The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-01-29
THE SEDUCTIVE sIx-SHoOTER.
Incidents Which Show That Con-
slant Use of 1t is a Disease
Which Grows.
Cy Warlnan, in y. Y. sun.

Cy warnan, in y. Y sun.
Butchers are not allowed to serve on a
coroner jury, believe, in some states,
presumably because the constant shedding
of blood hardens the human heart. Along
the same line of reasoning it is not too
much to say that with the constant han
ding of firearms comes a desire TO use
them on something or somebody. With
much use one becomes expert with the
six shooter. and when III trouble. or in
search of it, such one reaches instinct
lively for his firearms, without taking
thought of the consequences. Instinct
lively man defends himself with that
| which is most convenient. \ negro barber
turns to his razor, Il covb0v to his car
fridge belt, soldier to his sword, while
the English athlete puts up his hands.
Another temptation to Use the gun comes
with the feeling of security that pervades
the bosom of the expert He is reasona-
bly, sure of success in hand-to hand fight
with novice
Having killed the man, the killer
begins to swagger, and at the first oppor-
tunity hastens to repeat the performance.
Like the prize fighter who has won the
belt, he must keep on fighting or lose his
reputation, and finally he actually goes
looking for trouble Killing becomes
disease Not for the sake Of killing merely
does he do this. but because he loves the
excitement of fighting. asked Bob Ford,
who had clasped left hands with Colo
RADIO cowboy, emptied his six-shooter into
the man and taken the contents of the
cowboy gun into his system, if there
was not suffocating dread Of being torn
by the bullet
''Well, yes-at first, said he; but the
moment the shooting begins you become
drunk with the excitement of the fight
and the smell of powder, and all thought
of danger blows by
This fellow had been n quiet. modest
youth up to the evil hour in which he was
tempted to take the life of jesse James,
his friend and benefactor. James had
taught Ford the use of the fascinating
forty five, with which the pupil slew the
teacher. That was the beginning of Ford 5
end. He gradually grew in ''cussedness'
until he had acquired the unenviable repu-
tation of being a bad man, and was in the
end himself ANONYMOUSLY murdered.
Another instance in which the seductive
six shooter led man astray is the case Of
Frank Rand, of Illinois. say of Illinois
because it was in that state, near the lit
tie town of Altimont, that he wandered
an inoffensive tramp, to farmer s house
one morning in quest of food. The farmer
lived in a little shack on the railroad, on
bit of ground alone He wasn't polite
to the tramp, and the tramp resented the
insult. The farmer so forgot himself as
to kick the tramp, and the tramp pulled
his gun and killed the farmer \ gang
Of section men saw the smoke, heard the
shot and saw the man fall. Lifting the
car to the track they pumped into Alti-
mont and gave alarm.
The tramp saw the car 90 and guessed
the cause of it. He glanced at his six
shooter and felt certain security. A
VI lllS IOiu lcSlluSu dllCI-
ward that he had tramped with Rand for
a4ew weeks and found him a most agree
able companion, quiet and inoffensive. He
was reasonably honest, the man said.
The only thing he had known Rand to
steal was food and cartridges, IF he could
not steal ammunition for his gun he would
beg money. go hungry and buy it. As
often as they stopped to rest Rand took
his six-shooter to pieces, cleaned it and
put it together again. He was a wonder
full shot. He could kill farmers bull
dog as far as he could see him. He would
shoot the head from a tame pigeon at the
top of country church and kill brown
birds on the tops of telegraph poles He
never missed whatever he aimed at
So now. when he saw men hurrying out
from the little town, afoot, on horseback,
and in top buggies, he made no doubt that
they were after him. He kicked out the
empty shell and put in fresh cartridge.
Presently horse leaped the low hedge
and came straight for the tramp, who was
heading for some willows down by Il little
stream. The man on the horse called on
the man who was running across the stub
BILE to stop For answer Rand turned
slightly, but without Stacking his pace,
and aimed at the horseman. There was
puff of smoke from the tramp S pistol,
the horse plunged high and then fell dead
in the field, shot square between the eyes.
The rider got to his feet, glanced at his
poor, dead horse, and ran after the flying
tramp. Others came up, saw the wound
in the horses head and considered it only
chance shot. No one thought for a
moment that Rand had aimed itso. In a
little while they chased the fugitive out of
the willows and across an open field. A
man with swift horse rode round the
field, dismounted and stood upon little
culvert over which the tramp must pass.
Rand, running straight for the man who
held the bridge and double -barreled shot
gun, called to him and sgnaled to him
with his six-shooter But the man held
his place. ''Stand aside, he shouted.
The man deliberately raised his shotgun.
Without stopping Rand cut loose at the
man. He threw up his hands, waved his
gun above his head and then, as Rand
went by, toppled over into the ditch Still
running the outlaw heard rife crack
close behind him and the whine of a bullet
that whistled by CHANGING back he saw
man standing on the line fence aiming
another shot at him. Again the toy gun
cracked, and the man, who had his feet
in the top crack of the fence, pitched for
ward into the field.
When the pursuing party came up and
saw the two men hit as the horse had been
hit, plump between the eyes, their hearts
stood still What devil was this, at the
crook of whose finger men dropped dead
1t is all very well to go in pursuit of an
outlaw, murderer, but few men care to
face fiend of this sort, even to avenge the |