William Hester, honest David Hester's oldest son, was the first to
respond: "We on the river bottom have endured this Wiles crowd a good
while. We know they are a curse to this section. They steal our hosses
and whatever they can lay their hands on. They make 'licit whisky in
the hills and knobs. They are lazy and shiftless, and no count in
general. They scare our women, and are a nuisance and pest all around.
I say we oughter make an example of Wiles, the ringleader of the gang,
and put him out of the way of killing any more hosses by making him
stretch a rope from this bridge."

"You have listened to what Bill Hester has said. Has any other
gentleman any remarks to make?" asked their chairman.

Abner Hunt, a fiery little man, whose plantation joined that of David
Hester, spoke in rapid tones, emphasizing his words with vigorous
gesticulations: "I fully agree with what Bill has said. Most all the
people living on these here bottoms are peaceable and law-abiding and
it is too bad that a few desprit villians should keep the county in a
state of terror and alarm. If there were some big rattle snakes in our
midst, we would try to ketch and kill them; and these human rascals are
worse than rattlers. My vote is to string him up quick."

"We want a free and full discussion of this case, and I wait to hear
any one else speak," said Sanders.

Then Hans Schmidt, a large, fair-faced German, arose, and said: "Mine
freunds, dis ist a wery serious matter, und we must consider it with
much deliberation. Gott's Book tells us to luv our enemies, und we
should not show hate und refenge to any man. We all know Wiles is vun
great rogue, und I would give much money to see heem out of the bottom;
but I would not like to haf a hand in lynching heem. I tink it is
better for the law to take its course and for us to deliver heem up to
prison."

These words acted like sparks to gunpowder, and several in the crowd
cried: "No! No!" "Hang him!" "Don't let him escape!" A few others said
they agreed with what Schmidt had proposed.

When quiet was restored, one more speaker was heard. His name was Damon
Craig. He was a hill farmer who made a good living for himself and
family by industry and economy on the thin soil above the river bottom.
All highly respected him and his words had much weight: "Thur is al'ys
danger in takin; a hoss thief to jail. Dey air slick by natur' and der
bizness makes 'em slicker. You'uns can't trust sich a feller as Wi