Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-07-11

WAs horses =, as they
halted where the
trail lett 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 handcuffed, had been allowed to
dismount, and now stood silent, look
ing down the rolling plain toward the
sunset, wstched by single guard.
The others, seven in number, in a
group hall dozen rods away, were
casting votes.
The leader of the posse, christened
fifty years ago n some quaint English
known in his New Mexican home Us
Sheriff jack, " held the hallot-box, Il
worn sombrgro.
"Now, gentlemen, let Us understand
this question, so that no trouble arise
Hereafter" seid he, glancIng about at
his companions. "We have, at the
call of our city, made a successful eff
fort to capture James Brownell, other
wise known as Red Jim, who to-day
stands indicted for more than half the
crimes that have been committed in
Osage County during the past five
years. Time was, and not so far IN the
past either, as several of you can bear
me witness, when such n capture meant
prompt trial and short shrift for the
prisoner but customs have changed.
Our duty, 1t seems to me, Is to return
to Mesa City with Brownell, and SUD.
NIT him to the disposition OF the res
ularly organized authorities. The
road, however, is long, our
horses tired and the man des-
peratc, and some of you believe
it better to conclude the matter
here and at once, all things being
seemingly convenient" and as he
paused, his eye Unconsciously turned
toward the single stnnted pine that
with sturdy, outstrctchod limbs stood
near. "In order, therefore, as it were,
to pcll 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, n Winchester, the court at
home, and the majority shall rule.
Prepare your ballots"
There was certain grim humol
about both the speaker and his ad.
dress, but the others did not-notice it.
They busted themselves in selecting,
each according to his choice, the re.
quired cartridge, and then, with al.
the solemn decorum of New England
school meeting, one by one they ad'
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 sombrerc
to the two who watched the prisoner
and held the horses, with the same
official dignity he declared the polls
closed, and turning the cartridges ont
upon tho ground, separated them, Large
and small, into two tiny piles, counting
them as he did so.
A mans life hung in the balance,
but no sign of excitement showed itself
upon the bronzcd faces OF the posse,
nor was there an expression of satisfac'
tion 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 n half-regretfu.
fing of his head toward the silent pris
Or. who had watched al these pro
ccedings, 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; yet
not q shadow had crossed his hardened
face. Now, CT sign from his guard,
he mounted the horse led to him,
placed himself in the center of the lit
lie cavalcade, and at 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 the
blaze of July sun.
The wide streets. fianked by rows ol
painfully new brick stores and wooden
dwellings, the court house, city hall,
graded school and churches, the dia'
mond shaped plaza, boasting a dry
urned Niobe. and even the discouraged
trees that had been planted near the
doors of the tempting saloons we're one
and all white beneath the nll,ali dust
.rd quivered and Ch:vcrai i: tn,
burning glare like the unstable city o.
l. mirage.
Few inhabitants vcntured forth, fol
the heat was unusual, even for New
Mexico, and while 1t lasted work mus
wait. Eat in one building there hso
gathered quite 4 concoursc, notwith
standing the temperature, and judge
=. - looked from thc bench across {
CROWDED room Cs tEc Cr1er arose enc
with sonorous voice announced tn:
opening of the court fof the trial o
criminal cases.
There were few minor cases, al
occupying some two o. three hours
when the attention of the Court al,
the audience became fixed by the fina
cause upon the day calendar. Undo
the escort OF Sheriff Jack, still ironc;
and trife paler than when lest seen
James Browrcll was led into the room
and took his place in .ho prisoner
dock The murmur OF low coavcrsa
ticn. the occasional squeak of O. -plD