The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-10-25
CHURCH
AND STATE
By AGATHA L. BREWER
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

demons that ever infested any of the
territories belonging to the United
States. His name was said TO be John
Biggers. but that was only surmlsed
from the fact that on one occasion,
having killed man and been arrested,
be had been called upon TO give his
name and had given that one
For a long while Cawky Jack was
accustomed to put people out of his
way by means of small round leaden
balls 1t was very inexpensive way
of doing It, and at the time there was
no one In a position TO make open OBJ
lection. But the original venomous
nest occupied by Jack grew to be
hamlet, then a town with church.
The deacons of the church finally
came 10 consider that the place had
outgrown Cawky Jack. He must
either be reformed or got rid of. AT
a meeting of the deacons It was de-
cIded to send a committee TO the des-
perado to announce to him that he
must either come within the fold of
the church or stop killing people or
git out" Jack sent back word that
he was not prepared to become Chris
tan and he didn't propose to leave a
place in which he had lived so long
and whose boneyard he had done so
much to fill"
At meeting of the deacons TO hear
the report of the committee Deacon
Riggs from Tennessee, who before his
conversion had done the next most to
Jack in filling the said boneyard. got
up and spoke as follows
Brethren. reckon VEINS all air
reckensiled to the fac that the sinner
must be removed, pervided 1t kin be
done accordln' TO Scripture. Now.
hold that the good book doesn't no
whar forbid us to strike down the enc.
mics o. the Lord. 1t does say that he
who smites with the sword shall per.
ish by the sword OF words to that eff
feet But whar. I'd like to know. does
It say anything about the revolver?
move that after pra'r we resolve our
selves into committee to 90 forth
and the fust one Of us that meets
Cawky Jack opens fire."
The speaker sat down, and Brother
Hargan arose.
~ think said Hargan, that kin
name better way than that rec
cymend that we offer twenty dolla
bill to any man as IL shoot Cawk,
Jack"
Since nobody wished to take a per
sonal part in the job. the motion foun'
favor with the brethren. Hargan wa
empowered TO make the offer. and tn
meeting adjourned
The next morning notice appeare'
on the church door stating that aay
body who would shoot Cawky Jacl
would receive $50 from the churc
funds. The object Of this notice. saun
tering by the church. saw 1t and rea
It. He went on very thoughtful. Th
next day he expressed desire to NEE
the deacons, and they agreed to NEE
him that evening in wing OF th
church used for q Sunday school room
When they were assembled Jack arcs
and said:
81 appreciate the effort O. you gent
in tryin' to make this we're n respec
able community. But allus hear
thurs no gov ment so low down as th
gov'ment O. the richeous. The churc
Is fer spiritual work; the law is Il
gov'ment Now. II you gents will o
ganize court in this yere town as
make a law agin carryin weapons /
be the fust to drap mine"
Since this was coming 10 anoth'
way at what the committee want'
they agreed to the proposition. Gale
public meeting. and u court was du
organized. AS soon as this was G
: fected Cawky Jack swore out wa
raut against the deacons. chargiI
them with conspiracy with intent
kill him. The people were somewh
taken aback at this proceeding on q
part of the legally reformed Cawl
Jack. but the newly elected Office
saw no way to proceed except in a
7 cordance with the statutes. ~
deacons were all arrested. but INN
diately bailed.
Their counsel. real lawyer impo
ed for the purpose Of defending the
informed them that long term OF Il
prisonment was the penalty fixed
their crime and the proof was und
putable They unanimously decided
return TO Deacon Riggs plan.
The Tennesseean was himself
first man to meet cawky Jack All
the decision.
"Howdy. deaconf" said Jack.
"Howdy. jack" replied the deacon
How is the law workin'T
First rate. It's church and sti
together. The law says Carry
weapons. The church says 'smite b
hip and thigh"
There was q report and Jack I
dead.
This removed the prosecutor Of
= deacons. and nolle prosequi "
entered
4 The little wooden church on wit
y door was tackled the offer for the ell
nation Of Cawky Jack is now an 81
= nently respectable stone edilce. a
its worshlpers are refined people.
founders seemed to realize that
moral incidents attending their ca
efforts In us behnlf were crude. for