Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-01-09
didn't FEAR BULLETS
A Sheriff Who Was as Brave as
He Was Tender Hearted.

ShSt ~ WIN ssdo dS DFdVG do
He Was Tender Hearted.
HOW HE COLLECTED "A DEBT.
The Man Who Owed the Money Was
We'll Able to Pay, and the Grim, De-
termined Old Sheriff Made Him Real.
ize That It Was Time to Paw.
There Is a spot in the memory Of
Greene county, Pa, sacred to Jim Cos
gray, one time sheriff, whose heart
was as tender as his courage was stout.
AS he came down the steps Of the
courthouse one day in Waynesburg
white haired old man near at hand
who had been waiting for him fired at
him three times from revolver. Co.'S
gray quickly walked over to him, took
his gun away and said:
..sNow, look here, daddy, If you dc
that again I'll prosecute you"
1t had fallen to Cosgray in the line
Of duty to serve an execution on the
old man. who, worried by financial diff
fculties. had got lopsided mentally and
conceived the idea that Cosgray was
personally responsible for his troubles.
The late Judge A. e. Wilson of Union
town was at that time holding court in
Waynesburg and had witnessed the
shooting from the window Of his hotel.
Many others had seen 1t too.
"Now," remarked the Judge to his
stenographer, L. L. Minor, at his side,
when that shooting comes up for INF
vestigation in court we'll learn how
many different stories the witnesses
will tell about it,
The judge knew from long expert
ence how many viewpoints there are to
such episodes, but this case never came
up to trial.
In 1876 Greene county man who
had become bankrupt-at least to the
extent Of inability or unwillingBess to
pay his debts in Greene countywent
to philadelphia where he secured a
valuable concession In connection with
the Centennial exposition. Reports
were brought back to Waynesburg dur
! ing the summer by visitors that he
was making barrels of money. Cos
gray listened with much interest, but
without comment, to all these stories,
because this man had left Greene coun-
ty owing him $1,000. Finally Cosgray
one day packed his grip and left town.
Next day ne turned up in Philadelphia
at the hotel where his prosperous debt
or was stopping and was shown by re-
quest to the latters room. His recep-
| ton was noisily hilarious.
"Why. hello, Jim! Glad to see you,
old boy. What in the world brings you
to the city," he shook Jim's hand
with every external appearance Of
great Joy. But the sentiment was all
| one way
Il come to git that 5000 We owe
me-" Jim's eyes reflected no feelings
of esteem. He was simply out for his
stuff.
Sorry. Jim, very sorry, indeed am,
but I haven't got it and therefore can't
pay We. l would If could''
"Well, I rather guess yen have to git
| It somehow or other. came here
from Waynesburg especially fer what
We owe me, and I'm not goin' back
| without it,
Cosgray got up, walked to the door,
locked 1t and put the key In his pocket.
Then he said
tits just this way. my friend,
Waynesburg people have been coming
home from Philadelphia all summer
telling how much money you've been
maxim here, and I think they've been
tellin' the truth. for I've been very
careful in my inquiries about you
Now, I want that money!
/ Here he took revolver from his
| pocket and ominously tapped on the
table with the muzzle.
"I'm an old man, with but few
more years to live, and Pm not a BIZ
/ partickler whether live 'em at all OF
not. That $1,000 II make 'em pass 8
sight easier. don't intend to live
without the money, and I don't intend
you shall live with it."
4 The man knew Cosgray meant every
word he said. He fenced and fumed
threatened and sputtered, but there sal
the silent, grim old ex-sherif, gun In
hand, ready to touch it Off any instant
/ His determination never wayered. az
was a man of few words, and the out
come was exactly as he had resolved 4
should be. The man went to q corner
Of his room, opened satchel anG
counted out 5000 to Cosgray Tht
sheriff returned to Waynesburg ani
/ put it ingthe bank, and no one evel
knew how he CAME by 1t until the vic
tim himself finally disburdened hii