The Elbert County tribune., 1900-01-04
IN A TOUGH TOWN.
HoNEY WALKER INSISTED on
PLEADING GUILTY,
An Incident In New Merics-rhe y~.s,r.
OF the Peace Was Deeply Iatsr-sseA
In the Case and the inssIiissn. jar,
Acted Accordingly.

layton was tough town. They
were working on the railroad-the
railroad that never was finished. II
they had finished that railroad Dayton
would have been q metropolis today
according to the Dayton belief. says the
Arsonaut. Boney Walker, q grader,
was up before the justice Of the peace,
charged with assault with intent to
XIII. There was no other kind OF as
sauit In Dayton in those days. It was
not such a very serious charge. either,
out there were circumstances connect
ed with this particular case which
made 1t a matter of interest to the
"hole community. In the first place,
no one except tenderfoot would
ever have brought such q charge
against a reputable citizen. There
were other ways OF settling matters
OF dispute which custom had made the
rule, and the people OF Dayton dislik-
cd to see such radical change. Joe
Perry. the tendorfoot who brought the
charge. had been working for Walker
for several months. and had never
been able to draw q 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 liked
the West-it was such a free and easy
life, and the people were so hospitabie
and easy to get along with and his
health was better. II was all a blum,
Of course. Walker was standing in
front OF the postofice one day when
Perry came out with a letter In his
hand and a suspicious moisture IN his
eyes. The letter was from home. His
mother was not as well as usual, the
letter said, and things wero not going
as smoothly as they might. 1t wound
up by asking II he could not send a
few dollars. ns money was badly need
ed to buy her the little comforts that
a sick person wants. Perry plucked
up courage. and, approaching Walker,
asked him for some money. Walker
pulled his revolver and struck the
rash young man a vicious blow on the
head; that was his reply-h character
istic one. indeed. 1t was. In fact. such
q natural thing for Walker to do that
the people OF Dayton were surprised
greatly to learn that q warrant had
been Issued oven. II must be under
stood that Walker had 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 a chance to get their
money. To ask him for money now
was, of course. an insult What else
could 1t be? But perhaps the tenderfoot
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 stoutly maintained
that he would have to plead guilty.
80 Justice OF the Peace Smith took
him OF to one side and talked TO him.
Look here, Boney," he said. don't
throw us all down like this. Suppose
l have to send you up where are we
going to get out7 You'll lose the con-
tract and we'll lose our money. Never
mind your reputation. stand by your
friends"
For the better accommodation of the
Jury and the rest OF Walkers creditors
court was held in the old warehouse
between the cabinet and the brewery.
The Judge read the charge with a TIM go
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. ''Ths
prisoner pleads not guilty" the court
said, In blandest tones. not looking al
the prisoner. however. "The jury is
cordance with this evidence"
The prisoner sat speechless for a
brief time. He was overcome with VIC
lent emotion.
You're a liarl' he shouted. getting
upon bis feet at last Il said guilty.
The court was entirely unmovsd
Doubtless It was prepared for some
hA - ~
prisoner. 1.-THE Jury will now retirs
and prepare Its verdict"
In the poker-room in the rear ol
the cabinet the jury deliberated ovei
its verdict
Amid an impressive silence. 80 deer
that the rattle OF the dice In the cab
met where the Trenches were shak'
ing could be distinctly heard. the 1ur,
took their places again.
"Gentiemen, have you a verdict?'
calmly asked the court. as he resumed
his chair, raised above the others By
the aid OF two soapboxes.
"We have" responded Big Casey
the foreman.
"Read it," commanded the court. as
sumiug an expectant air. calculated
10 dispel any suspicion that the cour'
itself might have been the real authol
of the document.
Big Casey read the verdict. 1t wal
as follows: "The jury finds that th'
prisoner is such a fearful liar that W
cannot believe him under oath. 1t &C
cordingIy finds him not guilty"
The court then solemnly discharged
tho twelve creditors OF the prisoner
rom further duty. and the incidsn
ryoead