The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-13
Eyes, sab, dat was what meant at

Barnett's pond in Person county. n. c.,
is a famous fishing place. Fishing par
ties go there every year from all the sur
rounding region to catch the famous
silver perch and other toothsome fish.
While Judge Flournoy was residing IN
Danvile was one of a jolly party that
went to Barnetts pond on one occasion
to spend a week fishing and camping.
Others Of the party were Mr.. Levi w.
ScovilIe. a famous hotel man: Mr. Thom-
as B. Meador, now a. prominent whole
sale merchant of Atlanta. and Mr.. G. d
Langhorne, known to everybody.
Arriving at the pond these gentlemen
arranged their camping outfit on the hill
side nearby and employed two Strapping
natives as guides. to wait on them gen.
orally while in camp. but especially TO
show them the most desirable fishing
points about the pond. Everything went
lovely the first day, and in the camp
that night these gentlemen We're enjoy
ing themselves as campers usually do.
The story would be spoiled unless I re-
late the fact that some good old North
Carolina whiskey was in camp. The two
guides were frequently treated to good
corn juice and about eleven o'clock they
became little woltish and the result
was a quarrel between the two. The
quarrel was followed by n fight. and
both men being very stout and muscular.
it was a savage fight. Judge Flournoy
witnessed it as long as his patience
would permit. and then approaching the
combatants he exclaimed, In the name
of the Commonwealth I command peace"
The men knew what that meant and i'm
mediately ceased to fight But it was
plain to be seen that they were still
angry and only awaiting favorable OPP
portunity to renew hostlities. After a
while the fishermen retired. their
sleeping place being a small cabin on
the hillside; the couch of the guides was
the bare ground. 1t would seem that
+ one of these guides was not satisfied
with the result of the fight. and in con-
the whole matter over, and having heard
the other fishermen address Judge
Flournoyi as judge, he supposed 1t was
all right that he should have commanded
the peace. But as he studied the matter
more and more. a light finally daw1ed
manded often before when he was en-
gagged in court day and country disturb
ances. and he remembered that the Off
GERS in his part of the country always
used this language: In the name of the
State I command peace. while
Judge Flournoy had said Commonwealth.
He was perhaps half hour determining
in his own mind the true reason for the
difference in language. Immediately he
arose and approached the cabin and
called Judge Flournoy out. He said,
ledge. you commanded the peace when
we was fghtin' didn't your"
Yes replied the judge.
We'll. Jedge. whar does you hold
court anyhow?
In Danville. Virginia. replied the
judge.
Then the tall muscular Tar-heel sur
veyed the judge from head to foot. and
said. Well dad drot yer internal hide.
don't you know you amt got no juris-
diction in ole North Carolina, and with
that he drew back and with his bony
fist struck the judge a terrific blow
that felled him to the earth.
The judgbe was really seriously hurt,
and as early as possible that day he sus-
pended fishing operati and returned
i to his Jurisdiction BY the time he
/ reached Danville his head was large
enough for two judges. and his face
| was almost an indigo blue. It was long
/ time before he would crafty his numer-
| Gus friends who were solicitous as to
| the cause of the swelled head and the
| indigo hue of his face. but finally he told
| the whole story pretty much as I have
! related it here. +. S. w.