The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-19
LAW AND RATTLESNAKES.
A Wild Tale in which whisky, Re.
vOIvers and Ingratitude Play
Their Part.

Chicago Nelps: About fifteen years
aso l set up shop IS a lawyer in a
young town in Nebraska, and the very
first 50 that came to me was one 10
delight lawyers heart, says a writer
in the New York Sun. An eyed woman
named Mary Sharon had decided all
her properly to her son William, on
the understanding that he was TO cup
port her and do so.and-so during the
TEST Of her life. Alter year or two
he became anxious to get rid of her,
b Jog Wig rous'y encouraged by his
wife, aud matters wer1 MADE 90 hot for
the old lady that she could no longer
stay in the house. Indeed, she was
turned out of it, and bat for the
charity OF neigbbors would have died
OF hunger and exposure. While she
had g copy of thu agreement, drawn
in legal form aud good evi.
den(e in suit, none Of the
five or six lawyers in town
wnu'd take her case for lear OF the son.
William had given out thht he would
kill any lawyer who meddled with the
case, and he had the record OF being
desperate, revengsful mar. When
the mothe, came to me sic frankly
warned me that 1 must lolk out for
Bill, but when / had looked into the
casa / dete mined to become her coun-
sci, Bill or no B Il. My i,st move was
to send for the SOD, to see il ne de-
sired 10 carry out his agreement. He
came iLto my Office in staggering,
defiant way, having arevoIver buckle
to him and three drinks Of whisky be-
hind his vest buttons. He curseI the
mother, me, the law and al else, and
wound up with:
Now, then, you 90 ahead. The
minue you make trouble fer me I'll
make a corpse of you"
sand row you look here" l
answered, as | brought SIX shooter
to cover his head. "I'm in this case
10 the bitter end, and whenever you
feel ike shooting don't wait for me 10
begin"
Bill was boas er and a coward. He
turned white as -four ard became as
humble as lamb. He went out OF
the office like cur, but l knew the
feeling raging in his heart, and l real
lied that he would bring about my
death if he could do it with safety to
himself. had the proper papers
served ard the suit opened. Bill made
his threats and boasts, but Kept clear
of me. expected he would f | up
some day aud come into town for
shooting scrape, but he had another
plan 10 work on. We had a sure
oaaa ne b;s f,;apdo ;nforY,ad mo lD,4
he was determined to bluster it out.
My office was over sore, aud
reached by GU side stairs. There was
front and back room, and the lat
ter, heing bs chelor, was used for
my bedroom. 1t was the fashion TO
leave all doors open during the day,
and when left my office on an er-
rand, or to go to court, it was not
locked. When it became known
around that / bad taken Mrs Shal on's
case and blufed her sou Bill l had
plenty of small business 10 look after,
aud was much OF The time in the JUS
tees counts.
One day just before the big suit was
to come to trial l went into count en-
an ordinary suit and was detained
three or four hours. The offics was
left open as usual, AS / returned to
it three or four cit zsns accompanied
me and as we reached the foot of the
stairs we head terrible yell from the
room above. Next moment Bill Sha-
ron came rushing down the narrow
stairs hatless, eyes starting from their
sockets, and such look of terror on
his face as l never saw before or
since. He rushed past us, shriekiDg
and yelling, and it was only when he
was clear of US ii at we made out the
horrible truth. Two great rattle
snakes were hanging to him-oue by
the right wrist aud the other by the
right leg. They squiImed and
twistt d and Topped as he ran, and his
screams and EXPLANATIONS brou 2ht out
the whole town. He ran about
block and then lay down in the street
and rolled over and over, and the
snakes let 60 Of him and were killed
as they crawled awsy.
Bill had been bitten in three places.
The only antidote suggested was
whisky, and good two quarts were
poured down him without the slie hit.
est relief. 1t did not in the least stu
pefy him nor quiet his excited condi-
ton, al d in an hour he WAS dead-his
bloated body and purple face present
ing horrible sghr, 1t did not take
much headwork to discover how it all
came about. Bill vented revenge
on me, and his plan was to leave the
rattlesnakes in my bedroom. He had
taken them there in box after seeing
that the coast was clear, and had
dumped them out on thu floor. The
box was there to prove it. In his
haste to be gone he had been careless,
and as the serpents were loosened
they TUNED on him and fastened their
fangs in his flesh. 1t was retribution,
but none of US could help but pity his
horrible fate.
Spoiled the Trade.