The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1895-09-05
THIS SHERIFF HAD NERVE.
How Becker Took lawyer Early Through
a Crowd That Wanted to Lynch Him.


How Becker Took Lawyer Early Through
Crowd That wanted to Lynch Him.
1.-THE bravest act I saw during my
residence in Leadville, said Peyton
E. Hull, who spent upward of ten
years in the camp, was when a
mob tried to lynch a man and the
sheriff protected him.
"A lawyer named Early was try
ing a case before Justice of the
Peace De Long. A dispute arose be-
tween him and the counsel on the
opposing side, and the latter pulled
his gun and attempted to shoot Ear
ly. Before he could pull the trigger
OR at least before be could hit Ear
ly-the latter, whose craftsmanship
was somewhat better, fired across
the table and killed his opponent.
The shooting was altogether justifia-
BILE, but people were sick of such
tragedies, and in less time than it
takes to tell it a mob formed, and
an attempt was made to lynch the
lawyer Among the crowd were
several policemen, who, instead of
trying to quiet the outbreak, were
as loud as the rest in shouting for
Early's blood, and the situation was
critical to a fine point.
Early had not yet left the court
room, ana nothing on earth appar-
emily stood between him and q hor-
rible death, when man appeared
on the scene whose nerve was suffi-
Gent to paralyze the clamorous mob
and save the lawyers life. The
courtroom was but short distance
from the county Jail, and the out
break had been witnessed. almost
from its starting by the sheriff. This
official was big German named
Peter Becker, who before he was
elected sheriff ran q saddlery shop
on Chestnut street Becker as soon
as he saw the mob forming ran over
to see what the trouble was and dart
ed up stairs into the courtroom,
where he found Early and the dead
man and was briefly informed what
had TRANSFERRED and the danger to
which Early was exposed.
DO as | tell you, Becker said to
EARLY, and I'll take you to Jail, and
no mothers son shall touch you
1.-The mob was just about to rush
up stairs when they saw Early and
the sheriff coming to meet them.
Early was in front and Becker be-
hind, both arms around the lawyers
waist and each hand holding q sin
lister looking six shooter pointing
straight at the crowd, his eyes watch
ing every movement they made over
Early's shoulder. He was using the
lawyers body as breastwork,
while at the same time he was pro-
tecting him with his revolvers.
When they reached the foot of the
stairs, Becker told the mob to fail!
back.
I'm going to take this man to
jail!' he cried out above the confu-
sion. He is my prisoner and is 60
ing to be protected if it takes my
life You can t kill him without kill
ing me, and if any man lays hand
on him while he is in my custody
I'll drop MIN in his tracks. Now,
clear the way.
He pushed Early before him and
passed into the crowd, the sheriff
walking step by step behind his pris-
oner and the two moving like one
man. The foremost of the mob found
the sheriff's gun barrel frowning
them right in the eyes and made
room, as did the men next behind.
And one after another, while the re-
volvers We're pointing right and left
and straight ahead as though on a
sensitive swivel, the crowd pressed
aside and formed narrow lane
through which the sheriff and his
prisoner passed into the street and
finally reached the Jail unmolested.
1T was the grittiest piece of bust
ness ever saw, and it won with the
mob. Early was tried and acquitted
by a unanimous verdict, and at last
accounts was practicing in Kansas
City. Washington Post.