The Elbert County tribune., 1899-10-05
IN A TOUGH TOWN.
soNEY WALKER INSISTED or,
PLEADING GUILTY.,
An Incident In New Mesieo-rhe y-stcs
Of the Peace Was Deeply Interested
In the Case aad tho intsnixens Jury
Acted Accordingly.

IN the Case aad tho lntsiIkxcnt Jury
Acted Accordingly.
Dayton was tough town rhes
were working on the rnilroad-the
railroad that never was finished. II
they had finished that raiiroaA Dayton
would have boon nDropolis enday-i
according to the DayQ neiisk ~ the
Argoneut. Bonsy n . Gnnder,
was u before ~ 10 Of - pssce.
chars with assaul "a - to
XIII Where was no H. q az
sa,rit in Dayton in a aaya 3 was
not such q very senb16 eharee, either.
but there were circumstances connect
ed with &his p0tscular case which
made Sftsr of interest to the
whole foDmunity. In the first place,
no one except tenderfoot would
ever have brought such a charge
against reputable citizen. There
were other ways of settling matters
OF dispute which custom had made the
rule. and the people of Dayton dislik-
ed to see such radical change. Joe
Perry, the tenderfoot who brought the
charge, had been working for Walker
for several months, and had never
been able to draw a cent OF the wages
due him. Not only that. but he had
loaned Walker nearly every cent he
had In the world, and the outlook
ahead Of Him was mighty blue. He had
lived on friJoles and wormy bacon and
slept on the ground when he was out
on the grade, and camped In the cor
raj when he was in town And all
the time he had been writing back east
to his folks, telling them that he liRed
the West-it was such free and easy
lie, and the people were so hospitable
and easy to get along with and his
health was better 1t was all q bluff,
OF course. Walker was standing IN
front Of the postoffice one day when
Perry came out with a letter in his
hand and suspicious moisture In his
eyes. The letter was from home. His
mother was not as well as usual, the
letter said, and things were not going
as smoothly as they might. 1t wound
up by asking II he could not send a
few dollars. as money was badly need
ed to buy her the little comforts that
sick person wants. Perry plucked
up courage, and. approaching Walker,
asked him for some money. Walker
pulled his revolver and struck tho
rash young man a vicious blow on the
head; that was his reply-a character
istic one. indeed. It was, in fact, such
natural thing for Walker to do that
the people OF Dayton were surprised
greatly to learn that warrant had
been Issued even. II must be under
stood that Walker had a big contract
with the railroad company and was
in debt to everybody In the town. II
he could keep going until the bonds
were sold in the East he and his cred
itors both stood chance to get their
money. To ask him for money now
was, Of course, an insult What else
could 1t be? But perhaps the tend~foot
didn't know that. Justice of the Peace
Smith was not only one of Walkers
heaviest creditors, but he was on his
bond also. Walker wouldn't listen to
reason at ALL He was guilty, he in
sisted. and glad OF 1t. Even when he
was quite sober, early In the morning.
he was defiant. and steutly maintained
that he would have to plead guilty.
So Justice OF the Peace Smith took
him OF to one side and talked to him.
Look here. Bonag.- he said. don't
throw us all doso - this. Supp
have to sendN - -: where are ~
going to get outs v1B1i lose the spn-
tEaa and well - ~ money. Never
uDnd your repu0 - stand by your
friends"
For the better GDBmmodation OF the
jury and the rest q Walkers creditors
court vas held In the old warehouse
betO0 the cabinet and the brewery.
The om0 read the charge with tinge
OF sarcasm In his voice. The defend
ant waived counsel and the trial pro-
ceeded.
Guilty or not guilty?" asked the
court.
The prisoner jumped to his feet.
GUILTY." he shouted. And I'm sorry
didn't"
The court interrupted him. "rhe
prisoner pleads not guilty" the court
said. In blandest tones. not looking at
the prisoner. however. "The jury is
instructed to bring in a verdict in ac-
cordance with this evidence"
The prisoner sat speechless for a
brief time. He was overcome with vio-
lent emotion.
You're a liar" he shouted, getting
upon his feet at last. II said guilty."
The court was entirely unmoYed.
Doubtless 1t was prepared for some
- Ia
prisoner. THE Jury will now retire
and prepare its verdict"
In the poker-room In the rear Of
the cabinet the jury deliberated over
its verdict.
Amid an impressive silence. 80 deep
that the rattle OF the dice In the cab
met, where the Frenchies were shak-
ing, could be distinctly heard. the jury
took their places again.
"Gsntlemen. have you a verdictT
calmly asked the court, az he resumed
his chair, raised above the others By
the aid of two soapboxes.
I'VE have" responded Big Casey.
the foreman.
Read I'll" commanded the court, as
suming an expectant air. calculated
to dispei any suspicion that the court
itself might have been the real author
of the document
Big Casey read the verdict. 1t was
as follows: 1.-THE jury finds that the
prisoner is such fearful liar that we
cannot believe him under oath. II 40
cordingly finds him not guilty"
The court then solemnly discharged
the twelve creditors of the prisoner
from further duty. and the incident
was closed.
On the 10th Of December, 1897,