Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-05-19
HE BROUGHT HIM IN.
Tine Judge Told Martin 10 Bring Him In,
Dead or Alive, and lie Came.

Dead or Alive, and lie Came.
Old Judge Allison was a 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 man of substance in
slavery days, and, among other prop
erty, owned black man named Mar
tin, very excellent fellow. Martin
was blacksmith, and was allowed
by his master to do work for pay
whenever he had time enough to de-
vote to IT,
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 contest for the Office
Of county judge, and Allison became
candidate. lie was not a trained
lawyer. and had no legal experience
OF any kind. But he was man of
the soundcst 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. the crime. He was terribly
frightened Hog stealing in Ken
tncky Is one Of the objectionable
sins. says tine Chicago Herald, and a
prisoner convicted OF II is sure of
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 negro's admixture OF all the
titles OF honor. both before and
I since the war, Fore God ] never
took EN-. low | don't haf TO steal.
Ise got good trade, J is. ] BUY my
po'k
1T don't seem reasonable, Martin.
But somebody must have stolen
them Tit wasn't you. who was it?h
.Wcl. know who It was, judge. Y
.You do2n
'Yessa
"Who?n
At was dat triiiin' nigga on Colo
mel Bascoms 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 Ise fool
eatin' salt pok while he have spare.
ribs
lie did. did hep
.Yessa
We'll. Martin, you 60 and git
Pete Wilt Git that niggeis and
bring him ia here
Il 'fraid he won't come, Marse
Judge.
You bring him, dead or alive-dc
you hear9"
.'lessa.'
And Martin vanished without the
ghost OF bail bond or the hint Of q
guard.
Early next day Judge Allison was
listening to a case OF common as
sault when he heard a rather unusual
commotion outside. and looked up to
see Martin standing in the doorway,
hat in hand. with a puzzled expires
sion on his face and a crowd of eX'
cited people behind him.
Here's dat nigga, Marse Judge, =
he said. with a tone which indicated
he was resuming a subject dropped
but a moment before.
What nigger?n demanded the
Judge, soberly.
dat Pete Wilt :"
"Oh! Oh, yes. Well, bring hin
in.
"Why, he's dead. Marse Judge,
CANT bring him in. 7
..Dead! What do you mean?"
why. Marse Judge Allison, yor
tole me TO fetch him dead or alive
an he wouldn't come. so ] had tc
kill him. But fotch i'm"
Judge Allison said afterward he
never was moro embarrassed in hi'
life.
But what became of Man tin, thC
negro?
Wen, Martin was indicted, but h'
was admitted TO bail and went OF
about his business. Pete Wilt wa
undoubtedly the thief, and pubic
, sentiment would not have permitte,
Martin to suffer His case was post
poned term after term, and at las
was simply pigeon-holed somewhere
and left to die. ii hasn't been hear'
of in fifteen years
! racing a nire Dilemma.