roughing it-第48章

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streets　were　cognizant　of！　　It　was　a　jury　composed　of　two　desperadoes；
two　low　beer…house　politicians；　three　bar…keepers；　two　ranchmen　who　could
not　read；　and　three　dull；　stupid；　human　donkeys！　　It　actually　came　out
afterward；　that　one　of　these　latter　thought　that　incest　and　arson　were
the　same　thing。

The　verdict　rendered　by　this　jury　was；　Not　Guilty。　　What　else　could　one
expect？

The　jury　system　puts　a　ban　upon　intelligence　and　honesty；　and　a　premium
upon　ignorance；　stupidity　and　perjury。　　It　is　a　shame　that　we　must
continue　to　use　a　worthless　system　because　it　was　good　a　thousand　years
ago。　　In　this　age；　when　a　gentleman　of　high　social　standing；　intelligence
and　probity；　swears　that　testimony　given　under　solemn　oath　will　outweigh；
with　him；　street　talk　and　newspaper　reports　based　upon　mere　hearsay；　he
is　worth　a　hundred　jurymen　who　will　swear　to　their　own　ignorance　and
stupidity；　and　justice　would　be　far　safer　in　his　hands　than　in　theirs。
Why　could　not　the　jury　law　be　so　altered　as　to　give　men　of　brains　and
honesty　and　equal　chance　with　fools　and　miscreants？　　Is　it　right　to　show
the　present　favoritism　to　one　class　of　men　and　inflict　a　disability　on
another；　in　a　land　whose　boast　is　that　all　its　citizens　are　free　and
equal？　　I　am　a　candidate　for　the　legislature。　　I　desire　to　tamper　with
the　jury　law。　　I　wish　to　so　alter　it　as　to　put　a　premium　on　intelligence
and　character；　and　close　the　jury　box　against　idiots；　blacklegs；　and
people　who　do　not　read　newspapers。　　But　no　doubt　I　shall　be　defeated
every　effort　I　make　to　save　the　country　〃misses　fire。〃

My　idea；　when　I　began　this　chapter；　was　to　say　something　about
desperadoism　in　the　〃flush　times〃　of　Nevada。　　To　attempt　a　portrayal　of
that　era　and　that　land；　and　leave　out　the　blood　and　carnage；　would　be
like　portraying　Mormondom　and　leaving　out　polygamy。　　The　desperado
stalked　the　streets　with　a　swagger　graded　according　to　the　number　of　his
homicides；　and　a　nod　of　recognition　from　him　was　sufficient　to　make　a
humble　admirer　happy　for　the　rest　of　the　day。　　The　deference　that　was
paid　to　a　desperado　of　wide　reputation；　and　who　〃kept　his　private
graveyard；〃　as　the　phrase　went；　was　marked；　and　cheerfully　accorded。
When　he　moved　along　the　sidewalk　in　his　excessively　long…tailed　frock…
coat；　shiny　stump…toed　boots；　and　with　dainty　little　slouch　hat　tipped
over　left　eye；　the　small…fry　roughs　made　room　for　his　majesty；　when　he
entered　the　restaurant；　the　waiters　deserted　bankers　and　merchants　to
overwhelm　him　with　obsequious　service；　when　he　shouldered　his　way　to　a
bar；　the　shouldered　parties　wheeled　indignantly；　recognized　him；　and
apologized。

They　got　a　look　in　return　that　froze　their　marrow；　and　by　that　time　a
curled　and　breast…pinned　bar　keeper　was　beaming　over　the　counter；　proud
of　the　established　acquaintanceship　that　permitted　such　a　familiar　form
of　speech　as：

〃How're　ye；　Billy；　old　fel？　　Glad　to　see　you。　　What'll　you　takethe　old
thing？〃

The　〃old　thing〃　meant　his　customary　drink；　of　course。

The　best　known　names　in　the　Territory　of　Nevada　were　those　belonging　to
these　long…tailed　heroes　of　the　revolver。　　Orators；　Governors；
capitalists　and　leaders　of　the　legislature　enjoyed　a　degree　of　fame；　but
it　seemed　local　and　meagre　when　contrasted　with　the　fame　of　such　men　as
Sam　Brown；　Jack　Williams；　Billy　Mulligan；　Farmer　Pease；　Sugarfoot　Mike；
Pock　Marked　Jake；　El　Dorado　Johnny；　Jack　McNabb；　Joe　McGee；　Jack　Harris；
Six…fingered　Pete；　etc。；　etc。　　There　was　a　long　list　of　them。　　They　were
brave；　reckless　men；　and　traveled　with　their　lives　in　their　hands。　　To
give　them　their　due；　they　did　their　killing　principally　among　themselves；
and　seldom　molested　peaceable　citizens；　for　they　considered　it　small
credit　to　add　to　their　trophies　so　cheap　a　bauble　as　the　death　of　a　man
who　was　〃not　on　the　shoot；〃　as　they　phrased　it。　　They　killed　each　other
on　slight　provocation；　and　hoped　and　expected　to　be　killed　themselves
for　they　held　it　almost　shame　to　die　otherwise　than　〃with　their　boots
on；〃　as　they　expressed　it。

