The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-12-28
FRONTIER JUSTICE ;

1t was not the first killing at the
Flat. This shooting scrape was only
one of dozens Of others during the
1--WE months of Eiddlcrs' existence,
but the victim was peculiarly in
offensive creature known as "Mud"
10 the camp. He had no other name
that he knew of and had earned his
sobriquet by his unfailing luck at
the gaming tables and his equally
Mnfailing remark as he rose penni-
lcss from his bout with the tiger,
"Waal, my names Mud again" But
on this particular occasion Mud's
luck had run his way, and he had sat
hour after hour at the little oblong
faro table since the night before
and won with unfailing regularity
through every deal.
Velvet himself had the shift at
deal when Mud had won the last
ounce in the "bank ROLL" and as the
lucky player rose from his seat op-
posite him the gambler had without
a word shot him through the heart.
The cold fiendishncss Of the act was
too much for the nerves even Of
Fiddlers, and the camp rose to
man and cried aloud for vengeance.
They we're waiting now for the SEN
terce
Long Smith was the judge. He
occupied chair placed on faro ta-
1!e at one end of the long, narrow
cabin, the identical chair that Vel
vet sat in when he shot Mud. Vel
vet sat little to his left, guard
ateither side on his right; the hasti-
ly chosen jury of twelve sat or
stood, and beyond rope stretched
across the room was the silent, ex-
pectant crowd. The evidence was
all in, and Long Smith was settling
himself down into a comfortable
position to listen to counsel for
defense, when Velvet suddenly rose
to his feet and said:
F'See here, boys! What's the use
of going on with this monkey bust
mess any longer? I shot Mud, and
you've determined that I must hang.
Cant ,yeu drop this and take me
out ana hang me and be done with
1T instead of torturing me with all
this nonsense? Y OH know you're only
doing it to amuse yourselves" The
eyes of every man in the crowd were
fixed on the prisoner during this
speech, then turned expectantly to
the Judge.
s'Pris'ner ct the bar, yer bein'
tried fer murder by the only kim
% er cot this yer kentry hez. Eff
there's enythin' ye hev ter say yer'll
hev er chance ter say it furder on"
There was a murmur of approval
from the audience, and counsel for
the defense went on with his argu-
ment, followed by the counsel for
the prosecution. The court summed
up and charged the jury, which
without moments hesitation re-
turned verdict Of guilty.
The Judge arose from his chair
and said, 'Velvet, yer, gone in"
There was no further assumption of
judicial dignity. It dropped from
him as one drops cloak from his
shoulders. either boys hev Civ ye
a squar' deal, which 8 more'n ye
Civ Mud, n yell hey ter go under.
What hev ye got ter say agin it?"
Velvet smiled and shook his head.
sYou've got the drop on me, I
reckon he said, "and I can't kick"
Jus' his moment there was a
struga.- :. of some one trying to
force an entrance through the crowd
at the door, and the shrill tones of a
woman's voice could be heard de-
manding access to the court that
was trying the man who had killed
hers.
"I'm Mud's wife," she insisted in
shrill, shaky voice.
ooh, I know what yer. nicknamed
him. His n my names Dobbs, N he
were a good nuff man most ways, n
I want ter see the man what killed
him N lef' me er lone widder rite in
the prime er life"
The relict of the late Mud was at
the bar Of the court by this time.
She was a tall, angular woman of
forty or SO, dressed in rusty black,
with an immense calico sunbonnet
that projected over her face like q
section of stovepipe and effectually
concealed her features. The eyes
were bright and keen, though, and
swept quick glances from prisoner
to judge and jury.
The court ordered a chair for her
inside the bar and when she had
seated herself remarked to her:
owe never knowed eff Mud were a
mar'd man, marin. Eff we had we'd
shorty hev waited this trial for ye."
"D' We mean to say yer've gone n
tried this yer man for killin' mine
N me not here to see?. Yer nice
kim O. er judge, 7 mus say. Waal,
ye kin jest go ter tryin' i'm rite over
/ .ag'in, now I am yere." And the
widow settled comfortably back in