New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-06
THE VERDICT.
AN INCIDENT OF LIFE IN NEW MEXICO.
H., ArOo

From The ArgOnaut.
DAYTON was a tough town. They were work
ing on the railroad-the railroad that never was
finished II they had finished that railroad Day
ton would have been metropolis to-day-ac-
cording TO the Dayton belief.
Roney Walker. grader. was up p'ioie t'e
Justice OF the Peace charged with assault WIN
intent to kill There was no other klnd OF as
sault in Dayton in those days. IL was not oucn
a very serious charge. either but there were
circumstances connected with this particular
case which made II matter or interest 10 tue
hole community. In the first place. no one ex-
cent a tenderfoot would ever have brought such
a charge against a reputable citizen Iheie
were other ways of settling matters OF u'Spuo'
which custom had made the rule ana the peo
Dle OF Dayton disked to see such RADICAL
change. ,,.o,,oh, tho
charge. had been working for Walker Tor se'e'a.
months and had never been able TO draw cen.
OF the wages due him. Not only that, put ne
had loaned Walker nearly every cent ne nan IN
the world and the outlook ahead OF mn. MN VIZ VIZ
mighty blue He had lived on friJoles ana
wormy bacon and slept on the ground wien ne
was out on the grade. and camped IN the cot ira,
when he was in town. And all the Time ne , nau
been writing back East to his foikS teiiins 'cii,
thai no liked the West-it such free ana
easy life and the people were so hospitapie ana
easy TO get along with. and his heaith was pe'-
ter II was all a bluff. of course
Walker was standing in front or the pos.on1 =;
one day when Perry came out with iet'er III
his hand and a suspicious moisture IN MS Eyes.
The letter was from home. His motner was ho'
as we'll as usual, the letter said. ana thinss WIZ
not going as smoothly az they might. IL "ouhu
I'D by asking if he could not send a ie" uoiia.S.
as money was badly needed to BUY her the "'''o
comforts that a sick person wants 49,.
Perry plucked up courage. ana appioa,cnn,,ns
Walker asked him for some money. Waiker
pulled his revolver and struck the rash young
man a vicious blow on the head that was ms
reply-a characteristic one, indeed IL WAC III
fact, such a natural thing for Walker to 90 una.
the people of Dayton were surprised gredliy !"
learn that warrant had been issued even. Ia,
met no II IL
contract with the railroad company, ana was IN
debt to everybody in the town. If he couiu keep
going until the bonds were sold in the East ne
and his creditors both stood chance 10 ger
their money. To ask him for money now was:
of course. an insult What else could IL DEF
But perhaps the tenderfoot didn't know tnat.
Justice Of the Peace Smith was not only one
Of Walkers heaviest creditors, but ne was y"
his bond. also.
| Walker wouldn't listen to reason at all "He
was guilty he insisted. and glad OF 1t. ,ikych
when he was quite sober early in the morning.
he was defiant. and stoutly maintained that ne
would have to plead guilty So Justice or the
Peace Smith took him off to one side ana taiheo
to him.
Look here Boney," ne said. don't throw US
all down like this. Suppose have TO sena you
up; where are we going to get out! You !, lose
the contract and We'll lose our money Never
mind your reputation: stand by your friends"
But Boney Obstinate and still INSISTED
that he was obliged to plead guilty.
For the better accommodation of the jury and
the rest of Walkers creditors, court was held
the old warehouse between tne anu
the brewery. The Judge read the charge. with
tnge OF sarcasm in his voice, which ne win
difficulty managed to conceal. Inc deiehuah'
waived counsel and the trial proceeded
Guilty not guilty. asked the Court
The prisoner jumped to his feet. Guilty. no
shouted And I'm sorry | didn't
The Court Interrupted him. The prisoner
pleads not guilty" the Court said. in blandest
tones not looking at the prisoner however. The
Jury is instructed to bring in verdict IN ac-
cordance with this evidence"
The prisoner sat speechess for brief time
He was overcome with violent emotion
"You're a liar" ne shouted. getting upon his
feet at last. II said Guilty.!
The Court was entirely unmoved. Doubtless
il was prepared for some such outbreak upon
the part of the prisoner. The jury will now re-
tire and prepare its verdict the justice SAID.
calmly.
In the poker room in the rear OF the Cabinet
the jury deliberated over its verdict The ex-
pense was borne by the Court who had accom-
panied the jury there.
Amid an impressive silence. so deep that tho
rattle of the dice in the Cabinet. whore the
Frenche were shaking. could be distinctly
heard the jury took their places again.
"Gentlemen have you the verdict" calmly
asked the Court as he resumed his chair. raised
above the others by the aid of two soap boxes.
eve have" responded Big Casey. the foreman.
Read it," commanded the Court, assuming an
expec ant air. calculated to dispel any suspicion
that the Court itself might have been the real
author of the document
Big Casey read the verdict 1t was as follows:
The jury finds that the prisoner is such a fear.
full liar that we cannot believe him under oath
Ii accordingly finds him not guilty"
The Court then soemnly discharged the
twelve creditors of the prisoner from further
duty and the incident was closed.