The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-01-12

dIu pIoCccuCu W MOlh SfCly
one-tbe hotel. store and saloon.
Ae was always ready for a drink,
always first at the table and never
refused any generosity of a smoke
nor never lacked courage to square
your plug of chewing tobacco. He
soon became known as a "dead
beat" and plans to get him out of
town were discussed. At last a
plan was arranged and it worked
like a charm. A crowd gathered
and he was led to tree in the viii
lage. 1t was, he thought, to be a
hanging and he was to make his
debut on this occasion. The tree
was reached. His hat, shoes, pants,
coat and vest were taken off. Moth
ing was left on him but his shirt to
protect him from the cold Decem Der
winds. The rope was placed over
the limb and the knot was about to
be placed around his neck when a
consultation of the would-be asso.
ciates of Judge Lynch's court was
called at the side of the tree. This,
Of course, was prearranged to give
him chance to flee in the predica-
ment he was in. He did. Down
the street he ran with his colors flv-
ing high and the cold winds adding
energy to his speed. lie asked no
questions nor stopped to bid his
friends good bye. The merchants
store was reached. In he went and
through to the wareroom. Here
Jack wanted to bid him good bye
or ask him something about his
wardrobe, but on he went. Jack
surged on the chain and it let him
go and after the clotheless man he
started. The river which divides
the two States was reached and on
he went right through 1t. The dog
returned but nothing was ever heard
of the bum who fled like comet.
One day the merchant was won
dering what would be the next in
cident from the catalogue Of casu.
alitles. In came a man and said a
man was dead up along the line
and suspicious of foul play were
entertained. A coroner's jury was
empanelled and on horseback.
muleback and a foot they started
for the dead mans presence. The
jury was well supplied with whiskey
as courage strengthened. etc., and
every few minutes a stop was made
for recuperation. 1t was twelve
miles to the place and when the
scene was reached some mem bers
of the jury did not know the differ
ence between dead man and a
skinned mule. After hearty din
ner the foreman of the jury asked
where the corpse was.
"Out in the coal house." re-
sponded the host.
In the coal house was found a
plain, ordinary box. A crow-bar
and pick was used to draw the nails
out of the lid and there lay a man
in working suit. No pillar, no
nothing. Nothing but plain
very plain-store-box IN which to
lay to their last resting place the
remains of human being who per-
haps had heart which overfowed
with charity, and whose greatest
aim in life was to do some one else
kindness. But the jury investi-
gated and questioned. The doc
tor took the stand to give his be-
lief as to the cause of the dead
mans existence.
cit is my solemn belief" he said
THAT the lifeless man before you.
gentlemen, came to his death from
eating laurel"
But questioned the foreman
of the jury, edo YOU testify to us
that that is the cause of the death?"
eyes, sir, he came either to his
death from eating laurel or drink
ing rotten whiskey," replied the
doctor so drunk that he did not
know whether he was before a cor
oner's jury or congressional COM
mittee.
The jury returned the usual YER
die: of death from an unknown
cause and dispersed.
The merchant had just such ex-
perlences as are related above. DUR
ing his stay at German. Several
times the revolver was grabbed for
and the question of life rested upon
who could shoot first, but nature,
or natures God, always directed a
different course. 1t was nothing
to hear Il bullet strike the store
building at night. 1t was consid-
cred common thing for fifteen or
twenty drunken men to enter the
store at one time and really take
possession.
The completion of the railroad
has brought, or rather restored civ