Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-06


2. 1t was not suci -,
rye, either, but there we[a circnr
ices connected with this parficplar 90,
ga made 1t a matter of interest 70 81
community. In the frsf ,,ooo " =
except tenderfoot would o1ar bor
ght such charge against j rorr,ah,
%. There were other wavsl of se,tI;n
ers OF dispute which custom hod y,aJ
T. IN se a" s,o Sne people of Dayton dis
Joe Ferry, the te2d9s5Ts,,;o o broupb
the charge, had been workln Tclke
for several months, and hat ever nj.
able to draw cent of the wa, dine him
Not only that, but he had Id ed Wake
nearly every cent he had in til world. ant
the outlook ahead of him waa blue. II,
had lived on frijoles and wofhy bacon
and slept on the ground when he was on
on the grade, and camped in the CORA
when he was in town. And all the time
he had been writing back East to his folks,
| telling them that he liked the Wsst-it was
such free and easy life, and the people
were so hospitable and easy to get along
with, and his health was better. 1t was
all bluff, of course.
Walker was standing in front of the
post-ofiice one day when Perry came out
with letter in his hand and a suspicious
moisture in his eyes. The letter was from
home. His mother was not as we'll as
usual, the letter said, and things were not
going as smoothly as they might. 1t
wound up by asking him If he coUld not
send few dollars, as money was needed
10 BUY her the little comforts that sick
person wants.
Ferry plucked up courage, and, ap-
preaching Walker, asked him for some
money. Walker pulled his revolver and
struck the rash young man Vicious blow
on the head; that was his reply-.a charac-
terlstic one indeed. 1t was, in fact, such
natural think for Walker to do that the
people OF Dayton were surprised treaty. to
learn that warrant had been is4ed even
II must be understood that Walker had
big contract with the railroad company.
and was in debt to everybody in own. If
he could keep going until the bonds were
sold in the East, he and his creditors both
STOOD chance TO get their mmey. To
ask MN for money now, was, of course, an
insult. What else could it be? But per-
maps the tenderfoot didn't know hat.
Justice of the Peace Smith wa. not only
one OF Walkers heaviest creditos. but he
was on his bond, also.
Walker wouldn't listen to reason at all.
de was guilty, he insisted, and clad of it.
Even "hen he was xuite sober, early in
the morning, he was defiant, AMI stoutly
maintained that he would have to plead
gullty. 30 Justice of the Peace Smith took
MIN on TO one side and talked TO him.
LOOK here, Boney," he said, don't
throw us all down like this. Suppose |
nave 10 send you up; where are we going
10 get out? You'll lose the contract and
we Il lose our money. Never mind your
reputation; stand by your friends"
Dut boney was obstinate, and still in
sisted That he was obliged to plead guilty.
TOT the better accommodation of the
jury and the rest of Walkers creditors,
court was held in the old wRr6iGsssss .5ssS-, =,
I "een the cah:htL and the brewery. The
Iudge :ead the charge, with tinge of
sarcasm in his voice, which be with diff |
nculty managed to conceal. The defendant |
waived counsel, and the trial proceeded.
Guilty or not guilty?' asked the court. |
The prisoner jumped to his feet, |
GUILTY. he shouted. "And I'm sorry | |
The court interrupted him. "The pris-
)ner pleads not guilty." the court said, in
eOhNSY hOt lOOhluS at Tic
however. The jury is instructed to
BRING in verdict in accordance with this
The prisoner sat speeches. for brief
infe. He was overcome with violent
motion.
YOU'RE liar!' he shouted, getting up
IN his feet at last II said guilty! !"
The court was entirely unmoved. Doubt
ess it was prepared for some such out
freak upon the part of the prisoner. "The
ury will now retire and prepare its YER
let" the justice said calmly.
In the poker-rOon in the rear of the
abnet the jury deliberated over its YER
let. The expense was borne by the court,
rho had accompanied the jury there
Amid an impressive silence, so deep
hat the rattle of the dice in the cabinet,
here the Frenchies were shaking, could
e distinctly heard the jury took their
laces again.
"Gentlemen, have you the verdict?"
almly asked the court, as he resumed his
hair, raised above the others by the aid of
To soap boxes.
ave have" responded Big Casey, the
,reman.
''Read it," commanded the court, as
inning an eXpeetant air, calculated to
spel any suspicion that the court itself
light have been the real author of the .
Big Casey read the verdict. 1t was as
Flows:
"The jury finds that the prisoner is
lch fearful liar that we cannot believe
m under oath. 1t accordingly finds him
ot guilty" |
The court then solemnly discharged the !
creditors of the prisoner from further
ity, and the incident was closed. : The {
rgonaut.