Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-02-11


sixty-ninth birthday, writes M. F.
Cunningham in last Sundays States
man. Friends crowded around him
at the Commercial club to do him
honor. 1t was an occasion to be re-
membered. After the regular pro-
gram was out of the way, and the
hand-shaking also, a little neophyte
in the law called out:
Governor. tell us how you came
to be called the 'gum-boot lawyer. "
The eyes Of the former chief ex-
ecutive twinkled and he chuckled as
he remembered.
It was up in the Basin he
said, and we all crowded in to hear
the story. II was assistant district
attorney at the time. 1t was early
in the spring and everything was
slush and snow.
"Old Colonel Dooley. his wife and
a friend OF theirs were arrested at
Garden Valley for assaulting a
Frenchman-they came near killing
Frenchy. They were taken to Plac-
erville to be tried before Johnny
Hughes, the justice Of the peace.
1T was up to me to prosecute,
and to get down from Quartzbnrg
/ had to put on big pair Of gum
boots coming clear up to the hips.
1t was out Of the question for o
horse to get through.
''All Placerville was at the trial.
The men were still idle waiting for
spring work to start. The court
room was a big hall with Johnny
Hughes on raised platform at one
end Of It. I'll bet there were three
hundred, mostly miners, in the room
when the fun started. We finally
got jury. Kingsley was on the
other side. Just as we were ready
TO open the case the judge excused
himself and went out.
Il knew what it meant, of course
everybody knew Johnny's weak
ness. Sure enough. looking through
the windows minute later, we saw
his honor making q bee line for th'
Magnolia saloon across the street.
Il was younger 45 years ago thai
/ am now. IBlurted out right il
the court room where all could hear
It seems that the court finds !
necessary to brace up before open
ing this case. And If the court ca
have q drink, see no good reaso
why we can't all wet our whistles
Come on,' said to Kingsley, tn
jury and the witnesses, and over v
went in q body to the Magnolii
Just as we entered the judge W.
tipping off a jolt of whisky ths
would have killed an Indian. {
course, they told him Of the break
made in the court room and the
was lots of joking about it. Thc
we all troOped back to the cou
room. When we had settled dov
again, / got up and said:
May it please your honor. I
lieve we are now ready to proce
with the trial Of the case
Just one minute, Hughes sal
and he sat back in his chair wi
great dignity and threw out
chest. Before we proceed with I
regular business be said, addre
ing his remarks directly to me.
have score to settle with you.
the remarks you made here Will
was absent you were guilty of gr
contempt of court. and for tina
now fine you 500
"A rear Of laugh went up #
the crowd. | took It as a joke.
course. looked up at the jut
and said: Well, Johnny. you'll b
one hi Of time collecting
fine
=" I fine you $40 more for I
insolence, the Judge reared. an
now saw that il was no joke. thai
really meant business. The con
ble.' he said, without paying n
attention TO me, will take this
into custody. take him to Idaho
and place him in the county iail
Ill the fines are paid.'
@N-.mm6mAs1m g&@~nm..w $1,000 4