Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-08
cU,SlN' THE GOVERNMENT
Is Popular With Some--An Instance Of lis
influence.

Luke Tulliver was an inventive genius;
he was also a court bailiff. a carpenter,
a hay rancher and the postmaster in Ten
ton City. When the judge who swung
around the district which took in Unitah
county came up TO Tenton to hold court.
Tulliver did the oh Yes-ing" and kept
things running smoothly. One term
they had little one-horse murder case
which. to all the world. with the excep
ton of the jury. was as clear as distilled
water. But the jury, strangely enough,
realizing its own Importance, became
strongly set in conflicting opinion. and in
two days was tied in hard complex
knot.
The townspeople were impatient. and
the judge was vastly annoyed. for he had
been invited to speak at a banquet down
at Rawlins, and he wanted to get away.
He called the jury before him three
pleaded with the members of it to get to-
gether. He offered to explain any tan
gle, But the u men We're sullen and i'm
movable.
Look here. your honor, said Luke
Tuliver, returning after conducting the
disprtatious II to their room. Il can get
a verdict out of that outfit. Do you
really want one?
The judge warmly declared that he did.
and confided his canVasback and wine
hopes to Luke.
Il might discharge them" he said. but
the cost of another trial would be ruin
GUS
Don't you bother" said Luke Tulliver.
Twelve minutes later the jury returned
a verdict.
How on earth did you manage it,
asked the court. after the jury had fled
in excited haste, without waiting TO in
quire as to fees.
Il cussed the gov ment." said Luke.
Did what? | don't understand
stood outside the jury room door an
cussed the gov ment till further orders
an regardless. Cussed it up an down.
black an blue, this way an that
And do you mean to say you aroused
the patriotism of these men? That
Judge. you're new. Them fellers don't
know they is sich thing as the Deciar-
alton OF independence. The only Bunker
Hin they know is Bunker Hill. Goss
county. Ida. But, sir, them men knows
the mnin laws by. heart.
Yes
Yes. An when | got up on my feet
at the door of that jury room an cussed
the President. the supreme court an the
twp houses of Congress for enactin' a
law that made it necessary for court
bailiff to stick to a fool jury. while ev-
erybo6y else in town was chasin' up to
Burgo creek to file claims along the bot
tom where Tony Glare discovered gold.
pounds to the ton. last night--when !
made my few remarks just to no one in
PARTICULAR the door of the jury room
opened an Pete Brewer looked out
Did you say gold had been struck on
Burgo?' says he.
Il am not allowed to communicate any
conversation to the jury" says |.
''Hm-m.' says he. an Roy Blake looked
out.
Whats that says he. Cold in Bur-
goo''
II can't talk to you says |. Never
theless cuss and eternally. essentially
an particklerly cuss the gov 'ment that
obliges me to stay here while Ike Smart
an Lefty Gavin is diggin' out nuggets
like pertaters.
''Pertaters." said Red Horton. lookin'
out. "Gents-pertaters. you say?-l move
We have one more vote. an I. for one,
say the Teller ought to be hung
We'll sir. your honor. they took Il
vote in lessn 10 seconds. an them black
streaks cuttin' across the horizon is the
II good men an true breakin' for Burgo
They'll look right considerable afore
they'll find strike in that cactus coun-
try, but we've got our verdict, you've
got your dinner. an the boys have got a
hangin' just the same. Oh, you can ac-
complish most anythin' by proper cussin
of the gov-ment.
The judge told the story down at Raw
Inns. but it was dsbelieved.-C hicago Re-
cords.