Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-06

of it gave them the pleasing experience of
a new sensation.
In towns like Gordon City justice moves
not with the halting step that character
ICES her progress in the east, but swiftly,
SO that the full effect of the example is
felt. If she is less certain, that is the
quality that can best be spared in a new
community. IN this case everything had
happened most opportunity. The district
attorney was on hand. He would wait over
one day to try the case. The machinery
of justice, all brand-new, would have its
first trial under the most suspicious circum-
stances.
Promptly at o'clock the next morning a
crowd gathered at the eXtemporized court
house; the long shed used by the proprietor
of the mule train that brought supplies to
Gordon City had been given over tempo
rarily for this purpose. The justice of the
peace who tried the case sat upon bale of
hay, the clerk was similarly supplied, and
a board laid across two barrels served as a
desk. The jury was ranged upon
double tier of dry goods boxes while the
spectators stood up or lounged on boxes
and casks. On the question of lawyers
there could be difficulty. The district
attorney would, of course prosecute, and,
as the only lawyer in town. Judge" Wood
row appeared for the defense.
There was no division of sentiment about
the case. AS for the killing itself, 1t mat
tered little. Pete had never been a prime
faVorite; he was too prone to Quarrels
when in his cups. If he had not died at
come In some similar fashion before very
long. Sympathy for the prisoner, or inquiry
as to his motive, was apparently unthought
of. The one well-defned feeling was that
Gordon City could not take a place In rank
with the more pretentious towns of west
ern Colorado until its claims to the height
of civilization had been indicated by
legal execution. AS old Josh Summers ex-
pressed it: Il dunno but I'd a done the
same thing in that young feler's place, but
they's general feelin in town that it's
bout time had hangin" 1t would
give the Almira Sunbeam opportunity for
fresh attack if this man were let go. 1t
would be almost an act of discourtesy to
the district attorney to allow his first visit
to prove a fruitless one
The district attorney had enough of the
cunning of his craft to appreciate this
state of mind on the part of Gordon City
While he briefly mentioned the points of
law involved. he appealed chiefly to this
general feeling, and put 1t into words. He
told his audience that their beautiful and
beloved town had q bad reputation Che
adjective served as a sugar coating to the
unpleasant statement and showed that the
district attorney knew his business). He
showed them that as long indiscriminate
shooting. or shooting of any kind was per-
mitted, they could not expect to attract
eastern capital which was all that was
needed to make Gordon City the metropolis
or western Colorado. He dwelt at length
on all the glorious possibilities which hung
upon this one decision. AS he ceased speak
ing subdued murmur of approval ran
through the crowd, the hopeless look upon
the prisoners face deepened and the fury
set their lips in f1rmer lines while some
or them felt instinctively toward their pis-
toll pockets.
Young Raymond had not expected much
from advice of counsel" Thus far he had
had no advice at all, for the judge had not
asked him about the shooting and during
the trial he had even avoided looking into
the prisoners face. Hes sorry for me
ana knows he can't do anything" Thought
Raymond. Between the prisoner and his
attorney. 1t seemed unlikely that the citi
Zens or Gordon City would be disappointed
IN their desire for hanging. Some feeling
of chiValry, or perhaps boyish reluctance
to acknowledge the attraction which Faro
Bits daughter had for him, had kept the
young plainsman from telling the true story
of Long Pete's death. In response to the
usual question of Guilty or not guilty?''
Guilty"
Those who glanced at the Judge dur
ing the progress of the trial casually re-
marked to their neighbors, Reckon the old
man didn't sleep we'll last night" The
judge had not slept well. All night long he
had sat in the little office above Buckskin
Joes saloon, most of the time with his
head bowed on his arms, and the last
thing he did before leaving for the trial was
to take an old-fashioned photograph from
an inner pocket and to say as he looked at
it, I'm do it; l must do it," Now as he
stood up to address the jury he was ashen
pale. and his hands nervously plucked bits
of hay from the bale that stood beside him
He began in voice that was hardly aud
ible, addressing himself to the spectators
rather than to the jury. I'm going to tell