The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-08
a FEARLESS JUDGE
Lively neoollcctIons Of Quaint md Orig
inRl Character.


inal Character.
Judge Noah Smith, citizen of Jeffer.
Son county, who died recently In his
10th year, was, in many respects, q re-
marfzoble man, writes Louisville (Ga-)
correspondent of the Atlanta Constitu-
ton His educational opportunities
were very limited, and he never read
books or papers to much extont, but
was close listener and read men thor
oughly. His native mother w.t. or
shrewdncss and good sense born In hun,
wcro of very high order, and it was his
delight to associate with tho noble and
Intelligent, ind this coupled with his
natural good sense made him oonversant
with the current topics Of the dry and 0
very interesting associntc to tho most
cultured that I've came in contact with
A more honest man in principle never
lived; oIrl his goodness of heart kept
under control his fiery temper, and
made him kind and considerate under
the greatest provocutions- AZ ilustr;s-
tons, l will mention, that coming one
evening from the mill below him he
cspiod runaway slave close TO the road
behind tree. He interrogatod him
and soon discovered that no had left lis
master without permission lie told
the negro that he must go home with
him, but the former, who WIS very
strongly built and armed with hugo
club, replied with IN oath that he had
started to Augusta and would go
thero," and walked off. When about
sixty yards distant the Judge cmp&aed
ono bar1el of his gun at him, but It
seemed to make no impression ns the
shot were small. After the second fire
the negro went staggering along as II
1nortnlly wounded, though not soil
tary shot had pierced his skin II was
oil sham for purpose. 1t was get
ting dark and the judge couldn't bear
the iden of the Negroes dying IN the
woods without attention, SO he jumped
from his saddle and pursued him.
The latter retrcated until he reached
u pond studded with black gums He
now turned upon tho judge, throwing
wuter and mud In his face TO confuse
him AS soon as he was In reach the
latter dubbed his gun and struck him q
blow which I've parried with his club
lie drew his gun buck to strike SEQ
ond blow when 1t hitchcd to LIMB be-
hind him, and while trying to extrioate
It the nogro brought his club down on
top OF his head with all his power,
which nearly proved fatal, ndding IT
reckon you will go now" Tho Judge
replied: IL will for short tirne,s and
went rolling out of the pond
AS soon as he reached homo no bound
up the wound and sent after pack Of
hounds When 1t camo he joined In tho
chase and that night the negro was
brought to bay in a thicket in Richmond
county and fought f,lriously as he
could not reasonably hope for mercy.
Several men present armed with clubs
nnd pistols wanted to kill him on the
spot, but the Judge intcrcctlcd and saved
his life The next day lie gavo him q
moderate whipping and returned him to
his owner.
Upon another occasion he CRITIC upon
d runaway who was slashing his favor
ito hounds to pieces with scythe blade
lie knocked the weapon out of his hand,
captured him and offered him no fur
thcr violence
lie seemed to be an entire stronger b.
fear liz everything outside of religion.
saw him one day in hunt, when On
old bucle had just been jumped by o
fleet peck of hounds-and had nearly
milo the start of him-Inal1c IN effort to
bead him. Thoro was only ono stand
four miles away. Tho judge took his
hat and bride reins in one hand and
loubiobnrrcl in the other and wont, rs
hard as his horse could stavc, uphill and
oownlAin and over bridges the entire
distance But the buck c;lrnc out two
huddrcd yards ahead. 1t WIS the grand.
est man and buck race upon record! It
makes my nerves tinglc b think of it
even now.