Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-10-22

He was interrupted by Fairplay. who
had rejoined the party aS03 were en-
tering the canyon, wa
That's SO BoutoR - afs talkin
sense now. Why, cOhn, h1s ten
wuss enemy than alktAs troops and law
oddicers from here to 1uAa And I'm
for fnishin the job 'v31Aout aU Uenore
palayerP
Another storm Of applause followed
he rtag Of Sim Bliss Thin, beardless
and weak looking, Sim Bliss formed
striking contrast to the hardy ruff1ans
about him. But the contrast was only
physical In thought and feeling he was
quite in sympathy with these despera-
does, and with more strength and cour-
age he might have been q leader. But
he soon proved that he had quality
more admirable than any Of them pos
sessed and a power that made the stron-
eest feel like an infant before him Sim
Bliss was fairly educated and well up in
all legal forms and legal tricks, for law
has it's tricks as well as vice He was a
ready speaker, and he used words that
were beyond the comprehension OF his
Iuut WlllCa w hS q oItO43S PoihS
In his favor.
After reoounting Captain Brandon's
crimes Sim Bliss proposed that Bouton
should act as presiding officer Of the
court and that all the men present should
consider themselves jurors in the case
he was about to call up. In all this
there was not even the semblance Of
legal method, but as he was the only
man present aware of the incongruity
the forms were accepted with due 30
lemnity.
The fact that some Of the jurors were
called as witnesses struck no one as be-
ing at all out Of order-indeed, nothing
that Sim Bliss could have done or sug
gested would have been thought irregu-
lar He was lawyer. and they reasoned,
as other men do about doct~rs, that ht
should know everything pertaining to
his own calling
Sim Bliss had been duly posted by
Bouton as to the captains offenses
against the gang. and as there were
witnesses ready to prove anything that
might be charged. there was no trouble
in sustaining all that was asserted.
Before asking you, gentlemen and
friends" said Sim Bliss, after conclud-
ing the farce Of taking testimony,
whether the prisoner at the bar Is
guilty or ne guilty, think 1t would
be only right to ask the prisoner at the
bar if he has anything to say in his
own defense. Sim turned to the cap
tain and nodded to show that he was at
1ihorfv to cr..al ~ ha M deairad
II have nothing to say, ~ replied the
captain. II have no favor to ask"
THAT being the case" interposed
Bouton, with smile Of malignant tri-
umph ON his olive face, "I'll ask the
boys If they think Brandon guilty or
not guilty?"
He rose and looked at the men. and
the men with one accord sprang to their
feet and shouted:
"He is guiltyP'
"What shall we do with him?" asked
Bouton.
Hang himi" was the response.
Don't you think we had better shoot
him?' suggested Bouton. "That'n give
every fellow a chance to get in little
work 4"
"Yea Shoot himp they answered,
and more than one hand was reached
back to the revolver stock.
"When?'
"Nowl" came the laundering re-
sponse, and the men crowded forward
II think" said Sim Bliss, that to
execute him now would be little ir-
regular. 1t is customary to give the con-
demned an opportunity to make their
peace.
"Then We'll give him till sun up"
shouted Fairplay.
This suggestion was acted upon, and
the condemned man was at once placed
under a special guard