The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-03

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meted out TO him under the laws 81
that state. Tho Dutchm1n said be
would take his punishment On the spot
II only then remained for the s.aichlde"
70 pronounce sentence.
At this point DR.. Pinigrc came for
ward 70 speak for the man. He said
employ IN Illinois and that he had
always found him honest and industri-
Gus. That the man should have been
guilty Of stealing was i great surprise
10 him. II was probably his first OF
Tense Of the kind The man had given
way 10 a sudden temptation on Seeing
the valuabies lying neglected upon the
tabicI Or. Pinigre further said that
the nan was poor and had In Illinois o
wife and several children. Hethopght
50 well Of him that he was taking him
through to California In the hope that
he would there make sufficient money
70 buy a comfortable home for his fam
lily. The doctor spoke well Of the
Dutchman's wife and family and
begged tho .salcalde'' for their sake Ia
make the culprit's punishment as light
as possible.
Alcalde Cooke then sentenced the
fellow to be whipped, to receive twenty
iashes upon his bare back. The man
was then at once stripped naked TO the
waist and tied up TO a pine sapliny
arose as to who should mete ont the
punishment Some suggested that Az
calde Cooke himself take the whip and
carry ont the sentence, but he said he
did not propose TO act as both Judge
and exccutioner.
Then. by general reclamation, It was
decreed that, as Lucky Bill" was the
man who was robbcdssana had Suffered
through loss Of money and b eFdcstruc-
ton Of valuable papers. he was the
proper person to do the whipping. Bill.
said he was ready and willing to exc
cute the sentence Of the court.
A big biacksnake whip was obtained
from a mar with a train 81 pack mules
who had come up and halted 10 watch
proceedings o. the court. The whip
was handed to Bill, who at once began
preparations for using II ii d vigorous
manner He took on his coat and vest,
then rolled his shirt sleeves above his
elbows.
At that time s.Lncky Bill, was about
thirty-five years Of age, lie was q fine
specimen Of tho frontiersman. He
stood nearly six feet IN his stoclsi ngs,
weighed about n hundred and eighty
pounds and was powerfully muscled
Ills complexion was dark. he wore a
heavy black beard and his black eyes
were keen and flashing.
Taking the heavy whip. he placed
himself In position behind the naked
cuIprit, who stood iii readiness to take
the allotted punishment, his hands
bound TO the tree high above his head
Taking his distance, Fiji. cracked the
whip and whirled it about his head as
though TO stretch and supple his
muscles.
The poor fellow at the tree was
twisting his neck about at every
swish. Of the whip through the air,
and Bills ferocious aspect inspired him
with such terror that his eyes were al
most starting from their sockets. All
present wondered why Bill did not be-
gin his work instead Of whipping the
air. and there were murmurs about the
cruelty Of keeping the culprit iii such
IN agony Of fear and Suspense,
Suddenly Bill threw the whip away
and drew q murderous-loolSing bowie
knife, az which every spectator shud-
dered aai a few started toward him.
He waved all back and cried; AS i
have been appointed To punish this
man / Will not disgrace him by whip
ping Him" Then turning to the Dutch
mar who was twisting his neck in or
der To watch his motions, lie said. ..No,
you have bsen turned over to me as the
man, you wronged, and | intend to do
As ] please with you Apparently Bill.
had worked himself up into a perfect
frenzy 81 wrath
Don't kill hin.'' cried DR.. Pinigre,
alarmed at Eill's ferocious look
Think Of his POOR wife and children"
"No, don't xiii himN' chimed lii
some miner or settler; .'it win be
enough 70 eat off his cars"
.soh, Iaine Gott, mine Gottg cried
the poor Ifutahman, whose eyes were
following every whirl Of Bits big gilt
tering knife.
shut your mouth. cried Bill. ad-
dressing the trembling wretch. "Now,
listen % me. Lam told you have a wife
and children who are good and respect
able. will nat bring disgrace upon
them BY either whipping or IN any way
marking yoa-
Then withNa sweep Of his knife Bill
cut the thongs by which the fellow
was bound and said to him; ".Gol on
with you. and let this be a lesson 10
you al the rest of your days.
The crowd Justify cheered this unex-
pected ending If the affair, and Or.
Pinigrc shook hands with Bill and
with tears rolling down his cheeks
thanked him for sparing his erring
servant
q Think he is cured said Bill. ~
don't believe he'll ever again be tempt
ed to pocket things that are 3 his
own
The Dutchman was dressing, and as
h. "skinped his shirt oXer his head he
sid Never, never, SO help me Gott."
In the good book it is written;
'Blessed are the merciful, for they
shall obtain mercy but it was NOT 50
in Lucky BilI,s'N case, for another
court a the settlers u Carson valley
hanged him hanged him after mercy
had been promised.
Lucky BilIH was d man who was.
well liked by all who We're his neigh
bors at the upper end Of Carson valley,