Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-14
A Frontier Justice.
JUDGE DRUMS INTERVIEW WITH MAN WHO OBJECTED
TO ONE OF HIS SENTENCES.


TO ONE OF HIS SENTENCES.
From the st. Louis Republican.
The Hon. Thos. j. Drum, Of Butte Mont, is at
present visiting st. Louis. Tom Drum Is one Of the
best known men IN the West He is lawyer Of
distinguished ability, and has followed mining ex-
elements In the West for the past twenty years
more. Judge Drum has lived in California, Ari-
zona, Nevada, and Montana, and has been a con-
spicuous figure at the bar In each place. During
the days Of T0mbStone'S prosperity he was q
United states commissioner In Arizona, residing In
Tombstone, and when President Arthur issued
his famous proclamation ordering the outlaw
cowboys TO disband, Judge Drum took an active
part In its enforcement. brace OF cow
boys were at one time arraigned before him
for holding up United states mail coach between
Benson and Tombstone. The Judge held them
both for trial without bail, and sent them To the
Tucson jail for Safe-keeping. This made the cow
boys very indignant, and threats were made that
Judge Drums earthly career would be wound up.
TO Tucson, Red Thornton, notorious desperado
quietly entered Judge Drums ONCE. The Judge
was sitting alone behind a desk. He recognized
Thornton as he entered, but pretended TO keep on
writing without taking any notice OF him. In the
meantime, however, he managed to get his hand
on d0u0le-barreled shotgun with the barrels alb
breyiated TO about IA inches in length that rested
against his desk, within easy reach. He lifted It
up, and copeealing &c behind pile OF books, with
wanted as that gentleman appeared In front Of
the desk.
"Be you ledge Drum" asked the desperado.
al be, responded the Judge.
"Well, ken TO settle wild you about sendin' the
b'yes to jail, 4" cody remarked the desperado.
"How are you going to DO it," Queried the Judge.
"Jedge, you're purity g0Od-lOOktn' duck, an
hate ter do IT. but I've got TO blow the top OF your
d head on, )" remarked the gentleman with the
red hair.
"That wouldn't be much fun for me, especially
as they struck big ore body In the Cromwell this
morning." said the Judge.
"Jedge, you're TOO d. funny" said the des-
perado, and he made a motion TO reach for his gun
AS he did 50 the judge presented his shotgun.
stood up, and held the muzzle within feet OF the
desperate. This was something that had not been
calculated on, and the intruder's disappointment
was apparent.
"Throw up your hands" called out the Judge
Thornton 0beyed promptly. Snow remain In that
position until somebody comes along to take OF
your pistols" said the Judge. Thornton did as he
was told In Few minutes footsteps were heard
In the hall, and the judge called the passer-by to
enter. II happened TO be a lawyer who had an
office in the same building. Judge Drum told the
warning the latter that II he made q move he
would get double charge OF buckshot The des-
perado'S pistols were taken from him. and then. In
'front.' OF Judge Drums gun, he was marched 10 the
SheTimS Office and turned over to the CUSTODY OF
that officer. 1t happened that the sheriff had a
warrant Tor ThOrDtOn's arrest for stage-roDbing
and be was sent to Tucson Jail to Keep mis- friends
company. Judge Drum had several exciting expe-
riences In Arizona His duty as a United states
commissioner In amail-robbing country gave him
plenty OF employment and brought him into OH.
the region. In 1885, when the bottom fell out OF
Tombstone, Judge Drum moved to Butte Mont
and Is now one OF the leading lawyers OF that ter.
rirOry.