The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-05-25
A lawyers STORY.

az never see the trial in this city of man
charged with fearful crime" said lawyer Just
after sentence had been pronounced upon a man
who had rddled with bullets the woman who
supported him, "without strange sense of admira-
ton at the confidence the people here have in the
Justice and efficacy of the law. am New Yorker,
and one would surely think | would take that
confidence for granted. So | would, had not had
an experience in the west which unhinged all my
previous notions of what men will and will not do
under trying circumstances, and which has made
me trembe for the public peace whenever a
peculiarly atrocious crime has been committed
alt was only three years ago that | went to
Hastings, Neb. had dim idea that might stay
there permanently. Eventually couldn't keep away
from New York, but at the time | much
impressed by the western temper. Things were in
many ways different from the wild idea had got
of the west by reading the papers. But the one of
all phases which | found differed most widely
from the stories had heard was the western way
of dealing out justice. l expected to mob law
rule, but found efficient courts there as here
and very general respect and confidence in the
law and its officers. | laughed heartily at the
yarns about Judge Lynch, and told an old citizen
that the western folks must be fond of painting
themselves in blacker cOors than they deserved if
they inspired the tales teegraphed to eastern
papers
twinkle of the eye; but oncet in while we git up
our hind feet all the same
"One day the sheriff drove rapidly into Hastings
with prisoner. He was doctor living in a
settlement on the border of the county, made up
largely of ranchmen and cowboys and their
families He was charged with an offense against
girl, mere child, who had been intrusted to his
care as a physician. The details of the crime and
the arrest got out and were printed in the Hast
ings newspapers, and aroused no end of indigna-
ton. Men gathered the street corners and
talked about it angrily, and small crowds gathered
around the Jail to try and get chance to peep
through the bars at the prisoner who was for the
moment 80 notorious. 1t was rumored that gang
of cowboys would be down that night and raid
the Jail. The sheriff Immediately swore in dozen
huge fellows extra constables, and stationed
them inside and out the Jail. But by night the
little wave of Indignation had settled down. No
gang of desperate countrymen appeared and the
next morning Hastings a usual. l have seen
just such momentary outbursts of public senti-
ment in the east and the condition of the city next
day was precisely what l expected it would be.
Several days passed. and the crime was an old
story. The newspapers dropped it, and began to
constabes. ] had told him in the beginning that
it was foolish expense to saddle on the town. and
he had said nothing. Now, as the lazy fellows
still snoozed around the Jail / made Jokes at the
sheriff's expense. He and were good friends, and
he took the jokes in good nature. He only replied
once. and then only TO say:
"tYou're trife green yet, little fellow
"I am not q small man, as you see, but l didn't
mind his patronizing me because he was SO
almighty big himself and set his jaws 80 firmly.
I simply walked off through the quiet streets and
smiled at his senseless fears.
1.-TWO weeks later, the day before the trial came
along, Hastings was quieter than ever. The
lawyers had their pleadings prepared and their
witnesses ready. The prisoner rested quietly In
Jail. Less that day than any other, so far, did
there seem need for the sherifs extra constabies.
aCowboys are common In the streets of Hastings.