Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-05-12

trail left the open mesa and climbed
the little divide.
The animals had been gathered in,
head to head, and all the brides were
held by one of the party; the prisoner,
still handcutied, had been allowed to
dismount, and now stood silent, look
ing down the rolling plain toward the
sunset, watched by II single guard.
The others, seven in number, in
group half II dozen rods away, were
casting votes.
The leader of the posse, christcncl
fifty years ago i'll some quaint English
village John Robinson, but far better
known i'll his New Mexican home Ms
"Sheriff Jack, held the ballot box, IL
worn sombrero.
"Now, gentlemen, let us understand
this question, so that no trouble arise
hereafter, - said he, CHANGING about ut
his companions. 1--WE have, at the
call of our city, made successful cr-
fort to capture James Brownell, other
wise known AZ Red Jim, who to-day
stands indicted for more than half the
crimes that have been committed in
Usage County during the past five
years. Time was, and not so far in the
past either, rs several of you can bear
me witness, when such capture meant
n prompt trial and short shrift for the
prisoner but customs have changed.
Our duty, it seems to me, is to return
to Mesa City with Brownell, and sub
nit him to the disposition of the reg
ularly organized authorities. The
road, however, is long, our
horses tired and the man DIES
perate, and some of You believe
it better to conclude the matter
here and at once, all things being
seemingly convenient, and rs he
paused, his eye unconsciouslv turned
toward the single stuntcd pine thut
with sturdy, outstretched limbs stood
near. "ln order, therefore. rs 1t were
to poll the jury on the question of what
to do with our prisoner. | have pro-
posed the casting of ballots. Draw up,
gentlemen, and make your wills
known: pistol cartridge means Judge
Lynch, a Winchester, the court Mt
home, and the majority shall rule.
Prepare your ballots.
There was certain grim humor
about both the speaker and his nd
dress, but the others did not notice it,
They busted themselves in selecting,
each according to his choice, the re-
CURED cartridge, and then, with all
the solemn decorum Of New England
school meeting, one by one they nd
vanced and dropped the leaden mes
sengers of their desires into the hat
There was no discussion, no seeking
to influence each other, and when
Sheriff Jack had passed his sombrero
to the two who watched the prisoner
and held the horses, with the sam,
official dignity he declared the polls
closed, and turning the cartridges out
upon the ground, separated them, large
and small, into two tiny piles, counting
them rs he did so.
A mans life hung in the balance,
but no sign of excitement showed Itself
upon the bronZed faces of the posse,
nor was there an expression of satisfac
ton or disappointment when, rising,
the Sheriff said
Boot and saddle! We ride home
The verdict is five for town law to foul
against it-and much good may it dc
him., he added, with half-regretfu
fling of his mead toward the silent pris
oner, who had watched all these pro
ceedings, even to the final announce
ment, with the stoicism of an Indian
The vote had meant death to him within
an hour or days of opportunity; ye
not a shadow had crossed his hardene,
face. Now, at a sign from his guard
he mounted the horse led to him
placed himself in the center of the lit
tie cavalcade, and at n brisk trot al
proceeded northward through the rap
idly deepening cleaning of the even
ing.
Two months later Mesa City lay
scOrched and browning beneath TIT
blaze of a July sun.
The wide streets, hanked by rows o
painfully new brick stores and woodel
dwellings, the court house, city hall
graded school and churches, the dia
mOnd shaped plaza, Boosting dry
urned Niobe, and even the Discourage
trees that had been planted near tn
doors of the tempting saloons were on
and all white beneath the alkali dust
and quivered and shivered in tn
burning glare like the unstable city o
a mirage.
Few inhabitants ventured forth, 70
the heat was unusual, even for Nel
Mexico, and while it lasted work mus
wait. But in one building there ha,
{ gathered quite Il concourse, notwith
standing the temperature, and Judg
Gary looked from the bench across
crowded room as the crier arose mn
with sonorous voice announced tn
opening Of the court for the trial O
criminal cases.
There were few minor cases, al
occupying some two or three hours
when the attention of the Court an
the audience became fixed by the fina
cause upon the day calendar. Unde
the escort of Sheriff Jack, still irone
and trihe paler than when last seen
James Brownell was led into the roor
and took his place in the prisoner
dock. The murmur of low converse