Year: 1879

A correspondent of The Nashville
American repeats the following story
which WAS told him by Georgian who
witnessed the scene described


Georgia has a stringent pistol law The
penalty is forfeiture of the pistol, and
dne of $50 and, at the discretion Of the
court, imprisonment for thirty days. A
short time after this lew went into effect,
Judge Lester was holding court in one Of
the mountain counties of north Georgia,
and, right in the midst of the trial of a
cause, he asked the attorneys 20 suspend
few moments, and told the sheriff to
lock the court house door and let no man
pass out without permission from him -
Then said the judge in his firm, decided
way "Gentiemen, saw pistol on a
man in this room few moments ago, and
cannot reconcile it to my sense OF duty
AS peace officer to let such a violation of
the law pass unnoticed. 1t may be that
it Is my duty to go before the grand jury
and indict him, but if that man will walk
up to this stand and lay his pistol and 81
down here, will lei him off this time,
otherwise / will go before the grand jury
and testify against him"


The jugde paused, and the attorney who
was sitting down just before the stand got
up, slipped his hand in his hip-pocket,
drew out neat ivory-handle Smith &
Wesson six-shooter, and laid 81 down be-
fore the Judge.


"This is all right" remarked the judge,
"but you are not the man that / saw with
the pistol"


At this another attorney. sitting imme-
diately in front Of the Judge, got up, and
drawing out small Colts revolver, laid
it and a 81 bill on the stand.


"This is right again" said the judge,
"but you are not the man i speak Of"


Thereupon large man just outside OF
the bar walked around, ran his hand into
his bosom and, drawing out huge old
army pistol, laid it and 81 on the stand.


II declare" exclaimed the Judge, "if
this don't beat all I; you have done right.
my friend, but you are not the man l saw
with the pistol"


This process went on until nineteen pis-
tells and $l9 were lying on the judges
stand. Then there was a pause, and it
appeared as if the crowd were pretty well
disarmed at least, if :here we've any
more pistols in the house their owners did
not seem disposed to give them up.


"Gentlemen, resumed the judge,
"here are nineteen persons who have act
ed like men in this business, but the man
that | saw with the pistol has not come
up yet, and now," continued he, pulling
out his watch and looking to the far side
Of the courthouse, II will give him one
minute to accept my proposition, and if
no does not do it in that time, will point
him out TO the Sheriff and order him to
take him into custody"


Immediately two men from the back
part of the house began TO move toward
the Judges stand. Once they stopped
and looked at each other, and then, com
ing slowly forward, laid down their pis-
tolls and their dollars. As they turned to
leave the judge said, "This man with the
black whiskers is the one | saw with the
pistol.


Then Judge Lester gave short lecture
upon the coward!y, foolish and wicked
habit Of carrying concealed weapons, and
assured his audience that in the future
the law would be strictly enforced. The
court proceeded with its regular business,
and it is needless to add that in that
county the habit Of carrying pistols was
broken up.