Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-01-24

I'LL, where the slain were laid at rest.
A majority of the placer miners
we're broken-down adventurers from
'ther States, and fugitiyes from
Justice. No inquiry was made as
% mans antecedents. He could
settle down at the mines red-handed
rom murder, and as long as he be-
laved himself would be shielded and
protected. 1t is related that on one
occasion porApous sheriff from South
carolina is4ted the mines in search
u a man wanted for murder. He had
requis Ition for the fugitive, and
armed '<ith this and his truncheon he
zane upon the murderer at work in
ne oed of Cribbage creek. Tapping
me- man ON the shoulder with his
luncheon and flourishing the warrant
the sheriff cried in loud and bonn
bastic tone: 81 have come, in the
name of the sovereign commonwealth
OF Seath Carolina, to arrest you for
The man Strengthened up
and eyed the sheriff coolly. His hand
dropped to the handle OF his pistol.
well. arrest me!' ne said, and there
was such a peculiar intonation in his
voice chat the sheriff glanced hastily
arc ind. A hundred of the fugitive's
fellow laborers had stopped work and
now stood cycling the sheriff, each
mans right hand resting upon the
butt Of his pistol ARREST me" re-
peated the murderer. but the sheriff,
alarmed at his open show of hostility,
turned pale and, stammcring with
fear, assured the fugitive that under
no circumstances would he attempt
such a thing If the gentleman object
ed. well, 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
of. A thief, on the other hand, had
only one chance If overtaken. He
might-if his captors were positively
od-natured-select the tree upon
which to be hung. Lumpkin County
had a 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 year u learned
Judge from the lower country jour.
neyed across the mountains and for 9
week presided over the Superior Court
at Dahlonega. On one occasion the
sovereign voters of the mountains
elected judge from among their owr
number. His name was Findlay, ant
although possessed of scanty lega
knowledge. he was 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 fightin:
character of its male MEMBERSHIPS u
loggerheads over the ownership of ;
mine with another equally belligeren
family named Fields.
When Judge Findlny paid his frs
judicial visit to Dahlonega, the who'll
countryside turned out to give hin
welcome. He opened court, II jur.
was impaneled, and a case was in pro
cess of trial, when Findlay and
Field in the brick-paved corridor be
meath the court room got into 4. word
dispute over the mine, which natural
ly ended in fight. A friend of one G
the fighters interfcred and wa
promptly set upon by an Ulherent c
the other fellows. In a few mir
utes' time dozen men were tightin
for their lives. The noise mad
by the combatants penetrated I
the court room and a majority of tn
spectators rushed out, The judg
scowled and addressing the sheriff
said: "Mr. Sheriff, go down belo
and arrest those fighters and I'll PIT
'em in Jail for contempt of court.
The sheriff bowed and withdrew. II
did not return, however, and tn
tumult below waxed louder. tn
Judges face grew clouded and he di
patched a deputy sheriff to assist h
superior. The jury were fidgetin
about in their seats, the bar we
nearly deserted. and even the lawyer
engaged in the case glanced over the
shoulders uneasily.
|. Curses and angry shouts, int
mingled with the sharp crack of pi
tolls, came up from below. and til
court room was filled with the smok
of burning powder. Gentlemen I
the jury" said the judge at last, ''yo
are excused for the day. The coul
will take recess and see whether
shall be held in contempt or not.
He descended from the bench an
made his way to the door. The CO
rider below was filed with fightin
men. and one quick glance was sufl
cient to tell him what the row ws
about. His eyes blazed, and THROWN
off his coat he pulled out big pist,
and sprang into the midst OF the fra,
The fight lasted a long time and ende
in victory for the Findlayites. WI
naturally fell under the leadership
the Judge. Some men were killed Q
both sides and many were Wounds