Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-12-08

| 'olce JnaI tne Snerl1f glanced hastily
around. A hundred of the fugitive 5
fellow laborers had stopped work and
now stood cycling the sheriff, each
mans right hand resting upon the
butt of his pistol. '"Arrest mem re-
peated the murderer, but the sheriff,
alarmed at his open show of hostility,
turned pale and, stammering with
fear, assured the fugitive that under
no circumstances would he attempt
such thing if the gentleman object
ed. well, ! just do object" was the
retort, and the fellows eyes blazed
land the sooner you make yourself
scarce the better" 1t is needless to
say that the sheriff took his advice.
The miners were governed among
themselves by rude judicial code,
and the punishment for all crimes
worthy OF notice was death. The
killing of one man by another in the
heat of passion was not an infrequent
affair and was seldom taken cognizance
of by Judge Lynch's tribunal. The
friends of the slain man-if he
had any-avenged his untimely taking
Off. A thief, on the other hand, had
only one chance if overtaken He
might-if his captors were positively
goodnatured--selec the tree upon
which to be hung. Lumpkin County
had sheriff and county judge. The
former officer was generally selected
because of his proficiency in the use Of
firearms, and the tribunal over which
the latter official presided was some
what unique in its manner of dispens-
ing justice. Twice a year a learned
Judge from the lower country Jour-
neyed across the mountains and for a
week presided over the Superior Court
at Dahlonega. On one occasion the
sovereign voters of the mountains
elected a judge from among their own
number. His name was Findlay, and
although possessed Of scanty legal
knowledge, he was II man of great
common sense and sterling honesty,
and his judicial career was generally
satisfactory. At the time of his cleo
ton one of Judge Findlay's cousins
was sheriff Of Lumpkin, and the Find
lay family-which was large and par
ticularly renowned for the fighting
character of its male MEMBERSHIPS at
loggerheads over the ownership of IL
mine with another equally belligerent
family named Fields.
When Judge Findlay paid his first
judicial visit to Dahlonega, the whole
countryside turned out to give him
welcome. He opened court, a jury
was impaneled, and a case was in pro-
cess of trial, when Findlay and a
Field in the brick-paved corridor be-
meath the court room cot into wordy
dispute over the mine, which natural
ly ended in II fight. A friend of one of
the fighters interfered and was
promptly set upon by an adherent of
the other fellows. In a few min
utes' time dozen men were fighting
for their lives. The noise made
by the combatants penetrated to
the court room and a majority of the
spectators rushed out, The Judge
scowled and addressing the sheriff,
said: "Mr. Sheriff, go down below
and arrest those fighters and I'll put
'em in Jail for contempt of court"
The sheriff bowed and withdrew. He
did not return, however, and the
tumult below waxed louder. The
judges face grew clouded and he dis.
patched deputy sheriff to assist his
superior The jury were iidgeting
about in their seats, the bar was
nearly deserted, and even the lawyers
engaged in the ease glanced over their
shoulders uneasily.
Curses and angry shouts, inter-
mingled with the sharp crack Of pis-
tolls, came up from below, and the
court room was filled with the smoke
of burning powder. Gentlemen of
the jury" said the judge at last, 'you
are excused for the day. The court
will take recess and see whether il
shall be held in contempt or not"
He descended from the bench and
made his way to the door. The COR
ridor below was filled with fighting
men, and one quick glance was suffi-
cient to tell him what the row was
about. His eyes bla2ed, and throwing
off his coat he pulled out a big pistol
and sprang into the midst of the fray.
The fight lasted Il long time and ended
in victory for the Findlayitcs, who
naturally fell under the leadership of
the Judge. Some men were killed on
both sides and many were wounded.
The next day the judge, with his arm
in II sling, ascended the bench again,
and the ordinary routine of court
business was resumed. George W.
Symonds, IN Detroit Free Press.