The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-12-03

'"N'
In spiral volumes, writing horribly
Jagged fins grotesque. fanged CHASTITY Jaws OF
hell j. A. Synionds.
PEEL.
l shall never forget the first time ]
ever saw Montgomery Peel. He was as
Il Justice of the peace presiding at the
preliminary trial of Andrew Brukemore,
charged with the murder of David g.
Cahoon. | was a mere boy at the time,
but | remember that Montgomery Peel
made a profound impression on me, and
| also recollect that when my father, in
answefkB a question, said that Il justice
of the peace was not u high officer,
wondered why Peel had taken the peace:
wondered why he had not declared him
self governor of the state. He was a
very tall man, with black, inquiring
eyes and Il great growth Of dark brown
whiskers. He presided as my ideal of
dignity; his voice was penetrating and
his questions were to the point. At first
every one appeared to thinl, that Andrew
Brukemore was surely the murderer of
David G. Cahoon, but as the examina-
ton proceeded, as the justice threw the
soft light of apparent innocence upon the
dark complexion of seeming guilt, it was
plainly seen that the prisoner would not
be held to await the action of the grand
jury.
"Gentlemen," said Montgomery Peel,
arising and addressing the assembly, 81
have attempted to look with the eye of
calmness and wisdom into this case. !
have blunted my ears to the whisperings
Of prejudice, and within myself / have
quieted every impulse that sought to
Jump toward a hasty conclusion. AT
first the evidence was bold against the
man, but what at first seemed to be a
wall of evidence now proves to be a fog
OF deception. Andrew Brukemore," he
continued, turning majestically to the
prisoner, ''there are times, sir, when we
are all called upon to face the trials Of
dark severity. You have faced yours,
and now step aside without Il stain upon
/ your garments. Gentlemen. il is my
desire, that you all shake hands with Mr..
Brukemore."
The scene was affecting. 1t that quiet
Virginia community murder was of rare
occurrence. Indeed many old men who
were present had never before seen a
| prisoner held under so grave Il charge.
! Every one. pressed forward and shook
| hands with Brukemore, and | remember
hearing u red headed, freckled faced boy
say:
II reckon the folks air cryin', pap,
cause they air sorry they amt goin' tc
hang him"
This trial seemed to make q different
man Of Montgomery Peel, for he attend
ed church more regularly, and when his
term of office expired he did not an.
nouuce himself us a candidate for re.
election.
One day, several years later, father
and l were riding through the woods
when we came upon Montgomery Pee
cutting down a tree.
"Why, what are you doing here:' my
father asked. "You are surely not chop
ping tirewood this hot weather."
No" said the giant-and he was in
Iced u giant-"I am going to build
s;ouse."
What, build a house away out here?
Eyes, for the house | am going t,
'>lill would be out of place anywher'
except in the quiet woods; am going
to build " church."
cit will take y strong preacher, Peel
to draw Il congregation away up here"
IF the size of the congregation de
ponds upon the strength of the preache
it is likely to be small. for l am to be tn
preacher"
!, "You are joking"
Did you ever know me to joker h
= asked, standing with one hand restin!
on the tree and gazing earnestly at III,
father.
81 don't know that l ever did, Peel
! but I can hardly believe that a man Q
| your bright prospects could content him
, self with preaching in this lonely place
, Why, there is not u house within thre
miles,"
peter sometimes preached man
miles distant from any house, yet thor
: sands of people went to hear him."
: LED. tIldt 10 lIues puV lCGtl pIt
claimed d new I'd interesting gospe
while you can only hope to follow in
well worn path"
He gazed intently at my father an
: thus answered.:
1--WE have seen a path that was worl
e and then we have seen it deserted; ha,
seen the grass and weeds grow whel
t1,n rrJ..,IJnI 1-a, nttaa na1n Sn)nnth an
bare by many feet"
TRUE enough, Peel. And now let II
L say that if you are in earnest l hope th'
you may be instrumental in drawn
/ thousands from the wickedness Of ii
world"
81 dare not hona 70 d"3w thousands
lid he. II dare not picture to my mil
u multitude 1iocking to hear me; but
q will dare hope to draw one soul aw;
e from an awaiting destruction, and if
=, do even that much ] s.llll feel that Il
u church has been built to SONS purpose
As we rode along my father was sile,
for some time, and then. us thous
u Speaking to himself. said:
u The poor fellow has lost his mind
The report that Montgomery Peel W
i building II church far away in t
woods naturally awakened great intere
in the community. Many Of the M
is declared that he must have lost his min
m but the women, with that hopeful syl
pathy which ever expects u good resi-
~ from an ostensibly pious action, averr
that he was appointed to bring about
great reformation. Wives porsuad
'heir husbands to assist in building t
Al church, and thus aided Peel was SO
ready to deliver his first rmo 1t v
nd on a Sunday, warm, bright and beau
tul, that hundreds of people flocked
sec him. remember hearing one m
a cynical fellow, remark:
sob, he has gone off this way for
w. feet. He knows that il he had gone il
.vv a regular church nobody would pay a