Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-04-06
Law Versus
Judge Lynch
By RICHARD MARLEY

Two gentlemen Of Four Aces, a min
ing town, were consulting as to how
TO get rid Of an enemy, One demurred
at shooting since court had been es
tabllshed,
"You see, jim" he said, they'll keep
M in jail forever waltln' to try u.s."
Don't you worry about that, Pete
said the other, This yere community
isn't ready for real law yet"
SO they shot their man and stood
trial,
The citizens Of -Four Aces, eager Ia
try the new legal system that had been
introduced, did not Inconvenience the
two criminals at all by delay, The
murder was committed IN the morning,
and by 3 o'clock In the afternoon the
trial commenced, A limb OF the law
named Simpson was prosecuting attor-
ney, and one Waterman was assigned
by the court TO defend the accused,
70 save time they were tried together,
The first hour was occupied I'm fencing
between the prosecutor and counsel for
the defense, the latter claiming that
the first shot killed the gambler, and
the man who fred II was the murder
er, while the other could not be tried
for killing corpse. An appeal TO the
Judge established the fact that both
were instrumental In the deed and they
should be convicted or acquitted to-
gether.
Then the prosecutor summoned wit.
nesses who saw the shooting. The
first was the barkeeper OF the saloon,
who was standing behind the bar at
the time. He testified that he saw
the two men open fire at the same mo-
ment on the gambler,
Question What were you doing
when the shooting commenced?
Witness-Tom O'Brian had fist call
ed for some pizen, and was reachin
to the shelf back o. the bar for It.
Qucston-IIow could you see the
shooting when your back was turned
% the shooters?
Witness-There was big lookin
glass behind the bar. | seen It in
hat.
Your honor" said the lawyer, turn
ng to the judge, II move that this
mans testimony be stricken out. He
lid not see the shooting. He merely
Jaw reflection"
The judge considered for awhile,
hen decided that reflection was not
thing In itself, therefore the testi-
nony Of the barkeeper was not TO be
Considered by the jury,
There were several other persons in
he room at the time OF the crime, but
ounsel for defense proved that the
yesight Of one was bad, that another
vas so deaf that he couldn't hear a
annon fired, to say nothing Of re-
Oliver while n third had been sitting
t table In jog In the room where
e could not see the group in question
'riends Of the accused swore that they
ad known them for years, both had
lught Sunday school and neither had
yer carried revolver-indeed, they
'ould not know how to handle such a
'eapon.
The prosecutor endeavored to i'm
each the veraCity Of these witnesses,
ut when he called on citizens present
D swear that they wouldn't believe
hem under oath one OF the witnesses
that If any man dared to
uestion his word or his sacred honor
e would let daylight into his carcass.
his effectually prevented the impeach-
lent of any Of these witnesses.
When the lawyers had got through
18th the case there was an impressive
lence in the court. The judge SEEM
l averse to instruCting the jury to
cQuit the murderer, but he could not
,e how he could do anything else. He
as scratching his head when Oliver
udd, prominent citizen Of -Four
ces and leader Of the late vigilance
Dmmlttee that had ceased operations
view of the introduction Of law into
e place, arose and said:
Your honor, these yere men have
zen tried aCcOrdin to law, and the
'idence shows that they are as inner
mt as two turtle doves. l suggest
at before givin' up our former meth
we try 'em by the Lynch system,
st for to see how the two compare"
The judge accepted the situation and
we up his seat-a cracker box before
S desk, board between two barrels
to Mr.. Budd, who took his place and
i'd:
Let all the witnesses for the prose
ton stand up in line
When the line was formed Judge
inch or Mr.. Budd said to them
These yerc two men air charged
It'll the KILN Of Charles Benton,
mbler. All of you who know for
rten that they done it hold up your
nds."
Every witness held up a hand.
'That'll d." said Mr.. Budd then,