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ALL AROUND WEEKLY. . *
gE
99
JUDGE LYNCH FOILED
By John Sherman
In the great West, upon what-is called the border, Judge
Lynch acts with about as much reason as some of our more
legally’ authorized courts.. Many an innocent man has been
“hung by what is termed Lynch Law, and so have many men
been hung by the more authorized mode.
-We are glad to know that the days of patrols, lynch laws,
kluklux and border ruffians has almost passed. Under the
more benign influences of civilization we are getting over it,
-even-on the border. In Missouri, near the Kansas. border,
Judge Lynch has reigned supreme for years, and still holds
“a fair sway.
In fact, Missouri as a State has hardly recovered from bar-
barism. Border ruffians exist in other places than on the
borders; they exist all over the State. The principal cause,
if we may be permitted to philosophize about the unruly Mis-
sourians, is their hot-headed prejudice and passion. The finer
elements of society are not unknown in that State; but her
‘leaders, and above all, her judiciary, from the Supreme Bench
down, is disreputable, and both civil and criminal law is a
_mockery. ’
Neither life nor property is safe in the courts of Missouri if
-the judge trying the cause should see fit from personal preju-
dice, or to gain public favor, to decide against you. ° You must
humble yourself and fawn to a public magistrate, or you will
not. get justice. . , \
The lawful judges have been known to instigate mobs. to
hang men whom they feared they could not legally convict.
When a Missouri populace clamors for a man’s life they will
have it, and it makes no difference whether he ever commit-
ted a crime or not. On the other hand, if they choose to spare
a criminal, he can never be convicted, though his sins be as
mountains. The consequences are. that, murderers and thieves
run riot in this State, to the terror of law-abiding citizens.
The cause of this is a corrupt judiciary and officials. '
As we asserted, Judge Lynch is about as apt to be right as
those justices who sit upon the bench, and neither can be
relied upon.
_ In such a state of society. there are many wild and exciting
events. There are also many deeds of chivalry and heroism
which would fill volumes. Missourians are seldom cowards.
They understand the. use of the revolvers, and have all smelled
gunpowder and blood. , :
It is only a little over a score of years ago that the border
was all aflame with fire and steel. Men were hung at almost
every crossroads, or called to the doors of ‘their houses in the
night and shot down.
It is to that period of history known as Bleeding Kansas
which ushered in the great war of the Rebellion, that we call
the attention of the reader. In spite of the dark cloud which
hung over the West there was a great influx of emigration.
Pioneers are always brave men, and they carry their rifle
in one hand and their lives in the other, when they move out
on the frontier.
Indians were small foes when. compared to the border ruf-
fians, and there were, in reality, no Indians in Missouri at the
time of which we speak.
Ned Haldo was a brave young man who emlirated to the
Western border of Missouri, when it was almost dangerous
for a man to enter that State.
Ned was from Ohio, with Free State ideas, such as were
very disagreeable to a Missourian. He also had a span of
excellent horses which excited the covetous greed of his neigh-
out at the road side.
bors. He purchased a small farm, and. moved his young wite
and two children onto it. .
His residence was near the eastern banks of the swift,
dark Missouri. His home was humble, but he had ambitious
dreams of a» better in the-near future. A country so rich in
soil and abundant in resources. could not fail to fully requite
him for his labors. ¢
But he soon found that his independent expressions about
certain matters were not fav orably received by his neighbors. |
More ‘than all, he noticed that covetous eyes. were turned
upon the blooded stock he had brought with him.
Ned was brave as a lion, and had no intention of having .
his ideas crushed out of sight. He had always been, used to
free speech, and he did not see as it-was any of Missouri’s
business how the Territory of Kansas was admitted into the ©
Union,
No man in Missouri can be indifferent on any subject.
must either be hot or cold.
Ned soon discovered this, but he determined’ to: obey the
dictates of his own conscience.
One day he was at the village of Weston, on business, when
a gang of roughs gathered about him.
“Well, so ye’ve got some decided notions about Free State
matters, hev ye?” said one.
“Yea,” answered Ned, without a moment’s hesitation. . “I
think every man should think and act as he pleases, Kansas
need not worry us, and every man should vote to suit him- .
self in it.”
“Well, we’ mm see,”. roared the border ruffian, with an ‘oath.
“We'll see.” - .
“I don’t care to argue the matter, Mr. Ellson,” said Ned.
“You are a lawyer, and know more about such matters than
I, but you could not convert me with all your law and logic.”
“But there is more convincin’ argument than law or logic,”
said the border ruffian lawyer, who afterwards became a law-
ful judge, though he had been a mob judge before. -
“What is it?” asked Ned, innocently,
“A rope!” was the answer,
A wild shout went up on the air at this assertion—the shout
neard only in mad mobs and riotous assemblies.
“You need not threaten me, Mr. Ellison, fot I wl not be
frightened,” said the gallant young man.
“Well, we'll see—we’ll see!” cried the infuriated man, , hurry
ing away, followed by his comrades.
Not knowing but that he might be in danger, Ned Haldo
hurried through with his business and went home.
Mounted on his blooded horse, he galloped along the road
at a swift pace. The road led through the woods, and, as most
wooded roads in Missouri are, was bounded on-either side by
thick, almost impenetrable hazels and stunted crab- apple
bushes.
While passing along, lost in reverie, a gun-barrel was thrust
He saw the gleaniing muzzle, and gave
He
his horse a cut.
“Bang!” went the gun, and a ball whistled through the air,
passing within a few inches of his head.
The horse bounded away with the speed of the wind, and,
though’ two more shots were fired at him, neither touched
him. Ned regarded his escape as almost miraculous.
He reached home, and placed his horse in the stout log
stable, about fifty yards from his stout log house, and then
sat down to collect his scattered faculties.
What should he do? He was satisfied now that his neigh-
bors intended to take his life. Only a few days before he had
received an anony mous letter informing him that he had bet-
ter leave the country, or he would be hung. He now fully real-
ized the truth of the threat,
’ (Continued on page 32)