Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-03-28
LAW IN CACHAHOULA
COUNTY


There was no law In Cachahoula
county, N. NJ, not even that dispensed
by his honor Judge Lynch. The few
scattered people who dwelt in those
parts consequently suffered from the
loss of horses, mules and other proper
ty, besides being murdered in open day
whenever some desperate took fancy
to kill any one. One of these, called
Redheaded Pete, would come into the
principal town at intervals and usually
departed with good deal OF cash,
leaving behind him one or more
corpses At last he killed Bill Mattuck,
man much beloved in the community.
and Bills brother Sam, who was not
fighting man, but was willing to pay
literally to have his fighting done for
him, made up his mind that Pete must
die. He thereupOn remarked one day
openly that he would be glad to assist
any man financially" who would do the
Job.
Now, there happened to be in the
crowd at the time Josh Scull, one Of the
very men who were so Objectionable.
"What'll " give?" he asked.
'Three hundred dollars" said Sam.
"Make ii $500 and I'll go ""
There was consultation between
Mattuck and the others. All agreed
that it was practical way of getting
rid of Redheaded Pete, and possibly In
the fray Josh Scull might also be elm
mated Sam Mattuck had offered his
all, but it was agreed that his fellow
citizens should support him in so
praiseworthy matter and one In
which all were interested, so they de-
cided to furnish the remaining 5000.
AS soon as this was settled Scull was
commissioned to seek Redheaded Pete
pick quarrel with him and shoot him.
but 1t was not obligatory on Scull to
use such honorable warfare. These
were his instructions, but he might use
any method he pleased without forfeit
ing his pay. the full amount Of which
was given him in advance in lieu Of
Expenses"
Soul pocketed the money and started
on his mission. He was gone just long
enough to reach his man and return.
when one evening while the citizens
were sitting on the store porch smok-
ing their pipes and wondering II their
enemy had fallen the man who had
gone to Stay and the man to be Stayed
rode into town side by side and STOP
ped in front of the party.
fr;andS said Data sstbara hac
been disregard fer the majesty O. the
law in this place truly remarkable.
Josh Scull here hes informed me that
he hes been paid $500 to murder me,
proceeding which in any court would
send all of v to states prison fer
good term O years. I'm on my way to
g., whar court is now in session, and
every man Of v who paid Scull money
to murder me may look out fer arrest"
He paused. and the citizens looked
not only disappointed, but much trou-
bled.
"Now, I'll play " far game" con-
tinued the desperate. "Pll raise yer
$500 jist $1,000, which think II freeze
" all out, and I'll give y twenty four
hours to put up. If the moneys in my
hands by this time tomorrer night I'll
let " off; if not, In another twenty-four
hours VII all be jagged"
During this harangue Scull made no
comment, and at its close he and Pete
rode off short distance, leaving the
citizens to confer as to the acceptance
or rejection of the terms. 1t was i'm
possible to raise so much ready money
In so short time, and other means Of
getting out Of the difficulty must be
devised. Finally Mattuck. whose blood
had been slowly rising since the shoot
ing Of his brother and was now boiling
at the swindle perpetrated by Scull,
declared he would risk his carcass
against that rascal il any one would
do the same by Pete. A young fellow
named Scott volunteered, and the mat
ter was settled.
Scott informed the two self cOnsti-
tuted protectors of law and order that
the money would he paid the next day.
This was to disarm suspicion, and II
had the desired effect. The despera-
does returned to the hamlet and put
up at one OF its six or eight houses
the saloon.
They were invited to take lust one
more" by one Of the contributors to the
fund, and a dozen men were lined up
at the bar, Mattuck and Scott being in
the rear rank, Mattuck behind Scull
and Scott behind Pete, when two shots
rang out. A little round hole appeared
In the head of each desperate. and
they fell on the floor.
The next day the citizens reassem.
bled. organized one Of Judge Lynch's
courts and proceeded to try Mattuck
and Scott for murder. The accused
pleaded that the victims had robbed
them Of the affections Of their wives,
but since neither OF them was mar
ried the judge would not allow the
plea. They then pleaded that the men
had played foul ut poker, but since
no gambling had been done they were
obliged to find some other justification.
Scott, who had furnished the horse on
which Soul had ridden to kill Red
headed Pete, finally pleaded To have
acted for the public safety in furnishing
horse stealing. The plea was allowed.
Then Mattuck pleaded justification in
furnishing completely with horse steal