St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-23
IN THE BACKWOODS.

NJ. W. Fitzgerald, generalissimo of the or
ganiZation that rejOces in the name of Isl.
Paul Kids and a prominent member of the
Republican city committee, has just returned
from an extended Montana trip. He is re-
calling his friends with anecdotes Of the min
ing regions.
Mate Kingsley said he at the capitol to
an interested party of officials, sis one of the
original characters of that country. He is q
miner near Cook City, camp nearly hun
dred miles from a railroad. Nate goes about
with the royal air of a duke, and everybody
seems imbued with an inordinate spirit of his
importance. One day he cut down a section
of fence that belonged to neighbour and was
arrested. That is, he was notified to appear
before the justice for trial, for no one would
think of subjecting him to the indignity of
placing him in durance. The day of his
trial he rode into town with pomp. His
horse was elegantly caparisoned. He wore
a broad sombrero, bright, blinking spurs
and his holster we'll loaded with the conven-
tional shooting irons.
at is not likely that he was armed because
of any danger of a sanguinary encounter
but simply to add to his personal appearance.
With clanking spurs he dismounted before
the justice court room. l had been given an
linking that something extraordinary was
about to happen and / stood near by. Nate
espied me at once.
"'Ah, stranger; how are you,' he said
cheerily, stalking over to me with right hand
extended. We mad hearty shake, and he
pursued:
"''Taint often we see strangers here and it
is seldom we have an opportunity of treating
them to a handsome little entertainment
Now, we're going to have a treat. I'm the
defendant, and I'm going to plead my own
case. tell you what, stranger, I'm some
thing of lawyer he said, with dignifed
wave of his hand Just come in and here
the proceedings
I'VE went in. The justice sat before com
mon table, evidently waiting the appearance
of the defendant. Near by was the COM
plainant and his witnesses. Nate walked up
to the table, removed his hat and saluted the
co2rt.
Your honor, he began 4 appear for a
trial on charge OF destruction of property. L
have come 500 miles to be arrested and tried.
I'm going TO try my own case. | demand
jury, sir; jury of my peers sir
I
1.-THE justice began to argue that there was
no necessity for this when Nate drew himself
UP to his full height and cried:
- L refer you to the statutes, sir. and III
bet 500 IN right. / demand jury
This was granted, and Nate sprang to his
feet again.
Your honor, he criedin stentorian tones
1 now call for Il change OF yenire to the
other justice. This court is prejudiced.
We'll, this point was argued at length.
Nate was evidently considered an important
functionary and his motion was granted. We
went over to the other court, and the trial
began amidst a pyrotechnica display of
backwoods philosophy Then some one set
two dogs fighting near by. and The court adj
journed to see the fun. They all went rur-
ming precipiiately Ia the scene. and Nate
offered to bet 500 on the small = ios. but
got no takers. lie would have l2sl, however.
Tie trial was resumed a,d h va, iiii-d 81
lie paid it and then st EN- np L. the whole
town. That III, way justice Is administered
in COOK Ci.y.