The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-11

IL this country we know how craw.
eyes with tears and the heart with hu-
initiation. 1t takes the conceit out Of
the best of us and brings US into a
humble state of mind for a few days.
when crawfshing has to be done,
however-when there hain't any way
to dodge it or walk over it Or twist
around it-when we find our gun emp
ty and the other Teller holding a pat
hand and ready to back it for all he's
worth-then the crawfishing should be
done like a man and not like a cur.
I'm going to reverse myself. I'm 60
ing to crawl up hill backward, but I'm
going to do it without letting II crit
ter among We know how it yanks at my
heartstringS.
"A few weeks ago an individual
known among us as Sinful Joe was
brought before this cour on the charge
| Of shooting n bullet into a tenderfoot
from the east who was out here to
cure a bad liver. Sinful found him liv-
ing in the open air on the hills, and he
not only claimed to feel sorry for him.
but to have an infallible cure for what
ailed him. The tenderfoot didn't wan'
20 take the treatment. at least not I'm
til he had written back home to his
paw and nav. but Sinful sighted for
| ais liver and .et drive with a bullet.
| Then he ,ook the strangers outfit and
| departed.
The tenderfoot didn't die. He wa
found and brought in by Jim Traverse,
and later on Il warrant was issued and
Sinful Joe was arrested. lie claimed
to have done the shooting out of sym
pathy for a Teller critter in distress,
and he pointed to the fact that the
tenderfoot was making a gain in
health, but as he had loaded up the out
fit and was arrested 4 hundred miles
away this court differed with him. In
fact, this court held that he had at
tempted d murder. and he was found
guilty and sentenced to prison for life.
[ believe the sentence found universal
satisfaction, but now the higher court
lcomes along and reverses the ma
chineTy on me. It don't exactly say
that when a man thinks another mans
liver is out of order it car be improved
by shooting a bullet hole In it, but il
hauls me up On the question Of exceed
ing my lawful powers. 1t throws out q
hint that when l have sentenced a man
to Jail for ninety days / have reached
the end of my lariat.
This court hereby and hereon craw-
fishes. 1t collapses. 1t shets up like
an umbrella. Sinful Joe. who sits over
there, with a grin on his face. is in
formed that he is at liberty. He can't
depart right away. however. After
the other case is disposed of Sinful anu
me will be left alone in this courtroom
for about ten minutes. When the ten
minutes are up he can go. He may de
part with a contempt for this court as
a court, but | have got money to bet
that be won't have any contempt FIR
me- as an individual.
The other case is that Of Humble
Hiram Most OF you know Fl. H. lie
has been going around for the last five
years asking Us to excuse him for liv
ing. he has been known to make q
run for 1t when a Chinyman got to
talking big to him. He has been Loo.
ed upon around Sandy Bend as a sort
O human jack rabbit. Once in awhile
when he has slipped into my Red Dog
saloon for a glass of whisky and drum
1t of with 4 please forgive me- loGl:
on his face | have wondered If he Lad
any devil hf'den way 'scs some
where's. y about 81 I'd be