Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-03-10
lARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 10, 1916.
By WILLARD BLAKEr1AN

~
Away back In the fifties when the
town of Deadshot began to think Of
taking on the hue Of civilization the
question was how to make Il begin
ming. Men had gone elsewhere for
wives, who Ind consented to marry
them and go to Deadshot without be-
Ing aware OF what kind Of place II
was Families had sprung up about
these couples, and 1t Is generally con-
ceded that place containing women
and children requires different man
agement from one in which there are
only men ana the only law is gun law.
Nevertheless the shooting went on, and
In time there were n number of women
left widows and children made father
less.
For some time there was talk OF
stopping the gun play, but nothing was
done till three little children, whose
mother had died natural death, were
deprived of their father by an un-
natural one. This came home to the
citizens of Deadshot, inasmuch as they
felt obliged to provide for the children.
The grumblings were loud and long,
and the desire to stop the gun play
received new impetus. A knot of
men were standing on the only street
In the town discussing the matter
when Andrew Hunker, grinding his
quid with pair of timber jaws, said:
Gents, 30 long rs we was all men
together the gun was first rate
article for our differences, bein' much
III ne effective and less expensive than
by a court Of law. But with wimmen
and children among us it's different
It's Onjust that woman should be
deprived of her husband and his sup
port because he's suspected of hOldin'
two aces O. clubs when there's only
one in a regulation pack. And when
a widower with children is put out o
business the care OF his children falls
on the town.
NOW, reccymend that we have an
orphan asylum in Deadshot, to be paid
for by them as gifts the better of sich
as differs with 'em. Supposin' we start
a fund for the purpose In this way:
Any man as bOres u hole In another In
Deadshot pays a thousand dollars for
the privilege. When the fust thousand
turns up wen begin the buildin' o. the
asylum, and every thousand comm In
after that goes to carryin' on the good
work"
That's all very WELL" remarked Cy
Atkins, but who's goin' to levy on the
man that bores the holeT
Mr.. Hunker ground his quld a trifie
harder and slower and continued:
II take It for granted that the senti- |
ment o. this yere town has turned agin
hole borin'. particularly In the bodies
Of fathers Of kids / offer myself as
one to enforce the penalty, and l
haven't any doubt that kin git all the |
assistance need"
This clinched the argument, and the |
same evening copy Of the decree,
signed by self constituted committee,
was posted throughout the town. Mr. |
Hunker's name, written In a style to |
remind one Of John Hancoeks on the |
Declaration of American Independence.
led the rest and those who were dis |
posed to sneer at the document, on see.
ing his signature, desisted. The women |
approved, seeing In the edict promise |
Of being able to keep their husbands.
For several days after the posting of |
the notice the town Of Deadshot was
like the 9th Of July. Not pistol crack
ed Some of the men were seen going |
about without their revolvers at their
hips, indicating that they would rather
get shot than be held for the thousand
dollar penalty. But by and by the no
tees, moistened by the rain, did not
look 30 formidable, and there were
signs that they were forgotten or at
least had lost their terror.
One morning two shots In quick sue
cession rang out In cabin where two
men were playing cards. A third shot
followed a few seconds later. The
signers Of the edlct gathered at the
scene OF controversy and found Ben
Rogers on the floor stone dead with
two bullet holes In him. Jim Murphy
was unhurt.
Mr.. Hunker stepped up to Murphy
and demanded his arms. Murphy, who
still held his revolver, looked inquiring-
ly into his face, then at six men back
ing him, all having cooked weapons In
their hands, and surrendered.
The body being examined, 1t was
found to contain two holes. The com
mlttee, after due consideration, decided
that Murphy must pay $1,000 hole.
The decision staggered the citizens
Of Deadshot. Some declared that Muir.
ply, having fired in self defense, was
not liable to the fine. Others declared
that $1,000 for two holes, especially
when one would have killed the man
receiving It, was exorbitant. The com
mittee gave out that the price OF Dor.
ing holes In human flesh was rising
and they were thinking OF making II
80 per cent higher. They had nothing
10 do with any other consideration than
enforcing the payment due from hole
borers at so much hole.
Murphy was n gambler, and, since he
never played to lose, he had plenty
OF funds with which TO pay his fine.
He added $500 as voluntary subscrip.
ton. making the nest egg for the or.
Dhnn asylum $500 A hundred dol.
lars was expended for lot and ma.
terial was bought FOR the building.
After this more men left their guns
at home and DendahOt WINS showing