The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-01-24

fangement In the old days. In one
corner was the bar, where liquor of
the vilest description was dealt out to
the thirsty patrons. The counter over
which the fiery stuff was dispensed
was about five feet. high, and was
further protected on Its outer edge by
a stout iron railing. The bartender
stood on bench behind, and from this
vantage point could easily reach the
small arsenal of firearms that were
ranged against the wall back of him.
He had frequent use for them, and one
of Knucklesville's most prominent |
landmarks is little colony of rock
topped mounds under the edge of the
hill, where the slain were laid at rest.
The bar was crescent-shaped with the
two horns of the crescent touching the
wall, but it was impossible to get be-
hind the heavy barrier without climb
ing over its tops.
A majority Of the placer miners
were broken-down adventurers from
other States, and fugitives from
justice. No inquiry was made as
to a mans antecedents. He could
settle down at the mines red-handed
from murder, and as long as he be-
haved himself would be shielded and
protected 1t is related that on one
occasion a pompous sheriff from South
Carolina visited the mines in search
of man wanted for murder. He had
requisition for the fugitive, and
armed with this and his truncheon he
came upon the murderer at work in
the bed of Cribbage creek. Tapping
the man on the shoulder with his
truncheon and fiourishing the warrant
the sheriff cried in loud and bonn
| bastic tone: 81 have come, in the
name of the sovereign commonwealth
of South Carolina, to arrest you for
murder" The man Strengthened up
and eyed the sheriff coolly. His hand
dropped to the handle Of his pistol.
''Well. arrest me-" he said, and there
was such a peculiar intonation in his
voice that the sheriff glanced hastily
around. A hundred of the fugitive's
fellow laborers had stopped work and
now stood eyeing the sheriff, each
mans right hand resting upon the
butt of his pistol ARREST mein 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 a thing if the gentleman object
ed. well, I just do object" was the
retort, and the fellows eyes blazed;
"and 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
good-natured-sele 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 oi
: firearms, and the tribunal over which
4ba Ia44a, rfFi a;ol ,1ro-; la ,uo. ecx>,.,
what unique in its manner of dispens-
ing justice. Twice a year learned
judge from the lower country jour.
} neyed across the mountains and for g
week presided over the Superior Court
at Dahlonega. On one occasion the
sovereign voters of the mountains
elected a judge from among their owr
number. His name was Findlay, anG
although possessed of a scanty lega
knowledge, he was man of great
common sense and sterling honesty
J and his judicial career was generally
: satisfactory. At the time of his elec
tion one of Judge Findlay's cousins
!, was sheriff of Lumpkin, and the Find
10y 4UhAAly W nAOA W do 1al SC anu par
ticularly renowned for the fighting
character of its male members-was a.
loggerheads over the ownership of ;
mine with another equally belligeren
family named Fields
} When Judge Findlay paid his. frs
judicial visit to Dahlonega, the whole
: countryside turned out to give hin
welcome. He opened court, a iur!
, was impaneled, and case was in pro
cess of trial, when a Findlay and ,
Field in the briek-paved corridor. be
meath the court room got into a word,
dispute over the mine, which natural
ly ended in fight. A friend of one o
the fighters interfered and wa
: promptly set upon by an adherent o
the other fellows. In a few min
utes' time a dozen men were fightins
, for their lives. The noise mad,
by the combatants penetrated t,
} the court room and majority of tn,
spectators rushed out. The judg,
scowled and addressing the sheriff
C1