The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-13
HE DEFENDED hrs DOG.
Why a New Mexican Jury Acquitted Starr
Of Numbering nm Assaiiant.

ENA 49,
of Numbering nm Assailant.
The orchestra was playing n Spanish air in
front OF the Post Onlce one Sunday afternoon
in the little silver lamp OF Kingston. N. NJ.
The superintendent Of the Gypsy Queen
played the flute, the Postmaster played the
violin. and three Mexicans with guitars com
pleted the orchestra. Sunday in Kingston was
no different from any other day. There were a
few more miners and cowboys in town. and
possibly there was more gambling. otherwise
the camp preserved the even tenor OF its way.
1t might be added that anybody who made any
pretensions whatever to responsibility put on q
clean shirt. All the Mexican women In town. In
their eayest waists and petticoats. sat on the
Post 0flce steps and on tho doorsill OF the
ohinarnan's restaurant listening to the music.
COWBOYS from the Diamond Heart" outfit.
the Hundred and One" outfit. and the -. L.
c." outfit lined the sidewalk. The two saloons
being deserted. the barkeepers closed their
doors and followed their customers. Old Man
Clay locked his grocery store, as did his rival.
Tommy Hobson. A score or so Of miners.
prospectors. and Mexicans completed the crowd
about the musicians.
Here come Starr and Miss Starr" said some
one. and the crowd looked up.
A man came staggering down the street. and
close at his heels followed a handsome black
hound. 1t was Starr and Miss Starr" The
dogs devotion to Starr was a byword in the
camp; when he was drunk she never left his
side The man was a physical giant, and his
feats of strength Vert a constant topic of con-
yersation in the camp. His face. when not
coarsened by drink. was handsome and manly.
He was about 80 years old. a graduate OF an
Eastern college. and OF exceptionally good
family. Hc had drifted TO the mining camp,
and, remained Tor no other reason than that he
could get drunk without being arrested. It
was no disgrace to get drunk in Kingston.
sshaetrHifr reiieved him Of his his gum and M tarn n%S h IRe
loose.
This was the second day Of his spree. and he
was wa as as h hell as a little child The boys ran
S oSs d ie ees fs and Ins saa daqh5ih %. him. and the
cleared the sidewalk for him. He threw his
caper In Initiation of some Spanish dancer he
had seen back East. Sometimes he fell then
fa9 0F UitR i theffr feet snd The fho1 Iow nsares ns gSSsa
"Greaserr there had ! kick for him. the tough
est man in that uneQuth crowd had a shove for
Ssp6ef they t9ok on their hats to him and the
1t was Tommy Hobsan the grocer who at
last picked up'a stick and struck Starr across
tsfs back e. bu sts Mis- dig sts 1qt DID mInd It, /; H IEo scarcely ely
turned 8 dangerous green: SIG mover aiinched
VIZ lNib iHb lOOl W KICK neT.
You dissent" sneered some one.
her TG tn snow wf his bb9 pa2eFS, faI is foot So st he eiof he'd ed
ID the chest and knocked her. over, She picked
herself up and came for him. Quick as she
was. Starr was quicker. With a single throw
his long knife was open. Three times he thrust
it into Tommy's frame Judge Best caught
Stars arm, while T3mmy,s hated rival and
and carried 1t into the Post Office to await the
coming OF the camp dentist. who acted as SUR
geon on such occasions. They took Starr. who
went without a word, to the little 'dobe jail in
Starr was sober when. he came up for trial.
Miss Starr lay at his feet when he pleaded
crowded courtroom. He had no attorney and
no defence to make. He only said simply. in a
quiet, unconditional voice:
Il have nothing to say. save that. drunk or
sober l would do it again. The dog Is my best
friend. She has stuck to me through thick and
thin. When was insulted, she resented it for
me: when she was insulted. l could not be less
they will. / shall not complain"
lurymen, alphabetically. Tommy was a mean
cuss. and one grocery store in a camp of this
size is enough, anyway"