Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-02-25

1
i you have been heated in your Ian
gdage, sir" he said, sternly, but II is
heat arising from an indignation
which share. Consequently, pass it
over. l cannot instruct you to arrest
Samson South before the grand jury
has accused him. The law does not
contemplate hasty or unadvised action.
All men are innocent until proven
guilty. II the grand jury wants South,
I'll instruct you to go and get him.
Until then, you may leave my part of
the work to me-"
His honor rose from his chair.
you can at least give this grand
jury such instructions on murder as
will point out their duty. You can as
sure them that the militia will protect
them. Through your prosecutor you
can bring evidence to their attention,
| you"
IF you will excuse me-" interrupted
his honor, dryly, IN judge of how am
to charge my grand jury. I have been
in communication with the family of
Mr.. Purvy, and it is not their wish ct
the present time to bring this case be-
! fore the panel"
Callomb laughed ironically.
mo, l could have told you that be-
fore you conferred with them. l could
have told you that they prefer to be
their own courts and execudoners, ex-
cept where they need you. They also
preferred to have me get man they
couldn't take themselves, and then to
assassinate him in my hands. Who in
the hell do you work for, Judge-for-the-
moment Smithers? Are you holding a
job under the state of Kentucky, or I'M
der the HOLMAN faction of this feud?
l am instructed to take my orders
from you. viii you kindly tell me my
masters real name?"
Smithers turned pale with anger,
his fighting face grew as truculent as
a bulldogs, while Callomb stood glar-
ing back at him like a second bulldog,
but the Judge knew that he was being
honestly and fearlessly accused. He
merely pointed to the door. The cap
tain turned on his heel and stalked
out of the place, and the judge came
down the steps and crossed the street
to the courthouse. Five minutes later
he turned to the shirt-sleeved man who
was leaning on the bench and said in
his most judicial voice:
MIR. Sheriff, open court"
The next day the mail carrier
brought in a note for the temporary
judge. His honor read it at recess and
fastened across to Hollman's Nam
moth Department Store. There, in
council with his masters. he asked in
structions. This was the note:
THE Hon. Asa Smithers.
Sir: l arrived in this county yes
terday, and am prepared, if called as
a witness, to give to the grand jury
full and true particulars of the murder
of Jesse Purvy and the killing of Aaron
Hollis. l am willing to come under the
escort of my own kinsmen, or the mill
tiamen, as the court may advise.
The requirement of any bodyguard
l deplore, but in meeting my legal OBJ
legations. do not regard it as neces-
sary or proper to walk into a trap.
Respectfully,
SAMSON SOUTH"
Smithers looked perplexedly at
Judge HOLMAN.
Shall l have him Gomez" he in
quired.
Holman threw the letter down on
his desk with burst of blasphemy:
Have him Gomez" he echoed. Hell
and damnation, no! What do we want
him to come here and spill the milk
for? When we get ready. we'll indict
him. Then, let your damned soldiers
go after him-as a criminal, not
witness. After that, Wen continue this
case until these outsiders go away,
and we can operate to suit ourselves.
We don't fall for Samson South's
tricks. No, sir; you never got that
letter! 1t miscarried. Do you hear?
You never got it."
Smithers nodded grudging acqui.
escence. Most men would rather be
independent officials than colIar.wear-
ers.
Out on Misery Samson South had
gladdened the soul of his uncle with
his return. The old man was mending,
and, for long time, the two had
talked. The failing head of the clan
looked yainly for signs of degeneration
in his nephew, and, falling to find
them, was happy.
"Hev ye decided, Samson" he in
quired, "thet We was right in yer no
ton, bout goin' away?"
Samson sat refectively for a while,
then replied: q,
1--WE were both right Uncle Spicer-
and both wrong. This is my place,
but If I'm to take up the leadership it
must be in a different fashion. Changes
are coming. We can't any longer stand
still"
Spicer South lighted his pipe. He,
too, in these last years, had seen in
the distance the crest of the oncoming
wave.
Il reckon there's right smart truth
to that" he acknowledged. 1--WE been
StudYin' 'bOut hif Coneidta bIa r,nxyaaIP ~