Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-08-06

justice room and gallows, all in one.
Pulpit Rock was a gigantic boulder,
occupying a shelf-like position on the
side of the creek canyon. The rains
and wash of countless centuries had
worn its top to a plateau-like contour
and provided space for several score
of men.
AS a storm was threatening at the
time, no delay was lost in calling the
court to order. Walsh, in his official
capacity as vigilante leader, acted as
judge. The jury comprised all pres
ent, and at the conclusion of the hear
ing, the guilt or innocence of the pris-
/ oner depended on the outcome of the
vote taken.
Prisoner at tn bar, are We guilty or
are We not?" Walsh demanded in his
opening remark.
Sin Louie, limp as a rag, and
frightened out of all ability to utter an
ineligible word in his own defense,
was rushed through the rude mockery
of a trial. Members of the vigilante
committee testified they had previously
investigated" the Chinaman, when
reports had reached them he had been
seen sulking about the camp at differ
ent times. While he had been kept
more or less under surveillance, he was
such a blank, half-stupid appearing
heather, and such an arrant coward in
matters requiring nerve, that none had
seriously suspected him Of being a thief
La Pierre was certain "the Chink'
was lying about the pouch, but at the
same time it preplexed him to account
for the Orientals action in displaying it
in public.
Of course Sin Louie was found guilty,
and the regulation sentence was pro-
nounced by the duly constituted judge,
after a majority of those present had
voted guilty" In line with the duties of
his office, Walsh was obliged to super
wise the carrying out of the terms OF
sentence, and lost no time in preparing
a rope.
1t was while 81 engaged that an ex-
traordinary and unlocked for event
happened. The storm, which had been
threatening all morning burst suddenly
Pulpit Rock, which had withstood pre-
vious storms for ages, shivered percep-
tibly throughout its bulk, and, with
a crash, toppled to the bottom OF the
canyon, hurting it's human occupants
into a confused heap, a sheer 30 feet
into the gulch.
Although considerably bruised and
shaken, no n was seriously injured,
but the ludicrous situation was entire
" lost on the superstitious miners, who
regarded it as an act Of providence,
The first to recover was Walsh, fearful
that his prisoner would take advan-
tage of the excitement and escape. But
his fears were groundlesS as Louie was
hshed from the underside Of the hui
man pile, half-dead from fright.
None of the miners were men who
could be easily scared, but when they
figured Providence had palpably inter-
posed between them and their pris-
oner, they would proceed no further.
All except Walsh.
Lend me a gun, an I'll finish the
Chink MYSELF" He cried, having lost
his own side arm in the landslide. IT'S
a pack of old women tn whole lot OF
yez are"
But no gun was forthcoming. Instead
another young Irishman, who had but
recently arrived, informed Walsh he
would have to fight him first if he per-
sisted in his plan to execute the
Chinaman.
This session of court stands adjourn
ed by an unanimous VOTE" the young
fellow cried, and it amt safe for any
man tx monkey with its judgment"
Like his companion La Pierre was
willing to let the matter drop, and
even went SO far as to express the OPP
inion that Sin Louie was not guilty
after all. Fully aware of what would
happen if he remained obstinate, Walsh
sulked off in anger. To climax the
affair, the miners decided that Louie
be given over TO the custody OF La