Untitled

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1951, 6 April 1875, Page 3

" Getting Squabb" on the Judge.— An amusing incident occurred in a courtroom, about a year ago, in Keatingville, Montana Territory. His Honor was a man well stricken in years, yet he could ride a race, shoot a rifle, and shuffle and deal as well as the best man in the mines, and he who presumed to trifle with the dignity of the court generally suffered. His Honor wa» seated, and the cases about to be commenced, when, in a voice 'of thunder, the sheriff proclaimed silence. There was a pause,"the judge looked over and saw the prisoner, who had not yet; uncovered his head. The court could not brook such disrespect to his dignity, and his Honor called out, in an authoritative tone, " Mr Sheriff, remove the gentleman's hat." That functionary, who had until now stood in a corner, leaning upon a rifle, stepped up, and politely knocked off the offender's hat with that murderous instrument, whereupon the prisoner seized the hat,, and clapped it on his head, loudly exclaiming "Judge I am bald!" "Mr Sheriff," said the indignant court, "we instruct you to remove that hat." The order was instantly excuted, and no sooner done than the prisoner replaced the hat ob his head, again insisting that he was bald. The offended judge now waxed warm, and, rising: up innis seat, said," Ifine you five dollars for contempt of court — to be committed until the fine is paid." The prisoner was thunderstruck. He deliberately walked up to the judge, and, laying down a half-dollar stamp before His Honor, in a isolemn manner, thus gave his views: " Your sentence, judge, is most ungentlemanly, but the law is imperative, and I will haTe to stand it; so hero are four bits, and the four dollars and a half that you owed me when we stopped playing poker this morning just makes us square."