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Show PEOPLE'S COURTS. 61 Gordon knelt and the vast assemblage stood with uncovered heads. At the close he said, in a faltering voice: "Gentlemen, you who have been my friends and endeavored to obtain a reprieve for me in the hope of securing my banishment from the Territory, I thank you from the bottom of my heart; I thank the ladies and gentlemen who have visited me during my confinement, and been so good to me. Speak of me kindly to my mother. Oh, if some good friend here would shoot me! But it is all well-good-bye. Mr. Middaugh, remember to fix the knot so it will break my neck as soon as possible. Oh, God have mercy! " And thus ended the career of one who had many friends-but the people were inflexible in administering justice. Truly the "way of the transgressor" is hard, and his sins will find him out. CHAPTER XIII. PEOPLE'S COURT. Kansas failing to exercise judicial authority over the region, the Solons of the place were called together in the fall of '60 to draft a code of laws suitable to their needs; and organized a tribunal which they dignified with the title of " People's Court." They elected a mayor, judges and city council, levied and collected taxes, and performed all the functions of a legally constituted city government. J. C. Moore was the first mayor. Major Downing was the first judge. In looking over the archives I found a record of very startling divorce case. A wife's petition for divorce, and the husband's quit-claim deed of her, of which the following is a true copy: |
