Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-06-12

near by. and proceeded to break the
stock over Slaughter's head. He was
promptly indicted by the grand Jury,
balled by his father, and fined $40 at
the trial for this magnanimous burst
of college spirit"
There was an ordinance then. as
now, that no fast riding should be
done in town, yet the Colonel SAYS
that often, in order to defy it and out
of "a spirit of pure deviltry, he has
ridden his horse up the thoroughfare
at full gallop.
During his college days he boarded
at the Cabell House on Main street.
and occupied the rear left hand room
at the end of the hall. The place
was then kept by Mr.. Brock, the IA
Their of the present prominent Rich
mond physician, DIR. G. w. p. Brock.
During his stay there, he had some
difference with citizen of the town
named Dick Turpin, and the latter
sent HIM message one morning that
be was coming IN Ito eat him up"
True "a his word the helligerrnt soon
appeared at the Coioneis door aud
advanced upon him with menacing
threats. The plucky youug student
promptly drew his pepper box" re-
volVer and sent ball ploushrug
through ms adverSary's neck. The
wound came very near proving fatal.
but under tht skillfull care of DIR.
Cabell of the University, who cut the
bullet out, the man soon recovered.
and some years later removed to Ala
bama to live. He died there during
the sixties from poisoning. Colonel
Mosby was promptly arrested aud
tried for the shooting. He was de-
Tended by three of Charlottesvile's
ablest lawyers - Judge Alexander
Rves, Judge f. Il. Watson, and the
Hon. Shelton +. Leake.
The prosecuting attorney was the
late Judge William j. Robertson.
then Commonwealth Attorney, and
rising and brilliant young lawyer.
His handling of the case was exceed
ingly vigorous and telling, although
entirely devoid of disagreeable per-
sonalities and reflections. The de-
Tense was also most ably conducted,
but failed to convince the Judge and
jury, for the young student was fined
5000, and sentenced to a confinement
in Jail for twelve months.
Nine of the jurymen and many
prominent men of the city at once
signed petition to Governor John
son for a pardon, but the latter had
just been mobbed for granting a
much less righteous petition, and
consequently was very slow to make
a second venture.
So Student Mosby was promptly
confined in the county Jail, which
then stood just in the rear of the
present Station House, The latter.
by the way, was then called the
debtors prison" and was connected
with the regular Jail by high stone
walls.
Shortly after his confinement Judge
Robertson entered the Jail one morn
ing and found young Mosby reading
paradise Lost" He commended
both the volume and the reader, and
reminded the latter that John Bun
yop had not only read much but had
actually written his famous "Pro-
gress" during incarceration just as
bad and just as. trying. The prison
er recalled the fact, but nevertheless
sighed for Paradise Regained" in
the shape of bis lost liberty.
Continuing ne told the young at
torney that the law had gotten SO
much out of him, that now he want
ed to get something out of the law
in short, that be wanted to study it.
Whereupon "Mr." Robertson, as he
then was, promptly offered him the
"A few months ago, food which ate
for breakfast would not remrin on my
stomach for half an hour | nsed one