The daily Alaskan., 1907-02-11
LAW IN CACHAHOULA
 COUNTY
IOrigIual.l

scattered people who dwelt Ill thoSe parts consequently suffered from the loss of horses. mules and other proper ty. besides being murdered in open day whenever some deSperadO took fancy to kill any one. One of these, called Redhcaded Pete, would come into the principal town at intervals and usually departed with a 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 llberally 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'n V give:" he asked.
 Three hundred dollars" said sam.
 Make 1t $500 and I'll go V"
 There was consultation between Mattuck and the others. All agreed that it was a practical way of getting rid of Redheaded Pete. and possibly In the fray Josh Scull might also be elim mated. sam MattucE had offered his all. but it was agreed that his fellow .t.s..zr .h,,,ll s,,pDDrt hin, in SD pralseworthy a matter and one in which all were interested. so they de cldsd to furnish the remaining S2OO.
 As soon as this was settled SCUll was commissioned to seek Redhea ded Pete. pick a 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"
 Scul pocketed the money and started on his mission. He was gone just long enough 10 reach his man and return, when one evening while the citizens were sitting on the store poNh Smok- ing their pipes and wondering if their enemy had fallen the man who had gone to Slay and the man tu he Slayed rode into town side by side and stop ped in front of the party.
 'N' friends" said Prtc. 'thcrc hes been a disregard fer the majesty o' the law in this place truly remarkable. Josh Sc1lll here hes informed n" that he hes been paid $5OO 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 C.. 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 V a far game" con tinued the desperadO. I'll raise yer SJNO list $l. .OOn. which I think n freeze V all out. and I'll give y twcnty-four hours to put up. If the moneys in my hands by this time tOmorrcr night I'll ct = off: if not. in another twcnty-four hours VII all be iu"@ed."
 During this haranguc Scu!l made no ,oynmCut. and at its close he and Pete roda off short distance, leaving the citizens to confer as to the acceptance o- rejection of the terms. It was i'm DoSsible 10 raise so much ready money in so short a time, and other means of crtting out of the difficulty must be devised. Finally Nattuck, whose blood had been slowly rising since the shoot :ng of his brother and was now boiling at the Swindle perpctrated by Scuu' declared he would risk his carcass against that rascal if 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- trtal protectors of law and order that the money would be paid tine next day. This was to disarm suspicion, and it had the desired effect. The deSpera- does returned to the hamlet and put up at one of it's six or eight houses the saloon.
 They were invited to take just ore more" by one Of the contributors to tue fund and dozen men wer" lined up at the bar. Mattuck and Scott being in the rear rank, Mattuck bchind Scuil and, Scott behind Pete. when two shots rang out 4 little round hole appeared in the head of each deSperado. and they fell on the floor.
 The next day the citizens -easSem- 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 L!at- ried the judge would not allow the plea. They then pleaded that the men had played foul at poker. but since no gambling had been done they were obliged to find some other justification Scott, who had furnished the horse on which Scull had ridden to kill Red headed Pete, finally pleaded to have acted for the public safety in puntshing horse stealing. The plea was allowed.