The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-02

Judge Jennings was the man Of weight
In the community. He was reelected
almost unanimously. John and Ed were
the attorneys In every big case that
came up in the courts. Ny father had
built a beautiful home and had a COM
Portable bank account. We were going
forward with a swift, sure current when
the Garst affair, like the uncharted
rock, blocked our course.
Many events in my life-the pistol
shot in the Cincinnati theater. the de-
sertion in the prairies, the lawlessness
Of the ranges-seemed TO have been
shaping the channel for the rapids that
were TO hurl Frank and me into the
maelstrom OF robbery and murder, The
Garst case precipitated the downfall. &
Sheriff and Land Grabber.
Jack Love had been appointed sheriff
at the same time that my father
was named Judge. He was a gambler
and considered a disreputable character.
While in office he had a little habit OF
arresting the citizens and charging them
an exit fee In order to get out Of Jail,
He developed also a great penchant
for land grabbing. ap%propriating be,00l
acres OF the governments property,
Frank Garst rented this land for, the
pasturing Of LOO cattle. He agreed to
pay Love $4,000. When the bill was
presented it was greatly in excess Of
this sum. Garst refused to pay, Love
brought suit, Temple Houston defend
ed the interests OF Love; my brother
Ed was attorney for Garst.
Love came to Ed and offered him ST.
900 In cash to dump Garst. Ed refused
and won the case for his client. He
won 1t on the ground that Love had nc
right to the land In the first place and
vas himself al trespasser.
Love was out his 5000. He was a
bad loser. Eds fate was really sci
when he won that case. Love waited
his chance.
1t came a few weeks later. | went
to Woodward to visit my father. Ed
was defending a group Of boys on q
attorney, was prosecuting. "a asked
me TO assist him. The case was going
against Houston. The atmosphere was
charged with bitterness. In the midst
Of my plea, Houston got to his feet
slammed his fist on the table anC
grossly ignorant OF the law"
You're a damn liar answered
without any particular heat, but as on,
asserting an evident fact.
1t was like = blow IN the face t.
Houston. He cost all control OF him
self. Take that back, you damn littl,
-" he hurled the unpardon.
able epithet and sprang at me,
His face was bursting with rage. Hi
hal was on his rs and / had min,
leveled at him. Lightning anger wa
striking in all directions. Men rushed
to the n side and the other. Some
body dashed the six shooter from m!
hand, At the same moment | saw
Houston surrounded and disarmed.
The court proceedings ended for tn
day. But feeling ran high-the whit,
hot fury Of the Southern COW people
Nothing but blood cools II, We knew
that the settlement must be met.
For once In my life / was not cage
to square the account with killings. W
went to Eds office, my father and M,
two brothers My fathers harried fac
was like a reproach to our hot tempers
He was a broken man. He seemed t
see the tragic failure of his life OF 70
bust endeavor. aust ~ t'
What are you going to do?" h
asked almost In an appeal. 4
Nothing, until tomorrow I toll
him. for | had made my plans, | In
tended to meet Houston, apologize 10
my insults, demand the same from hir
and let II go at that, II Houston re
fused 1t would be time enough to NEE
the issue.
My decision was not to be, The tow
was divided into two factions. Our
outnumbered Houston's two to one
They made up In their ranking ami
mostly what they lacked % numbers
II was as II two tigers stood ready t
spring and each but waited to get tn
other In a corner,
Ed and John agreed to stay In tow
to watch the office. ! went home wit
my father.
Never had the magnetism OF his kline
turbulent nature seemed so forcible a
In the weakness of his fear for us. Fl
was In a reminiscent mood. For tn
l HiRgf TINA ha aVNAlA 80 chat AaKt rHAA
he had struck me down al Shrieber'
store, The tears crowded into his eye
knew that many a t~orturing momer
had paid for that irresponsible blow.
At 10 o'clock we went to bed. 1t wa
n hot summer night. We left ou
doors open. | was dropping into
slumber when | heard the stumble {
frantic footsteps on the steps below
The door was pushed to and a broke
voice called out:
Judge, get up, get up. Judge, quicl
they have killed both your boys!"