Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1894-04-19
HE BROUGHT HIM IN.
The Judge Told Martin TO Bring Him In
Dead or Alive, and He Came.

The Judge Told Martin to Bring Him in
Dead or Alive, and He Came.
Old Judge Allison was famous
character in Kentucky in the early
days following the war. and as time
passed his popularity seemed to in
crease. They called him Judge long
before he was elected to the Office,
perhaps on the theory that he de-
served some title and had never
earned any in the military line.
He had been a man OF substance in
slavery days, and, among other prop
erty, owned black man named Mar
tin, very excellent fellow. Martin
was a blacksmith, and was allowed
by his master to do work for pay
whenever he had time enough to de-
vote to 1t.
After the war Martin refused to
leave the Judge, and while devoting
more of his labor to the paying pub
lie he was at all times subject to the
call of his former master.
There was a contest for the office
of county Judge, and Allison became
a candidate. He was not trained
lawyer, and had no legal experience
of any kind. But he YVES a man OF
the soundest sense, and his great
popularity overbalanced all criticism.
He was elected.
One night some hogs were stolen
from field right across the road
from Martins blacksmith shop and
Martin was arrested and charged
with tho crime. He was terribly
frightened Hog stealing in Ken-
lucky is one Of the objectionable
sins, says the Chicago Herald, and
prisoner convicted of 1t is sure OF a
heavy sentence at the hardest labor.
Martin stood trembling before
Judge Allison and declared that he
had not stolen the hogs.
Don't lie, Martin" said the mag
istrate sternly.
"'Fore God, Marse Judge Allison"
protested the prisoner with fright
ened Negroes admixture of all the
titles OF honor, both before and
since the war, Fore God never
took EN-. low don't haf to steal.
Ise got q good trade, ] is. | buy my
polk"
ut don't seem reasonable, Martin.
But somebody must have stolen
them. If it wasn't you. who was it?"
well, | know who 1t was, judge"
"You do?"
"Yessa"
"Whop"
at was dat trifliu' nigga on Colo.
mel Bascom's place"
Pete Willit?'
"Yessa 1t was Pete Wilt"
"How do you know"
cause the man't stole dem hogs
took wrench from my shop to git
the gate of with. And Pete. he
brought back my wrench, and he
laughed, and he low 1se a fool
eatin' salt po'k while he have spare
ribs.
"He did. did hep
"Yessa'
"Woll, Martin, you so and git
Pete Wilt Git that Niger and
bring him in here
IL 'fraid he won't come. Marse
Judge"
You bring him, dead or alivc--do
you hear?"
"Yessa."
And Martin vanished without the
ghost of q bail bond or the hint of n
guard.
Early next day Judge Allison was
listening to a case OF common as
sault when he heard rather unusual
commotion outside, and looked up to
see Martin standing in the doorway,
hat in hand, with puzzled express
sion on his face and crowd of eX-
cited people behind him.
Here's dat nigga, Marse Judge"
he said. with tone which indicated
he was resuming a subject dropped
but moment before.
What nigger?' demanded the
Judge, soberly.
"Dat Pete Wilt"
"Oh! Oh. yes. Well, bring him
in"
"Why, he's dead, Marse Judge. /
saint briag him in.
"Dead! What do you mean"
why. Marse Judge Allison, you
tole me to fetch him dead or alive,
an he wouldn't come. so | had to
kill him. But fotch i'm"
Judge Allison said afterward he
never was more embarrassed in his
life.
But what became of Matt tin, the
negro?
Well, Martin was indicted, but he
was admitted to bail and went on
about his business. Pete Wilt was
undoubtedly the thief and public
sentiment would not have permitted
Martin to suffer. His case was post
poned term after tern, and at last
was simply pigeon-hold somewhere
and left to die 1t hasr't been heard
| Of in fifteen years.