The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-01-07
interesting Narratives BY Ernest B.
Morris Written In a Very
Interesting Way.
[By E, B. Morris.1l

1t may interest your readers TO
read an account of trial in JUS
tees court in frontier town. 1t
was a civil case brought by a local
merchant against ranchman before
Robert Dirty. Esquire, a justice Of
the peace and saloonkeeper. who is
celebrated as a humorist from San
Juan to the Coast. The defense was
represented by Hogg, now represen-
tative in Congress from this dis
trict, and Gabbert, who Is now u
member of the Supreme Court of
Colorado.
When ready for trial the justice
stepped from behind the bar, where
he had been dispensing booze. ana
dragged the poker table to the rear
Of the saloon, upon which he placed
a Bible and the code of Colorado, and
took his judicial seat at the table
with great dignity. After the ex-
animation OF each witness, the plain
tin invited the jury, the court and all
of the witnesses to the bar and
bought the drinks. which cost him
$2.75 a round. The attorneys for
the defense interposed frequent OBJ
ections and tried to explain the law
to the court, but the court would
look as savage as bulldog and yell:
by Cd. I am running this court
and know my business. II any of
you d attornies interrupt me
again 1 will commit you to jail"
At the conclusion of the examina-
ton of witnesses, he refused to hear
any arguments by counsel, and gave
the case to the jury.
1t was during the latter part Of
November, and the weather was very
cold He had no room where the
jury could retire, so he ordered the
constable to take them across tho
road to his stable and lock them in
the first stall on the left until they
reached a verdict. which they did
within about ten minutes for the
plaintiff, who again treated the en-
tire crowd, including the defendant
and his attornles.
In telling me this story, Berry says
hat to this day he. does not under
stand why the defendant always
treats him so cool. then he ''winks
the other eye"
"Mft" Evans is another local
celebrity who used to be buH-
whacSer and freighter between Fort
Leavenworth, Kans., and Helena,
Mont, and Salt Lake City. back in
the early Sixties when there was
not habitation between Omaha and
Helena The Indians were numer-
Gus and often on the warpath, COM
polling those who had to cross the
plains and mountains to travel in
larg eparties for self protection. He
was in Montana in 1865 when Henry
Plummer, sheriff of Bannock county,
was killed by the vigllantes. He was
suspected for some time Of being at
the head Of an organized gang of
murderous bandits. Finally he was
caught red-handed numbering a man.
The citizens then organized the
vigilantes. They found Plummer In
his cabin, disrobing for bed, captur-
ed him and two OF his accomplices,
and hanged all. three to tree.
In Sheriff Plummer's cabin was
found and agreement and oath sign
ed in blood by Plummer and nearly
100 others. The vigilantes caught
and hanged fifty Of Plummer's gang.
the others escaped. But 1t broke up
the reign of outlawry in Bannock
county.
Any one Interested in tales of the
frontier, should meet Milt Evans,
who when asked how old he was
pointed to a peak and replied:
Young man, that peak was a hole
in the ground when came to Placer
vile. Now, how old am II"
Placerville is over 400 miles south
west Of Denver. and is destined to
become an important mining town,
as some very rich deposits of copper
have been uncovered. Within 80
miles of this village is some of the
finest mountain scenery in America.
expect to return to Clarksburg
In time to take the trip to the Gulf
Coast of Southwest Texas, as adver-
tised. and hope to have large party
from Clarksburg to Brownsville,
Texas. January Is. Those who are
going down there with me, should
give themselves time enough to
spend few days fishing in the Gulf
OF Mexico and a few days hunting