I　remember　an　instance　of　a　desperado's　contempt　for　such　small　game　as　a
private　citizen's　life。　　I　was　taking　a　late　supper　in　a　restaurant　one
night；　with　two　reporters　and　a　little　printer　namedBrown；　for
instanceany　name　will　do。　　Presently　a　stranger　with　a　long…tailed　coat
on　came　in；　and　not　noticing　Brown's　hat；　which　was　lying　in　a　chair；　sat
down　on　it。　　Little　Brown　sprang　up　and　became　abusive　in　a　moment。　　The
stranger　smiled；　smoothed　out　the　hat；　and　offered　it　to　Brown　with
profuse　apologies　couched　in　caustic　sarcasm；　and　begged　Brown　not　to
destroy　him。　　Brown　threw　off　his　coat　and　challenged　the　man　to　fight
abused　him；　threatened　him；　impeached　his　courage；　and　urged　and　even
implored　him　to　fight；　and　in　the　meantime　the　smiling　stranger　placed
himself　under　our　protection　in　mock　distress。　　But　presently　he　assumed
a　serious　tone；　and　said：

〃Very　well；　gentlemen；　if　we　must　fight；　we　must；　I　suppose。　　But　don't
rush　into　danger　and　then　say　I　gave　you　no　warning。　　I　am　more　than　a
match　for　all　of　you　when　I　get　started。　　I　will　give　you　proofs；　and
then　if　my　friend　here　still　insists；　I　will　try　to　accommodate　him。〃

The　table　we　were　sitting　at　was　about　five　feet　long；　and　unusually
cumbersome　and　heavy。　　He　asked　us　to　put　our　hands　on　the　dishes　and
hold　them　in　their　places　a　momentone　of　them　was　a　large　oval　dish
with　a　portly　roast　on　it。　　Then　he　sat　down；　tilted　up　one　end　of　the
table；　set　two　of　the　legs　on　his　knees；　took　the　end　of　the　table
between　his　teeth；　took　his　hands　away；　and　pulled　down　with　his　teeth
till　the　table　came　up　to　a　level　position；　dishes　and　all！　　He　said　he
could　lift　a　keg　of　nails　with　his　teeth。　　He　picked　up　a　common　glass
tumbler　and　bit　a　semi…circle　out　of　it。　　Then　he　opened　his　bosom　and
showed　us　a　net…work　of　knife　and　bullet　scars；　showed　us　more　on　his
arms　and　face；　and　said　he　believed　he　had　bullets　enough　in　his　body　to
make　a　pig　of　lead。　　He　was　armed　to　the　teeth。　　He　closed　with　the
remark　that　he　was　Mr。　of　Caribooa　celebrated　name　whereat　we　shook
in　our　shoes。　　I　would　publish　the　name；　but　for　the　suspicion　that　he
might　come　and　carve　me。　　He　finally　inquired　if　Brown　still　thirsted　for
blood。　　Brown　turned　the　thing　over　in　his　mind　a　moment；　and　thenasked
him　to　supper。

With　the　permission　of　the　reader；　I　will　group　together；　in　the　next
chapter；　some　samples　of　life　in　our　small　mountain　village　in　the　old
days　of　desperadoism。　　I　was　there　at　the　time。　　The　reader　will　observe
peculiarities　in　our　official　society；　and　he　will　observe　also；　an
instance　of　how；　in　new　countries；　murders　breed　murders。




CHAPTER　XLIX。

An　extract　or　two　from　the　newspapers　of　the　day　will　furnish　a
photograph　that　can　need　no　embellishment：

　　　　　　FATAL　SHOOTING　AFFRAY。An　affray　occurred；　last　evening；　in　a
　　　　　　billiard　saloon　on　C　street；　between　Deputy　Marshal　Jack　Williams
　　　　　　and　Wm。　Brown；　which　resulted　in　the　immediate　death　of　the　latter。
　　　　　　There　had　been　some　difficulty　between　the　parties　for　several
　　　　　　months。

