The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-31
HIXSON'S TRIAL.

forgets solar plexus, politics and the Other
bothersome things of his daily existence
and reverts in anecdote to the gladsone
days when he, sport Sving son of a slave
holding sire, ranged the red clay SCARED
and granite bound hills of his native east
Tennessee.
And in those moments the precise. cul.
tivated accent of the university bred, city
habituated physician is softened by the
lazy drawl and the broadened vowels sof
the men of the hills concerning whom he
speaks.
On such an occasion. a few nights after
the election, DR.. Girdner was reminded Of
primitive court trial which he had wit
messed in those years before the war had
changed the complexion of a good many
things in the mountains of Greene COUNTY
1T all caIne about on account of the
perverse actions of a fox said the doctor
pensively, "but when I'd found that if
was to be case Of get dinner at Sherrill's
Cove or not get any dinner at all I spurred
up my horse and took fences and gullics
as they came till 1 struck the bride path
along the branch which led to that very
primitive settlement.
81 intended quarteripg myself and my
horse on old Squire Nathan Lamb, the
soul Of real homely hospitality and great
friend of my father.
''But half a mile from the squire's house
at a crossroads I met a procession riding
single file 1t was composed of four men,
each mounted upon little, shaggy noun
tain horse, riding with the long stirrup
and the loose, easy seat of the lazy noun
tain men.
''In front rode one Alb Henry, who car
ried long squirrel rife across the pom
mel of his saddle. Next came Andy Hix-
son, a Hercules, who lived some nine miles
up the mounting, the most notorious and
irrepressible moonshiner in that section OF
the country. Andy had no rifle, and I was
panied to see that his hands were secured
behind his back by blight of heavy rope,
while his feet were lashed securely under
his horses belly. Directly behind Andy,
carrying a long Colts navy revolver in
his right hand, rode Galloway Myers, con
stable of Sherrils Cove township, and be-
hind him came Hez Lamb, son to the
squire, who also mounted long squirrel
rifle at his saddle bow.
81 saluted the procession cheerfully and
fell in alongside of Constable Galloway
Myers, so long as the bride path was wide
enough to allow US to ride two abreast.
- We all air jest a-takin Andy hya1
up befo' the squah tub be tried, he ex-
planned casually.
's Tried for whatY' I asked.
" Fuh a-shootin O. one O. them rev
noos, " replied the constable. He done
popped one on 'em ez KEN up from Knox
vile last week tub raid Andy's stillhousc,
an the squah he lowed as how we all had
gOttah try him fuh it.
g Bein ez how ain't noways objectin,'
put in the prisoner, turning to speak over
his shoulder.
" 'Bein ez how Andy amt noways OBJ
iectin, an even done insisted on bein
brought in tied an gyahded, explained the
constable.
''So's they CANT be no ruction raised
about cts bein no onfaih trial., put in
Andy.
& Jest so, said Myers nodding, 'an
reckon thuh will be some O. a crowd
a-waitin fuh US.
"There was a crowd for that sparsely
country. At least a hundred
people had gathered in the shaded open
space surrounding Squire Nathan Lambs
cabin. The women wore Hnsey woOlsCy
and stick sunbonnets, gossiped languicvy
and dipped snuff. The men-gaunt,
bearded, ragged, booted-leaned on the
fence or on their long squirrel rifles and
puffed cobpipes orchewed tobacco.
1.-THE 'squah, venerable man, who
had dOnned coat of many patches in
token of his assumption of his official du-
ties, was seated behind a puncheon table
in one corner of the living room of the
cabin. Over his head hung a cord swung
'whatnot, upon which were three books
One was Pilgrim S Progress, another the
Bible. The third, a dingy, grimy, calf
bound volume, the 'squah reverently lift
ed down and spread open upon the table
before him.
"Andy Hixson was led to a seat on a
bench fronting the table. He was still
tightly bound Directly behind him sat
Constable Galloway Myers, with the muir
derous looking Colt pointed directly at
the small of Andy's back.
1.-THE prisoner began proceedings him
self
- Eff the constable will reich ovah an
tex off nah hat, he remarked reproach-
fully, I reckon this hyah trial will be lnoh
decent fittin.
- Tex off the prizzonah's s hat Gallo
way, commanded the court Then con-
tinuing:
- This byah volyume befoh me ez thuh
statOots o. the state of Tennessee, made
an pervided Accordin tuh them, Andy
Hixson, we all air a-goin tub try ye all
fuh a-killin that rev moo last Thursday
week. Whut hev ye got tub say? Air ye
guilty eh not guilty, an may God heV
mehcy upon yer soul
Not guilty, solemnly responded
Andy. 1 drawed bead on thuh crittah,
but he he'd his gun out an wuz a-coInin
nah way
1.-THE court bowed gravely, and then sol
emnly, slowly searched the 'statoots' from
cover to cover. Having finished, he closed
the book with decisive air and sat up to
Andy Hixson, prizzonah at the bah,
stan up, he said.
ANDY arose, towering above the heads
Of the tallest in the room.
g This hyah count, began the judge
solemnly, has done sarched them thah
O. the state o Tennessee, made an
pervided, from kivah tub kivah an don't
find nothin in EN- mekkin it no crime fuh
tub kill rev'n
= This count hez no doubt but whut
thuh's so1nethin on the subjict in the stat
oots, made an pervided, o these hyah
United States, but ez so come, this hyah
COUNTS jooisdicting confined tub these
hvah state statoots, made an pervided. an