St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-03
THAT MISSISSIPPI JUSTICE.
He Condemned q Man to Death
Without Any Indictment.

ne OOnUemncu Il wan TO DedCQ
Without Any Indictment.
Atlanta Constitution.
Some seventy years ago, as gray
haired pioneers report, there was in
Mississippi a justice of the peace who
needed no clerk to write him down as
an ass. He attended to that clerical
duty himself. His district was in the
interior and remote from the centers of
intelligence. 1t was Tar away in the
wild woods. No lawyer dwelt in those
parts, and the prevalent idea of justice
and tile modes of administering 1t were
primitive and somewhat arbitrary.
There were no railroads, telegraphs or
rapid mails to spread intelligence as in
these palmy days.
A man in the neighborhood of this
modern Dogberry had the misfortune
to take the life ora fellow man, and the
functionary had him brought up for
trial. He examined the witnesses on
both sides, made up his mind that the
homicide was unjuStifiable, and con-
demned the prisoner to be hanged by
the neck until dead. The sentence al
lowed the man but few days more of
life, and the condemned begged for
little more time. lie told the court
tearfuliy that his crop was about ready
to he harvested, and he hoped that for
the sake of his wife and children his
honor would spare his life until that
duty could be performed. 1t was the
last service he should ever render to
those nearest and dearest to him.
Tented. He granted the doomed man a
respite of thirty days, and discharged
him on his own recOgnizance, after ex-
acting solemn pledge that he would
appear promptly on the day appointed
and he hanged.
A political campaign was in progress
that fall. Gov. Matthews, popular
stumper, was in the field, and happened
Ito have an appointment at the time and
place fixed for the execution. While he
was chatting with group of rustic adj
herents, a'wagOn, drawn by two oxen.
was observed slowly approaching. As
it drew near it was seen to be occupied
by man, woman, and several chill
dren. They were all weeping bitterly,
and the wife chung to the husbands
neck. The latter was pale and haggard.
He stopped the wagon as bystander
Che was the justice) called out:
$50 you've kept your word, Charley?"
e"YeS," said the condemned man with
a5sob. ssI'm man of my word; Pm
ready to die" Here the walls of the
wife and the little ones became heart
rending.
fbs'Why. what's all thisa' said Gov.
/ Matthews.
5 'But is it all regulars" said the gov
ernor, who was good criminal lawyer.
"Oh. yes, it's all right. ledge Smith
knows what he's about"
"Who's Judge Smith,"
! tHe's our jestis Nv the peace"
- "And did he try this man?' continued
Matthews, becoming very much inter-
ested in the proceedings. But he could
get no attention, for the procession was
now forming to convey the prisoner to
the place of execution. The governor
followed along, half-dazed by the anus
ing procedure, and half-believing it was
all practical joke. But it was all in
dead earnest. A gallows had been erect
ed, and when the place was reached the
prisoner was made to stand up, and the
justice, assisted by his nervous con-
stable. tied his hands behind his back,
bandaged his eyes and was beginning to
adjust the moose, when Gov. Matthews
called in loud voice:
''Hold on there. Mr.. Justice! Will
You listen to me just moment?"
'sWell, what is it, guv'ner?"
what is the mans crime?'
"Kiiled another man."
"How was he trled2'
II tried him and sentenced him to die.
Hes guilty, goV'ner. It's all right.n
"But It's not all right" answered
Matthews. tits pl! wrong. pen,t you
know h tast grand Jug must !. indist
cide9 Don't yeu know he can only be
tried in the circuit court? Don't You
know that you can Only send him to TAIL
j a bind hid o7er 70 sWai! the action Of Of