Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-02-15
His White Hair.
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 knew enough of ''rarnin' and law to inspire confidence in mining people and was eventually elected judge. My principal duties were to settle such dis putes as were not settled by the re. tolver.
 One morning man was brought be- fore me on charge of attempted mur- der. He was trim built fellow of twenty-five, of refined appearance, and what surprised me beyond measure was that bis hair was white as snow. There were three witnesses against him--a miner, Tom Mason, and his two assistants, Pete Galloway and Steve Tucker. Mason was a pitlful sight to behold. His left arm was in a sling. His right leg, in spllnt. was supported by a crutch. A bandage covered an eye. Whatever of his face was not covered with patches was of many hues. The condition of his two assist ants was not much better.
 The prisoner gave his name as Albert Parkinson. After hearing statement from his accusers called upon him for his story.
 Judge" he said, "I'm mining en. gineer. I spent four years at college In the scientific department, then went to Germany 10 study my profession. From there returned last month and came out here to get some practical ex- perience. This man Mason accepted an offer from me to work in the shaft where he Is drilling and blasting with out pay, and the day before yesterday went down with him, watched him drill. put in his charge of dynamite and light the fuse. Then we were hauled up in the bucket by these two men, got as far from the hole as possible and waited for the explosion.
 After learning the process of setting the blast yesterday offered to set and fire 1t myself Mason consented, and when the hole was drilled he came up gave me the charge, and went down in the bucket As soon as I had light ed the fuse I called out to be drawn up. The windlass ereaked, and felt myself rising. When was hauled halfway something above seemed to be caught, and everything stood stock still Mason called down fin fright ened voice that the wlndlass had bro ken, and he must go some distance to get a man to come and repair 1t. called to him to pull me up by hand, but there was no response. could hear him and one of his men discussing in loud voices what 1t was best to do.
 There I was. midway between the surface and the bottom, with the fuse sputterlng below. started to climb up hand over hand, but one of the men who had been left behind let mo down as fast as climbed up. got back to the bucket exhausted and con cluded to drop and put out the fuse me man looking from above drew me up far enough to make my drop cer- tain death. l looked over at the fuse and saw that 1t was within an inch of
 
 to be blown into the air.
 ''I tainted, and when I came to was lying on the ground beside the wind lass. Mason and his two men were standing over me laughing.
 "'You fool tenderfoot.' he said there warn't no charge in the shell. tux 1t out and put in dirt
 q saw 1t ala huge joke to initiate a beginner into the mysteries of min ing. 1t was some time before 1 felt like rising. l was dazed Then I be- gan to realize the enormity of these mems treatment. After that began to get mad The madder l got the stronger I got Presently l got up and made a dive for Mason. His two men came upon me, but I seemed to have the strength of Hercules. After beating Mason awhile I carried him to the shaft and threw him down. The two men by this time were frightened and ran. I ran after them, caught one, gave him a drubbing. then caught the other and did the same by him.
 When I came 10 myself I feared that had killed Mason. went to the shaft and heard him grooming at the bottom. I put one of his men in the bucket and lowered him. He got Ma son in 1t, and hauled him up, then hauled the other up. That's all have to say, judge. If it is murder make the most of 1t"
 "Mr. Parkinson" I said, you seem to be very young man. How Is it that your hair is prematurely whlte?'
 "Whitew he said. Its black"
 I called for small mirror hanging outside in the washroom and handed 1t to him. He looked at his hair with astonishment; then his anger returned. and saw that he was about to spring upon Mason anew.
 "Holdw I cried. "I will give your tormentor the rest of his punishment. Thomas Mason, stand up. The deci sion of the court is that, while harm less practical jokes have such hold on the people of this country that they can't be weeded out, such joke as you perpetrated on this gentleman is attempted homicide. You go to state prison for three years, and you, Peter Galloway and Stephen Tucker, for one year each. The prisoner is discharged, with the thanks of the court on behalf