The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-14
TINS SVERIFF IL ID NERJE.
How Becker Took Lawyer Early Through
"a crowd That Wanted 10 Lynch Him.

THE braVest act / saw during my
residence i'm LeadVille.' SAID Pcyton *.
Hull who spent upward Of ten years III
the Damp was when a mob tried TO
lynch man end the sheriff protected
him.
n lawyer named Early was trying
case before Justicc-o f-thc- Peace De
Long. a dispute arose between him and
the counsel on the opposing side, and
the latter pulled his gun and attempted
TO shoot Early Before he could pull the
trigger-Or. at least before ne could hit
Early--the latter whose craftsmanship
was somewhat better, fired across the
table and killed his opponent. The shoot
ing was altogether jus,iliable. but people
were sick of such tragedies. and IN less
time than il takes 10 tell if, mob form
ed. and an attempt was made to lynch
the lawyer. Among the crowd were sew
cral policemen, who, instead OF trying
20 quiet the outbreak. were as loud as
the rest I'm shouting for Earlys blood
and the situation was critical ID iine
point
Early had not yet left the courtroom,
and nothing on earth apparently stood
between him and a horrible death, when
a man appeared on the scene whose
nerve was sufficient to paralyze the clam
orous mob and save the lawyers life.
The court was but a short distance from
the county jail. and the outbreak had
been witnessed almost from It's starting
by the sheriff This official was big
German named Peter Becker who. be
fore he was elected sheriff. ran sad
dery shop on Chestnut street. Becker,
as soon as he saw the mob forming, ran
over TO see what the trouble was. and
darted up stairs into the COURTROOM
-
and was briefly informed what had
transpired and tho danger 10 which Early
was exposed
DO as / tell YOU, Becker said to
Early. and III take YOU 10 jail and no
mothers son shall touch YOU
1.-THE mob was just about 10 rush up
stairs when they saw Early and the
sheriff coming TO meet them. Early
was in front and Becker behind, both
arms around the lawyers waist and each
hand holding a sinister-l0oling siX-shoot-
CT pointing straight at the crowd, his
eyes watching every movement they
made over Early's shoulder. He was
using the lawyers body as q breastwork,
while at the same time he was protect
ing him with his revolvers. When they
reached the foot of the stairs Becker
told the mob to fan back.
" I'm going TO take this man TO jail"
he cried out above the confusion. He is
my prisoner. and is going to be pro-
tccted If it takes my life You can't
kin him without killing me, and II any
man lays a hand on him while he is IL
my custody I'll drop him in his tracks
Now clear the way"
"He pushed Firly before him, and
passed into the crowd the sheriff walk
ing step by step behind his prisoner, and
the two moving Ike one man. The
foremost Of the mob found the sherlf's
gun-barrel fr0wning them right in the
eyes and made room. as did the men
next behind And one after another. while
the revolvers were pointing right and
left and straight ahead as though on a
sensitive swivel the crowd pressed aside
and formed "A 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 business
I ever saw. and IL won with the mob
Early was tried and acquitted by a unan-
imous verdict. and AT last accounts was
practicing in Kansas city. "-Washington
Post