　　　　　　An　inquest　was　immediately　held；　and　the　following　testimony
　　　　　　adduced：

　　　　　　Officer　GEO。　BIRDSALL；　sworn；　says：I　was　told　Wm。　Brown　was　drunk
　　　　　　and　was　looking　for　Jack　Williams；　so　soon　as　I　heard　that　I　started
　　　　　　for　the　parties　to　prevent　a　collision；　went　into　the　billiard
　　　　　　saloon；　saw　Billy　Brown　running　around；　saying　if　anybody　had
　　　　　　anything　against　him　to　show　cause；　he　was　talking　in　a　boisterous
　　　　　　manner；　and　officer　Perry　took　him　to　the　other　end　of　the　room　to
　　　　　　talk　to　him；　Brown　came　back　to　me；　remarked　to　me　that　he　thought
　　　　　　he　was　as　good　as　anybody；　and　knew　how　to　take　care　of　himself；　he
　　　　　　passed　by　me　and　went　to　the　bar；　don't　know　whether　he　drank　or
　　　　　　not；　Williams　was　at　the　end　of　the　billiard…table；　next　to　the
　　　　　　stairway；　Brown；　after　going　to　the　bar；　came　back　and　said　he　was
　　　　　　as　good　as　any　man　in　the　world；　he　had　then　walked　out　to　the　end
　　　　　　of　the　first　billiard…table　from　the　bar；　I　moved　closer　to　them；
　　　　　　supposing　there　would　be　a　fight；　as　Brown　drew　his　pistol　I　caught
　　　　　　hold　of　it；　he　had　fired　one　shot　at　Williams；　don't　know　the　effect
　　　　　　of　it；　caught　hold　of　him　with　one　hand；　and　took　hold　of　the　pistol
　　　　　　and　turned　it　up；　think　he　fired　once　after　I　caught　hold　of　the
　　　　　　pistol；　I　wrenched　the　pistol　from　him；　walked　to　the　end　of　the
　　　　　　billiard…table　and　told　a　party　that　I　had　Brown's　pistol；　and　to
　　　　　　stop　shooting；　I　think　four　shots　were　fired　in　all；　after　walking
　　　　　　out；　Mr。　Foster　remarked　that　Brown　was　shot　dead。

Oh；　there　was　no　excitement　about　ithe　merely　〃remarked〃　the　small
circumstance！

Four　months　later　the　following　item　appeared　in　the　same　paper　（the
Enterprise）。　　In　this　item　the　name　of　one　of　the　city　officers　above
referred　to　（Deputy　Marshal　Jack　Williams）　occurs　again：

　　　　　　ROBBERY　AND　DESPERATE　AFFRAY。On　Tuesday　night；　a　German　named
　　　　　　Charles　Hurtzal；　engineer　in　a　mill　at　Silver　City；　came　to　this
　　　　　　place；　and　visited　the　hurdy…gurdy　house　on　B　street。　　The　music；
　　　　　　dancing　and　Teutonic　maidens　awakened　memories　of　Faderland　until
　　　　　　our　German　friend　was　carried　away　with　rapture。　　He　evidently　had
　　　　　　money；　and　was　spending　if　freely。　　Late　in　the　evening　Jack
　　　　　　Williams　and　Andy　Blessington　invited　him　down　stairs　to　take　a　cup
　　　　　　of　coffee。　　Williams　proposed　a　game　of　cards　and　went　up　stairs　to
　　　　　　procure　a　deck；　but　not　finding　any　returned。　　On　the　stairway　he
　　　　　　met　the　German；　and　drawing　his　pistol　knocked　him　down　and　rifled
　　　　　　his　pockets　of　some　seventy　dollars。　　Hurtzal　dared　give　no　alarm；
　　　　　　as　he　was　told；　with　a　pistol　at　his　head；　if　he　made　any　noise　or
　　　　　　exposed　them；　they　would　blow　his　brains　out。　　So　effectually　was　he
　　　　　　frightened　that　he　made　no　complaint；　until　his　friends　forced　him。
　　　　　　Yesterday　a　warrant　was　issued；　but　the　culprits　had　disappeared。

This　efficient　city　officer；　Jack　Williams；　had　the　common　reputation　of
being　a　burglar；　a　highwayman　and　a　desperado。　　It　was　said　that　he　had
several　times　drawn　his　revolver　and　levied　money　contributions　on
citizens　at　dead　of　night　in　the　public　streets　of　Virginia。

Five　months　after　the　above　item　appeared；　Williams　was　assassinated
while　sitting　at　a　card　table　one　night；　a　gun　was　thrust　through　the
crack　of　the　door　and　Williams　dropped　from　his　chair　riddled　with　balls。
It　was　said；　at　the　time；　that　Williams　had　been　for　some　time　aware　that
a　party　of　his　own　sort　（desperadoes）　had　sworn　away　his　life；　and　it　was
generally　believed　among　the　people　that　Williams's　friends　and　enemies
would　make　the　assassination　memorableand　useful；　tooby　a　wholesale
destruction　of　each　other。

It　did　not　so　happen；　but　still；　times　were　not　dull　during　the　next
twenty…four　hours；　for　within　that　time　a　woman　was　killed　by　a　pistol
shot；　a　man　was　brained　with　a　slung　shot；　and　a　man　named　Reeder　was
also　disposed　of　permanently。　　Some　matters　in　the　Enterprise　account　of
the　killing　of　Reeder　are　worth　nothingespeci