Rock Island Argus., 1906-03-26
DAILY SHORT DRY
LAw.ABIDING OFFICER.
IOriginnl.l ]


he served long time for that location.
Either n sheriff there was soon killed
in the performance of his duty, after
the performance of his duty or was
obliged to leave Bert Pike was so
cool and determined that few cared to
resist him. Besides, he had Il way of
inculcating Il great respect for the law
into those with whom he came in con-
tact. At any rate, he got along till
run of bad luck obliged him to kill two
or three greasers, after which, know
ing it was only Il question of time
when he would get knife or 4 bullet
in the back from some one of the nu-
merOus greaser population, he went
away one evening and did not appear
in those parts again. He was much
regretted by the better part of the pop
uIation. both on account of his efiicien-
cy and his great reverence for the law.
Pike went down to Donna Ana coun-
ty. intending TO make new home
there. He was sitting at a tavern din
ner table when, on looking up, he saw
Il big Mexican whom he recognized as
one of the gang into which he had done
his shooting coming in with blood in
n
lean fell dead Pike, knowing what he
had come for. did not wait to be told
about it or to have his purpose eXecut-
ed. He drew with the lightning rapid
lty for which he was famous, fired and
went on eating his dinner.
Now it happened that young law
yer from the east had come out 10 the
territory to practice law, and. his at
tainmentS being recognized, he was at
once made judge. Hearing of the shoot
ing lie set the machinery of the law i'll
motion, and the sheriff was directed TO
arrest Pike and bring him before the
court for trial. The sheriff knew Pike
by reputation and. approaching him in
Il friendly manner, told him that the
Judge wanted to see him abont the kill
ing in order to satisfy the majesty Of
the law. Bert replied that he would be
happy to accompany him. but when
asked to leave his weapons outside the
courtroom demuIred. The sheriff. not
daring to attempt to disarm him. per
mitted him to go In with n Winchester
in his hands and two six shooters IN
his belt
"What do you mean by coming into
court, Il prisoner. armed:' asked the
judge angrily.
Il was told, your honor. that there
was Il little law monkeyin' to be gone
through with in the matter of my KILN
the greaser to make il all right. | was
known up in Valencia as the law re
Spectin' sheriff, and / wants it under
stood that l always revereS the law.
All l want now is fair play. and as
long as 1 got my grip on these we're
playthings 1 amt afraid but I'll git 1t.
1 don't want to have this yere thing
hangin' over me-"
The judge looked over the court off
cials to see if there was any of them
on whom he could rely to disarm the
prisoner, and seeing there was not he
made a virtue of necessity and pro-
ceeded with the trial.
Pike in the eyes OF the law, had a
very weak case. He had fired SO quick
that the greaser had not had time even
TO draw his weapon. His hand had
grasped ii, but in his fall he had re-
leased his grip, and the revolver re-
NAMED in his belt. On its face it was
n clear case of the murder of peace
full citizen. When called on to speak
in his own behalf the prisoner said:
You'd better convict me, gentlemen
Of the Jury, cause 1 hain't no time to
work up a defense. I'd have to send
up to my county for witnesses, and
that would take time. Besides. the life
of a greaser isn't worth the trouble"
Such being the evidence of murder
and the want of evidence of justifica
ton, the jury had no choice but to
bring in Il verdict of murder in the
first degree. The prisoner thanked them
for the expedition with which they had
acted and requested the judge to pro-
nounce sentence Immediately.
The judge, seeing that he could not
control events, wisely concluded to per-
nit events to control him. He granted
the prisoners request by promptly SEN
fencing him to be taken out from the
courtroom and hanged by the neck
until he was dead. Pike arose, and the
sheriff led the way out to Il tree in
front of the store over which court
was held, rope was procured, mule
cart was impressed into the legal serv-
ice and the prisoner put into 1t. Then
the sheriff adjusted the moose and, get
ting down, went to the head of the
mule and took hold of the bit to lead
the animal forward
The prisoner submitted to all this.
only manifesting some impatience.
When the sheriff proposed to bind his
arms Pike demurred, saying that he
had no intention of interfering with
the hanging. The sheriff desisted.
When the sheriff was about to lead the
mule onward the doomed man asked
him to wait a moment and said to him:
''Mr. Sheriff, 1 don't think it far that
1 should uphold the majesty of the law
alone. You'd ought to help me-
The sheriff looked the prisoner in the
eye and read his meaning. The lead
ing forward of the mule would result
in one of those quick shots from the
prisoner Of which he had furnished
sample on the Mexican. The officer of