The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1941-01-24

county jail steps.
Stand back, you birds! The first
man that sets foot on those steps
gets plugged"
The surging crowd came to halt.
Angry shouts and threats rose on
the still morning air. But no man
of them dared advance farther.
They knew that Sheriff Hull made
no idle threats. He was q hard,
grim man, this Hull, veteran law
officer, a man who adhered to what
he believed to be his duty, regard
less of personal feelings. Until now
he had been a credit to the commu-
nifty he served, an admired and re-
spected public servant.
But the sentiment of the people
had changed. For behind Sheriff
Hull, on the steps covered one Joe
Marcus. An hour before Sheriff Hull
had arrested Marcus for beating his
own son, beating him so severely
that even now physicians at the
county hospital held grave doubts
regarding young Tommy Marcus
chances Of recovery. Joe had
dubbed the boy with a board be-
cause, he said, the youngster was
growing into a sissy" The youth
had expressed a desire to continue
his schooling and perhaps learn to
play the piano.
Today's beating had been one of
many. A passing neighbor had
heard the boys agonized screams
and had put in call for Sheriff Hull
The officer, summoned from a near
by town. had arrived just as a group
OF enraged and self-appointed vigil
lantes had succeeded in crashing in
the front door Of the Marcus farm
house and was about to seize Joe
Marcus.
There had been a lively time for
a while. The pitiful figure of young
Tommy, lying bleeding and bruised
on the floor, saved Joe from being
lynched on the spot One man rode
for doctor, others improvised a
stretcher, while still others made
ready the Marcus blackboard. Sher-
if Hull took advantage of the ex-
element to sneak Joe out the back
door, and raced with him toward
town. The Infatuated and Justice
demanding vigilanteS overlook them
at the county Jail, and Hull had re-
sorted to his guns to protect his
prisoner
Once more the crowd in the court
yard surged forward. But their
momentary hesitation as the officer
leveled his guns had been enough
Before the first of them gained the
lower step, the door above opened
and banged shut. Behind it, Sheriff
Hull slid the heavy bolts into place
and smiled grimly. He turned to
look at the white and frightened face
of Joe Marcus.
Blast you, you're not worth it.!
shoulda let them had yuh! You
amt deservin' of the protection the
law offers a citizen"
A new fear flickered in Joe Mar
Gus eyes. ''You gotta protect me, "
he whimpered. You gotta. It's
your duty and-and the kid amt
dead. ] didn't hurt him much. He
had it comm anyway. He was turn
ing into a sissy. Other kids were
laughin' at him. only meant to
make a man out of him. A man,
like his father"
shut up your driveling!" Not
urgently Sheriff Hull forced his pris-
oner toward the iron-grilled door at
the back Of the room. Behind this
door were others, and one of these
the officer opened and thrust Marcus
through. Get In there" he said,
with them other murderers. That's
where you belong: in the murder
pen, along with the rest of your
kind. You'll be safe there
The room into which Hull had pre-
cipitated his prisoner was large with
three iron-barred windows high UP
on the wall. It contained eight or
nine hard-faced men. Negroes and
half-breeds and one or two whites,
men without morals or human pity,
desperadoeS of the worst order.
They had been rounded up by the
sheriff two days before in a raid in
the southern end of the county, and
placed in the large cell awaiting
trial.
Sheriff Hull went back to his Of
fee and sat down at his desk. There
was a worried frown on his face
For the moment, he knew Joe Mar
Gus was safe. It had been a strate-
gic move installing him with those
other prisoners. The vigilantes
would never think of looking for him
there. They'd expect to find him in
one of the more isolated single
cells, or perhaps in solitary confine-
ment. Yes, Marcus was safe for
the present-among his own kind.
But only for the present. Sheriff
Hull's frown deepened. He knew the
temper of justice-thirsty mobs. He
knew that the crowd outside the jail
were aroused to a dangerous pitch.
They wouldn't rest until Joe Mar
GUS figure dangled from the end of
hemp rope.
Down deep in his heart, Sheriff
Hull sympathized with the sentiment
of the mob. He knew their rage
and desire for vengeance were JUS
@;6aJ And vof oraator fhop fh;c