The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1912-11-01
THE
pRODICAL
JUDGE
{ XAUGHAnKEsTER
ILLUSTRATORS ByDMEZEZZ

est obstacle in the way of its sane
toned manifestation. Colonel Fen
tress comes here with that high sane
ton" He bowed again tremendously
to the colonel. Il repeat, respect his
dependence upon the law!" He whirled
suddenly. "Cavendish-Yancy-C
rington-I call upon you to arrest
John Murrell! I do this by virtue OF
the authority vested in me as Judge
of the United States federal court.
His crime-a mere trifie, my friends
passing counterfeit money! Colonel
Fentress will inform you that this is
a violation of the law which falls
within my jurisdiction" and he
beamed blandly on Fentress.
Its lie!'' cried the colonel.
you'll answer for that later!' said
tone.
For all We know you may be some
fugitive from justice!-Why, your
name isn't Price!"
-Ars you sure of that" asked the
Judge quickly.
You're an impostor! Your 1an1e
is Turberville!"
Permit me to relieve your appre-
tensions 1t is TurberviIle who has
received the appointment. Would you
like to examine my CredentiaIs?-l
have them by me--no? | am obliged
for your Introduction. 1t could not
have come at more timely moment"
The judge seemed to dismiss Fentress
contemptuously. Once more he faced
the packed benches. Put down your
weapons" he commanded. This man
Murrell will not be released. AT the
first effort at rescue he will be shot
where >ae-sits-Te have sworn this
Plotting is at ali cnd." He stalked
nearer the benches. Not one chance
in thousand remains to him. Either
he dies here or he lives to be taken
before every judge in the state, If
necessary, until we find one with cour-
age to try him! Make no mistake
it will best conserve the ends of JUS
tice to allow the state courts juris-
diction in this case; and l pledge my
self to furnish evidence which will
start him well on his road to the gal
lows!" The Judge, tremendous pres
eDce, stalked still nearer the benches.
Outfacing the crowd, a sense of the
splendor of the part he was being
called upon to play flowed through
him like some elixir; he felt that he
was transcending himself, that his in
spiration was drawn from the hidden
springs of. the spirit, and that he
could neither falter nor go astray.
You don't know what you are med
ding with! This man has plotted to
lay the south in ruiDs-he has been
arming the negroes-it is incredible
that you should all know this-to
such ! say, go home and thank God
for your escape!' For the others
his shaggy brows met in menacing
frown-"if they force our hand we
will toss them John MurrelPs dead
our answer to their
challenged"
He strobe out among the gun muz-
zles which wavered where they still
covered him. He was thinking of Ma
haffy- Mahaffy, who had said he was
still man to be reckoned with.
do you know what a serv1le insur-
rection means?-you men who have
wives and daughters, have you
thought of their fate? OF the mon
strous savagery to which they would
be exposed? Do you believe he could
limit and control it? Look at him,
Why, he has never had a considera-
tion outside of his own safety, and yet
he expects you to risk your necks to
save his! He would have left the
state before the first blow was struck
his business was all down river
but we are going to keep him here to
answer for his crimes, The law, as
implacable as it is impartial, has put
its mark on him-the shadow in
which he sits is the shadow of the
gailows!"
The judge paused, but the only
sound in that expectant silence was
the heavy breathing of men. He drew
his unwieldly form erect. while his
voice rumbled on, aggressive and
threatening in its every intonation
You are here to defend something
that no longer exists. Your organ
ization is wrecked. your signals and
passwords are known. your secrets
have become public property can
even produce a list of your members;
there are none OF you who do not
stand in imminent peril-yet under
stand, l have no wish to strike at
those who have been misled or
coerced into joining Murrells band"
The judges sodden old face glowed
now with the magnanimity of his sen