Part 16 (2/2)

Later, and when out in pursuit of the Indians, he said: ”But diffidence never permitted me to approach an officer's tent, or solicit any one for office”

None the less, the office of Orderly Sergeant being thrust upon hih with it passably well

When the State Governaze offroed in soes of the Supre hand appears as follows: ”Wisdoave Governor Bond a high standing with his conteht around his path through life, showing him to be one of the noblest works of God”

Four years prior to this appoint with much diffidence” his examination

This accomplished, he adds: ”In the Winter of 1814, I established a very hue of Cahokia, the county seat of St Clair County” The bearing of the one whose irt about with a leathern girdle, was arrogance itself, when compared with the deportment of the later John in the wilderness at the period whereof rite

That he was orthodox upon what pertained to medical practice will now appear: ”It was the universal practice to give the patient of the bilious disease, first, tartar emetic; next day, caloenerally sufficient”

The latter statement will hardly be questioned

How his first visitation of the tender passion was led with a relish of philosophy is recorded for the benefit of posterity:

”During all my previous life until within a short time before I married, I had not the least intention of that state of existence, and I expressed myself often to my friends to the same effect; but on the subject of enerally succeeds Judgment and prudence should be mixed in equal parts with love and affection in the transaction, to secure a lasting and happy union”

With all his diffidence, however, the Old Ranger happened to turn up at the seat of Government in tieshi+p It broke in on me like a clap of thunder” Theway to the urgent demand of his friends is as follows: ”Human nature is easier to persuade to mount upwards than to remain on the common level”

His mind, as will appear, was essentially of the strictly practical cast He no doubt believed with Macaulay that ”one acre in Middlesex is worth a principality in Utopia”

That the Republican sie followed him from his ”very humble and obscure law-office” to the Bench, will now appear:

”The very first court I held was in Washi+ngton County, and it was to st old coed in the ith thereat intimacy and equality, so that it was difficult to assume a different relationshi+p than I had previously occupied with thenity Both the sheriff and clerk were rangers in the sa on equal terms in pursuit of the Indians

The sheriff was of the sa astride on a bench in the Court-house, and without rising, proclaimed: 'The court is now open, and our John is on the bench'”

It may here be mentioned that the first case of ie Reynolds, was the trial of one Williaonist in a duel in St Clair County, for which he suffered the death penalty This is the only duel ever fought in Illinois No doubt the pro in the State

In reply to the charge that he had acted with unbecoe said, ”No hu of s and sy thus vindicated hie mentioned, he adds:

”I am opposed to capital punishment in any case where the convict can be kept in solitary confine his life; it was extremely painful and awful to me to be the instrument in the hands of the law to pronounce sentence of death uponhi his to God and not to man”

He consoles himself, however, as he closes his narrative of this sad affair, that ”it never did assuular and honorable duel” It is very satisfactory also, even at this distant date, to be assured by the Judge that ”the prisoner eion, was baptized, and died happy, before spectators to the number of two thousand or more”

Governor Ford, in his history of Illinois, relates the following incident as characteristic of Judge Reynolds The latter was holding court in Washi+ngton County when one Green was found guilty upon an indictment for murder The court was near the hour of adjournested to the court that the prisoner Green be brought in in order that sentence be passed upon hie, and the prisoner was at once brought in froe in a fauilty I want you to understand, Mr

Green, and all your friends down on Indian Creek to know, that it is not I who condemns you, but the jury and the law The law allows you time for preparation, Mr Green; and so the court wants to knohat ti that he was ready to suffer at whatever tie said;

”Mr Green, youIt can't happen to a man more than once in his life, and you had better take all the tiive you till this day four weeks Mr Clerk, look at the almanac and see if this day four weeks comes on Sunday” The Clerk after examination reported that that day four weeks caives you till this day four weeks, and then you are to be hanged”

Whereupon the prosecuting officer, the Hon Janified lawyer, said:

”May it please the court, on sole is to be sentenced away for crime by an earthly tribunal, it is usual and proper for courts to pronounce a for features of the criht to the recollection of the prisoner, a sense of his guilt impressed upon his conscience, and in which the prisoner should be duly exhorted to repentance and warned against the judgment in a world to come”