Year: 1879

A correspondent of the Nashville
american repeats the following
story which was told him by a
Georgian who witnessed the scene



Georgia has stringent pistol
law. The penalty is forfeiture of
the pistol, and fine of $50 and, at
the discretion of the Court, inn
prisonment for thirty days. A
short time after this law went into
effect, Judge Lester was holding
Court in one of the mountain coun-
ties of north Georgia, and, right in
the midst of the trial of cause, he
asked the attorneys to suspend a
few moments, and told the Sheriff
to lock the Court House door and
let no man pass out without per-
mission from him. Then said the
Judge in his firm, decided way:
"Gentlemen, 1 saw pistol ON a
man in this room few moments
ago, and 1 cannot reconcile it to my
sense of duty as o peace officer to
let such violation of the law pass
unnoticed. 1t may be that it is my
duty to go before the Grand Jury
and inaict him, but if that man
will walk up to this stand and lay
his pistol and fine of 81 down
here, l will let him off this time,
otherwise l will go before the
Grand Jury and testify against
him."


The Judge paused, and an attor.
ney who was sitting down just be-
fore the Judge got up. slipped his
hand in his hip pocket, drew out a
neat ivory-handled Smith & Yves.
son siX.shooter, and laid ST down
before the Judge.


"That is all right" remarked the
Judge, "but you are not the man l
saw with the pistol"


At that another attorney, sitting
i'm mediately in front of the Judge
got up, and drawing out small
Colts revolver laid it and o ST bill
on the stand.


"This is right again." said the
Judge, "but you are not the man !
speak Of"


Thereupon 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.


81 Declare" exclaimed the Judge,
''if this don't beat all; you have
done right, my friend, but you are
not the man saw with the pistol"
This process went on until nine
teen pistols and $40 were lying on
the Judges stand. Then there was
pause, and it appeared as if the
crowd were pretty we'll disarmed;
at least, If there were any more
pistols in the house their owners
did not feel disposed to give them
up.


"Gentlemen," resumed the
Judge, "here are nineteen men
who have acted like men in this
business, but the man that 1 saw
with the pistol has not come up
yet, and now," continued he, pull.
ing out his watch and looking
toward the far side of the Court
House, ~ will give him one min.
ute to accept my proposition, and
| IL tlc uOCS uOb w ~ III tuub blllley j
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 tC
move toward the Judges stand
Once they stopped and looked al
each other, and then coming slowly
forward laid down their pistols anC
dollars. AS they turned to leave
the Judge said: "This man with the
black whiskers is the one 1 saw
with the pistol"


Then Judge Lester gave shorl
lecture upon the cowardly, foolish
and wicked habit of carrying con.
cealed weapons, and assured his all.
dience that in the future the law
would be strictly enforced. The
Court proceeded with its regular
business, and it is needless to ado
that in that county the habit o
carrying pistols was broken up.