The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-12-14
FRONTIER JUSTICE.

citement over one thing or another every
hour in the day and vented it in much
drinking, loud talking and fighting, but
on this particular occasion the excite
ment was Of unique order, that IN Its
still intensity chilled and silenced the
mob Of men that crowded in and close
about the doors Of the Mary's Eyes
saloon and gambling house, the pro
prietor Of which, Velvet Jack, was at
that moment being tried for his life be
fore that most terrible Of earthly courts,
Judge Lynch
1t was not the first killing at the Flat.
This shooting scrape was only one Of
dozens OF others during the five months
Of Fiddlers' existence, but the victim
was a peculiarly inofensive creature
known as "Mud" to the camp. He had
10 other name that they knew Of, and
had earned bis sobriquet by his unfail-
ing i'll luck at the gaming tables, and
his equally unfailing remark as he rose
pennies from his bout with the tiger.
.Waal, nv names mad again" but on
tins particular occasion Mud's luck had
run his way. and he had sat hour after
hour at the little oblong faro table since
the night before. and won with unfail-
ing regularity through every deal
Velvet himself had the shift at deal
when Mud had won the last ounce in
the hank roll. and as the lucky player
rose from his seat opposite him, the
gambler had without q word shot him
through the heart. The cold fendish-
ness Of the act was too much for the
nerves even Of Fiddlers, and the camp
rose TO a man and cried aloud for ven
geance. They were waiting now for
the sentence. Long Smith was the
Judge. He occupied a chair placed on a
faro table at one end Of the long, mar
row cabin, the identical chair that Vel
vet sat IN when he shot Mud. Velvet
sat little to his left, guard at either
side on his right, the hastily chosen
Jury of twelve sat or stood, and beyond
g rope stretched across the room was
the silent, expectant crowd. The evil
dence was all in and Long Smith was
settling himself down into a comfortable
position to listen TO counsel for defense,
when Velvet Suddenly rose TO his feet
and said:
See here, boys, what's the use of going
on with this monkey business any longer?
/ shot Mud and you've determined that
must hang. Can't you drop this and
take me out and hang me and be done
with II, instead Of torturing me with all
this nonsense. You know you're only
doing It to amuse yourselves" The eyes
Of every man in the crowd were fixed on
the prisoner during this speech, then
turned expectantly TO the judge.
''Pris'ner ct the bar, yer bein tried fer
murder by the only kin O. er cot this yer
kentry hez. Ef there's enythin We hev
ter say yer1l heT er chance ter say il
furder on. There was a murmur of
approval from the audience, and coun-
sci for the defense went on with his ar
gument, followed by the counsel for the
prosecution. The court summed up and
charged the jury, which without a mo
ment's hesitation returned a verdict of
guilty.
The judge arose from his chair and
said, Velvet. yer gone in;" there was
no further assumption Of Judicial digni-
ty; it dropped from him as one drops a
cloak from his shoulders; ''ther bows
hev Civ ye a squar deal. which's more'n
We CIV Mud, n yell hev ter 90 under.
What hev ye got ter say agin IT."
Velvet smiled and shook his head.
You've got the drop on me, reckon
he said, land can't kick"
just at TINS moment there was a strug-
gle as Of some one trying to force an en-
trance through the crowd at the door.
and the shrin tones Of a woman's voice
rsuld be heard demanding access to the
court that was trying the man who had
killed hers.
I'm Mud's wife, she insisted in a
fkrill, shaky voice.
.'Oh, know what yer nicknamed
him. His n my names Dobbs. n be
were a good nuf man most ways. n ]
want ter see the man what killed him
n lef ne er lone wilder rite in the
prime er life"
The relict Of the late Mud was at the
bar Il the court by this time. She was
. tail, angular woman Of forty OF so.
dressed IN rusty black, with an i'm
mense calico sunbonnet that projected
over her face like a section Of stovepipe
and eGectDslly concealed her features.
The eyes were bright and keen though.
ana swept quick glances from prisoner
10 judge and jury.
The court ordered a chair for her in
side the bar. and when she had seated
herself remarked TO her:
We never knOwed ef Mud were a
mar'd man, marm. Eff we had we'd
shorty hsv waited this trial for We"
ID We mean TO say yer've gorn n tried
this yer man for KILN mine, n me not
here ter see? Yer q nice kin O. er judge,
: mus say. WAL, We kin jest go ter
tryin i'm rite over agin, now l am
yere," and the widow settled comfort
tbly back in her chair and took a dip Of
SEuh. The court, counsel, jury and
spectators were melted IL a moment.
They were Missourians, almost to a man,
and the lone touch OF nature" that snuff
dip awOke in them made them the
widows slaves for the moment. The
court, counsel and jury consulted for a
Few moments, and the judge intimated
to the widow that they had concluded
that her request was a very natural, and
under the circumstances, a very proper
one, and that with the prisoners con-
sent they would comply with it. but as
be had already been tried and found
guilty once, they thought it hardly fair
TO him to Try him again without his
consent
Velvet arose, the eyes Of the fhrong
upon him- He was tall. slight, grace
ful fellow, with a swagger about MIN
hat Insensibly attracted men and wom-
N alike, and with a smile that showed
us white teeth under the black mus
ache, remarked that he was always de-
lighted TO please lady, but that under
he circumstances he could not see any !
hing TO be gained by it, he had in fact
pleaded guilty in the first place. and all !
hat remained Tor the judge was to pass
sentence, but that as they had insisted .
N trying him once TO please themselves.
hey might as well try him again to
'lease the lady. There was a murinur
Il approval at this sentiment from the I
audience, which was sternly checked by T
he court The widow had been dipping
nuf and eying Velvet during his and
ne courts remarks, and seemed TO have
nade up her nind TO something she had /
zen considering. for she suddenly closed !