly warned me that | must look
out for Bill, but when l had looked into
the case / determined TO become her
counsel, Bill or no Bill. My first move
way to send for the son, to see if he de-
sired 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 be-
!, y. IL
mother, me, the law, and all else. and
wound up with:
Now, then, you 60 ahead. The min
ute you make trouble for me I'll make
corpse of you"
'.And now you look here" | answer
ed, as | brought six-shooter to cover
his head, I'm in this case to the bitter
end, and whenever you feel like shoot
ing don't wait for me to begin"
Bill was a boaster and coward. He
turned white as flour and became as
humble as lamb. He went out of the
office like cur. but l knew the feeling
raging in his heart, and | realized that
he would bring about my death if 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 he
had another plan to work on. We had
sure case, as his friends informed me,
out he was determined to buster it out.
My office was over a store, and reach
ed by outside stairs. There wa a front
and back room, and the latter. | be-
ing a bachelor, was used for my bed
room. 1t was the fashion to leave all
doors open during the day, and when |
left my office on an errand, or to 90 to
court, it was not locked. When it be-
came known around that had taken
Mrs. Sharon's case and bluffed her son
Bill | had plenty of small business to
look after, and was much of the time
IN the justices courts.
One day just before the big suit was
to come to trial went into court on an
ordinary suit and was detained three or
four hours. The office was left open as
usual. As returned to.t three or four
citizens accompanied me, and as we
reached the foot of the stairs we heard
a terrible yell from the rooms above.
Next moment Bill Sharon came rushing
doNh lAC loIlO" SldlIS udllcSS, ewes
staring from their sockets, and such a
look OF terror on his face as ! never saw
before or since. He rushed past Us,
snrieking and yelling, and it was only
when he was clear of Us that we made
out the horrible truth. Two great rat
tlesnakes were hanging to him-one by
the right wrist and the other by the
right leg. They squirmed and twisted
and Topped as he ran, and his screams
and ordinations brought out the wkole
town. He ran about block and then
lay down In the street and rolled over
and over, and the snakes let 90 of him
and were killed as they crawled away.
Bill had been bitten in three places,
The only antidote suggested was whisky,
and a good two quarts were poured
down him without tle slightest relief.
1t did not in the least stupefy him nor
quiet his excited condition, and in an
hour he was dead-his bloated BODY
and purple face presenting horrible
sight. 1t did not take much headwork
to discover how it all came about. Bill
wanted revenge on me, and his plan
was to leave the rattlesnakes in my bed
room. He had taken them there in 4
box after seeing that the coast was clear,
and had dumped them out on the floor.
The box was there to prove it. In his
haste to 60 be gone he had been care
less, and as the serpents were loosened
they turned on him and fastened their
fangs in his flesh. 1t was retribution,
but none of us could help but pity his
horrible fate.