Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-08-10
PLUCkY JUDGE DRUM.
How He Entertained Ugly Visitor at
 the Point of d Gun.

How He Entertained an Ugly Visitor at
 the Point of Gun.
 Hon. Thomas J. Drum, of Butte, M. T., is one of the best known lawyers in the West, says the St, Louis Republic. He is a lawyer of distinguished ability, and has followed mining settlements in tho West for the last twenty years or more. Judge Drum has lived i'll California, Arizona, Nevada and Montana, and has been conspicuous figure at the bar in each place During the days of Tombstones prosperity he was 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.
 A brace of cowboys were at one time ar raigned before him for holding up a United States mail coach between Benson and Tombstone. The judge held them both for trial without bail, and sent them to the Tue son jail for safe-keeping. This made the cowboys very indignant, end threats were made that Judge Drums earthly career would be wound up. A few days after he ordered the prisoners taken to Tucson, Red 1 Thornton, q notorious desperado, quietly en- ] tered Judge Drums office. He recognized Thornton as he entered, but pretended to keep on writing without taking any notice of him. In the meantime, however, he man. aged to get his hand on double -barreled | shotgun, with the barrels abbreviated to about fourteen inches in length, that rested on his desk within easy reach. He lifted it up and concealing it behind pile of books, with his hand still grasping it, asked Thorn l ton what he wanted as that gentleman ap- peared in front of the desk
 "Be you Jedgc Drum?" asked the desper- ado.
 'I be- responded the judge.
 "Well, Ikem to settle wid you about send in the b'yes to jail," remarked the desper- ado.
 'How are you going to do ita" 'Jedge, you're purity good-lookin' duck an hate ter do it, but I've got ter blow the top of your durned head off," remarked the gentleman with the red hair. ''Th at wouldn't be much fun for me, es- pecia'uy as they struck q big ere body in the Cromwell this morning." said the judge.
 ''JGdge, you're too durned funny" said the desperado, and he made q motion for his gun.
 As he did so the judge presented his shot, gun, stood up and held the muzzle within two feet of the desperado This was some- thing that had not been calculated on, antl the intruder's disappointment was ap- parent.
 ''Throw up your handsl" called out the 1udIge. Thornton obeyed promptly. "Now remain in that position until somebody comes along to take off your pistols" said
 the judge Thornton did as he was told. In
 few minutes footsteps were heard in the l hall and the judge called the passer-by to
 enter It happened to be a lawyer who
 had an office in the same building. Judge
 Drum told the lawyer to relieve the desper- ado of his pistols, warning the latter that if he made a move he would get double charge of buckshot. The desperado's pis- \ tols were taken from him, and, in front of Judge Drums gun, he was marched to the s sheriff's office and turned over to the cus- tody of that officer. It happened that the l sheriff had a warrant for Thornton's arrest l for stage-robbing, and he was sent to the 1 Tucson jail to keep his friends company Judge Drum had several exciting expert. l ences in Arizona. His duty as United ] States Commissioner in a mail-robbing
 country gave him plenty of employment and brought him into official intercourse
 with some of the toughest men in the re
 zion. In 1885, when the 'bottom fell out o1
 Tombstone" Judge Drum moved to Butte
 M. T., and is now one of the leading lawyers of that Territory.