The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-08-02

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~ long ID the seventies ithe iats Judge
q issdld Krekel was shold ling court IN
sJe6ers0p City, relates 9ans old tiinef,
when sthere appeared befo him Two
men charged and indicted for II violass
ton ut the United States laws, one OF
whom will be called Brown. 4 He was
with cutting timber on the.
public domain. Brown was about ZOE
years old and had been reared on the
border In Arkansas and never had anys
opp prtunities for schooling. hence was
unable TO read or write. Z In his ems
beavers to get living be had cut sstim-
her suitable for1makingg AK han dies on
United States lands, which led to his
arrest and imprisonment. The Mher
man Will be called Jones'. for the real,
name Of both, men are not known In
the memory of any one who Witnessed
the incident. ~. iS..S d Il. 81 III 3
Jonesswas charged with and indicted
Tor having sold liquor to the Indians.
Mr. Jones was q native OF New York.
graduate of Union college and was
educated for a lawyer. He possessed
highly cultured mind. a good Latin
iista and thoroughly scholarly; In. all,
sorts of books. Not succeeding Iii lis
profession In his native state, more
from lack Of application than other
wise, he left that country and plunged
Into the great west and located no.
body knew where, but he sdrifted into
the lower strata OF society, and to, OBJ.
tain the necessaries of life he resorted.
to- 'bootlegging" among the. red men
Of the Indian Territory border. His
arrest and Imprisonment followed,
The two men were. arraigned before
Judge Krekel and the indictments
read. They both pleaded guilty and
threw themselves upon the mercy OF
the court. The court questioned both
prisoners at length and drew. from
each his history. He reeounted. the
wrongs they had been guilty of against
society. He did this in a kindly tone
and manner, suggesting in a mild form
that both might have been useful mem.
beers Of some community had they
sought honorable means and methods
to secure livelihood.
& The court seemed puzzled how to as
sess a punishment that would meet the
endssof Justice and protect the, govern
ment, its lands, Its wards and society.
Finally, sitting upright In his chair,
looking over his glasses as both men
stood before him, in voice little loud
ef and more positive than usual he
issaid: 20
xs'ssMr. Brown, It Is the sentence Of the
court that you be confined In the Cole
county Jail until you are educated to
read and write" The Judge then turn.
ed his eyes upon the other prisoner at
/ the bar and. possibly in q louder voice,
said. "Mr. Jones. 1t, Is the sentence of
+ the court that you be confined. in the
Cole county jail until you have taught
MI. Brown. to- read and write. and
enjoin upon the keeper of the Jail t.
afford you every facility possible with
the safe keeping Of his prisoners"
The lawyers and spectators in cour,
looked with establishment at each 9th
er as the sentence was concluded. and
the marshal led the prisoners out OF
the courtroom.
ts It was the second term Of the court
after this accident when the marshal
conducted Brown and Jones into court
and It was announced by the court
that Brown had completed hts seducs.
tion-ready to graduate able to read
Eand write. Judge Krekel looked ove1
his glasses and asked that the prisoner
give him an evidence Of his being able
to read. Brown stood up. and read Z
few paragraphs from a newspaper. ID
the satisfaction Of the court when be
said. "Mr. Clerk, viii you Let him Ssfi
ct table and write me q. letter.
Paper. pen. ink and q seat were fur.
nished Brown. who went to work Il
write q letter to the court For some
time the poor fellow struggled with
i the task, and in the meantime Jones
Twas very nervous, fearing he would
be compelled to 90 back to jail and
"take up school" again. Finally the
clerk said. "May It please your honor,
the prisoner can write. but cannot form
sentences to make It ineligible"
"Mr. Clerk" said the court. not TAX
ing his eyes from the court docket he
Twas looking at you will dictate let.
/ ter for him and see what Roadway be
makes with~that." The clerk dictated q
letter that the prisoner wrote quite
readily, which subsequently was pass:
ed up to the court, who read the same,
and after giving the prisoners short