The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-22
The FerociOus Turkey GObbler.

Editor The Washington Herald:
A few DAYS ago. If my memory IS not
at fault. I saw in your esteemed Journal
some account Of the bloodthlrsty deeds
of a turkey gobbler. I have no doubt
there be those OF your readers who curled
the lip of disbelief and set down the story
as being merely the spOrtiye output Of
the summer Imagination OF some news
writer, but I. for one, want 20 assure
YOU that I kave the story fun faith and
credit, as the lawyers say. ana as one
Of the reasons for my credence, beg to
rehearse a Observation-Disclosures incident
which establishes as an historical fact
the dangerous character Of this bird.
NV recollection is that the incident
printed by you did not quite result in a
tragedy, but in the case which l propose
to set forth herein the struttlng monster
in feathers did actually slay his hapless
victim And this victim was a man Of
no ordinary degree. He was a judge OF
the Superior Court OF North Carolina. and
dispensed justice from that high tribunal
for many years. There were those who
claimed that on one occasion he dis
pensed with justice. but that is another
story.
This eminent turist's name was. think
Spencer. He held court in what is row
the western part Of North Carolina. and
sometimes he journeyed across the noun
tains and held court in what is now the
Eastern division of Tennessee-aH that
State being at that time d portion Of
the Old North State
Il seems that this Judge Spencer was an
old man, almost toothless, and entirely
bald. and on this latter account he was
accustomed TO wear on the hairless and
judicial head a red flannel cap. Some
called it a red flannel nightcap, and let
It go at that. Tradition does not Tecite
whether he wore this headgear on the
bench, but certain il is that he wore It
during his hours Of ease and relaxation.
and this fact was the means OF his undo
ing and death at the hands, or rather al
the wings and claws and beak, Of an en-
ragged tped in feathers
This lamentable tragedy occurred in the
spring. when the soft south winds were
laden with all sweet and vernaI smells and
the air was drowsy with the hum Of bees
and the thousand insect voices of the
opening year.
The old man sat in the yard of his
rural home. in his favOTite armchair. be
meath the spreading shade Of a sugar tree
In the peace Of that fragrant hour, the
judicial mind. We may suppose. became
retrospective and presently the judicial
head nodded. At this Inflated moment
the stTutting turkey gobbler came round
the corner Of the house. and seeing that
red cap there bobbing defiance toward
him, he Immediately assaulted the aged
man with loud outcry and fierce beating
with his wings, and the surprise and
shock were such that the old man died
from the effects thereof
This story was told to the writer by
Col William A. Henderson, assistant
general counsel Of the Southern Railway.
and he, I think, dug up the facts in his
researches ine6 the life and times of Gov
John Sewer. This Judge was the man
who issued the bench warrant for SEWER
when the latter was charged with treason
in connection with the famous State of
Franklin. But that, too. is another
story. MILTON T. ADKINS.
Washington, D. c.