Evening journal., 1910-10-15
CHURCH
AND STATE
By AGATHA L. BREWER
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


territories belonging to the United
States His name was said to be John |
Biggers. but that was only surmised
from the fact that on one occasion,
having killed a man and been arrested,
ne 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 ieaden
balls. II was a very inexpensive way
OF doing It. and at the time there was
no one in position TO make open OBJ
lection. But the original venomous
nest occupied by Jack grew to be a
hamlet, then a town with a church.
The deacons of the church finally
came 10 consider that the place bad
outgrown Cawky Jack. He must
either be reformed or got rid Of. At
a meeting Of the deacons II 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
ne was not prepared 10 become Chris
tian and he didn't propose 10 leave
place In which he had lived so long
and whose boneyard he had done SO
much to I'LL"
At meeting Of the deacons 10 hear
the report Of the committee Deacon
Riggs from Tennessee. who before his
conversion had done the next most to
Jack in filing the said boneyard, got
up and spoke as follows:
brethren. reckon we'ns all air
reckensiled TO the fac that the sinner
must be removed, pervided it kin be
done accordin' to Scripture. Now,
hold that the good book doesn't no
whar forbid us 10 strike down the enc
mics O the Lord IL does say that he
who smites with the sword shall per-
ish by the sword or words 10 that ef-
feet. But whar. ia like to know, does
It say anything about the revolverY
move that after pra'r we resolve our
selves into committee to 20 forth.
/
Cawky Jack opens fire."
The speaker sat down, and Brother
Hargan arose
Il think" said Hargan. that kin
name a better way than that. rec.
cymend that we offer a twenty dollar
bill to any man as II shoot Cswk,
Jack"
Since nobody wished to take a per
sonal part In the job. the motion founS
favor with the brethren. Hargan wa
empowered to make the offer. and th
meeting adjourned.
The next morning a notice appearc
on the church door stating that an,
/. body who would shoot Cawky JAG
y would receive $40 from the churi
y funds. The object OF this notice. sau
= tering by the church. saw Il and re
it. He went on very thoughtful 4
I. next day he expressed a desire to me
y the deacons, and they agreed 10 me
= him that evening in a wing OF Il
= church used for a Sunday school roor
When they were assembled Jack aros
and said
| Il appreciate the effort O. you gent
| in tryin' to make this yere a respect
] able community. But ! allus hear
thurs no gov 'ment so low down as th
gov'ment o. the richeous. The churcl
is fer spiritual work; the law is fe
gov'ment Now. II you gents will or
ganize a court in this yere town as I
make a law agln carryin' weapons III
be the fust to drap mine"
Since this was coming In another
way at what the committee wanted
they agreed TO the proposition. called
a public meeting, and a court was duly
organized. As soon as this was ef
fected Cawky Jack swore out a war
rant against the deacons, charging
them with conspiracy. with intent L
kill him. The people were somewha
taken aback at this proceeding on tbs
part Of the legally reformed Cawky
Jack. b& the newly elected officeri
. saw no way TO proceed except In ac
cordance with the statutes. Th'
deacons were all arrested, but imme
diately bailed.
Their counsel. a real lawyer import
ed for the purpose OF defending then
informed them that long term Of i'm
prisonment was the penalty hxed 70
their crime and the proof was undi'
> putable. They unanimously decided
. return TO Deacon Riggs plan.
The Tennesseean was himself th
FIRST man to meet Cawky Jack aft'
the decision.
'Howdy. deacon?" said Jack.
"Howdy. JsckT' replied the deacon
How is the law workin'T'
First rate. It's church and stat
together. The law says Carry n
weapons. The church says 'smite hil
hip and thigh"
There was a report ana Jack fe
dead.
This removed the prosecutor Of th
deacons, and a nolle prosequi wa
entered.
The little Wooden church on who's
door was tucked the orer for the elm
ination of CawlSy Jack Is now an EN-
nentIy respectable stcue edifice. an
~. worshipers are refined people. II
founders seemed to realize that th
moral incidents attending their earl
Efforts in its behalf were crude. for
the ''boneyard." now the cemetery ccl
nectsd with It. is a marble headstOE
on which is inscribed:
cAWKY JACK
A Victim IN the cnuac OF religion.