The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-30
THE SHERIFFS STORY


several hours NJ f0WdeYy5t3e i0g nay Nx&A-
wondered how could manage 10 PASS
away the tirne.
Twas rather dali for IN Npur or 20. until
met Sheriff Jack.
We introduced ourselves The sheriff
saw that was 9 stranger. and having
nothing 10 do he proceeded 10 entertain
me.
had heard strange stories OF la~less
deeds in Buckshos c0unsy-stoyies in which
sheriff Jack figured conspscuously. and ~
ne iounged in the shade in front Of the
courthouse / found myself asking ques-
tons rather freely.
Ny companion Was not IT al reticent-
After he had pumped me 20 his satisfaction.
he began to talk about Buckshot county
and its noted characters.
IL vas very pleasant 70 rest there In the
shade, watching the sturdy six-footer ~ be
whitfield pine shingie. and il was equal to
N Arabian Nights entertainment TO
listen To some OF bis ysrns.
The county. II what heard was true,
was . rough locality. Human life was not
held at q very high estimate. Sometimes
dueIs were fought. and long standing feuds
between families occasionally resulted in
bloody tragedies.
While We were talking . young man
whose pale sad face and giittering eyes In
SANITY drew my attention. walked out OF
the courthouse aud made his way down
the street.
.Thet's Bob RANSOM" said the sheriff
in low tone, with . significant nod OF his
head.
And what IL he ~ asked, 'one Of you
lawyers or merchants7"
''0h. no--iest . planter like most of as. "
anything remarkablef"
'Yas~ BET yer life thar is-he's a Yankee,
yer know
Never heard OF him." replied briskiy,
but Why is Yankee remarkable?n
Yer don't quite ketch on" answered
sheriff Jack. THAT Yankee thar has
killed six nIegers.
Did he blow them up with dynamite2"
I asked. laughing. for did not believe the
tale
The sheriff looked at me with frown.
"Mehbe yer calls SIGH as that er jokin'
matter" he said.
fastened TO assure him that he Was
mistaken, and begged him 10 tell me all
about il.
Yer see" said he. ''this young Teller
Ransom has killed six niggers that We
know of. and how many moro the Lord
only knows
''lIas be been triel?"
Tried fur what7n inquired tbe. sheriff.
For murder"
"Ne. and amt ergwine ter be.
Hes he been srrestsdf'
Arrested ftr what7'
10 sou mean 10 tell me- said. shat
The authorities have made no effort to
bring him 10 justieeg"
ihels hran-new way of putting it,"
rerE.ea Sheriff Jack, but thet's about the
size 81 il
I was silent fun minute Then
spoke W.
Did Ransom kill these men because
thes attacked him. or In fight or how 2"
he lesI hunted 'em down one by one
an Killed en-"
MIR. Jack. exclaimed. II canno, I'M
dersland such state OF affairs. Why don't
you arrest the man -
The sheritfs eyes grew misty. and he
wiped away something like tear.
"s'nanie, be whispered. hosrsely. I'D
resign iust. Besides. | have no call ter
act The grand jury has found no neiict-
ment Thars no warrant out I never
q
reason tibet he done the Job, bat thets all.
We aia't got no pint blank evidence, an We
eon't want none"
1T viii hurt the county"
Not by durn sight 1t will help it,,
Then sheriff Jack told me all about the
sad business.
Robert Ransom had come to Buckshot
county with his young wife from the
North, and had made his home on plan
tation
The RansoIns in 8 quiet way M AIDE IL I'm.
aerstood from the first that they were co.
ing "a carry out their own peculiar ideas.
They hired n large number of negroes. and
treated them Just as they would so many
whites. They paid them good wages
monthly IN cash. loaned them money
worked them eight hours a day. and gave
thesa frequent holidays.
The young couple were SO pleasant and
attractive. "a honest in their views. and 81
fall of good fellowship. that their neishhors
were very friendly with them. oecasion.
ally the older citizens warned them that
taey were making mistake. and that their
negroes would give them trouble.
HBs tie ksaSoms laughed Al all .hi,
They said that kindness was bound to Win
and they believed that putting the negroes
on footing With the whites would stimn.
late them 10 DO better work and maks
them mere faithful.
1t .as suggested one day 20 Ran<a,,
that i was risk to leave his wixc s,or.
oa the plantation when he went TO town
The young man laughed tue idea IN
sooru.
My policy makes Us safe he said
My negroes are bound 10 me hy the tssx az
gratitude and friendship. They would die
in our defence"
one day in the summer Ransom had 20
g. Ia town ON business. Jast hesor. n.
started. his wtfe. pretty. fragile little thins,
put her arm around his neck, and herr.s
him 10 resarn early.
Hess my lise believe voa are .sraiaf.,
sad Ransoa.
iesl nervous answered H.. wife ~
aonf enoS whst IS the m alter With roe h,,
Ain strangely depressed. All the house
servants are going of 10 camp meeting ana
! shsd be alone. New Try so get home be-
fore dark. please
Ransom promised. and kissed her. sna
sh,n handed her q small pistol.
aayn"dy hothsrs yea point that nj
them, 3" be said lestinsiv.
~sd 10 mare, " she answers, s.is sw
IN d~Assr 81 The worst will turn i, against
myselg
Her aasasne kls&ed her a-a5n ,c,A h.-
that she vas a:ac fool. sna ro.ss of IN
soen ~
u vas Saturday. ard hasy day. In
- y ass e~ss efforts Ransom toand that