Some of his friends fared less fortunately. Ben Savano, Charley Green, Billy Casey, and Doctor Booke, were all arrested and placed under five hundred dollars bonds.
Meantime Ben had made his way to Petroleum Centre. There he called upon some influential political friends--a Senator and Congressman, among others--and obtained a letter of introduction to Judge Nulton.
He happened to meet the judge at the doorway of the court, where he was making inquiries with regard to the free-and-easy arrests.
"The only man we want, now," observed the judge, just as our hero made his appearance, "is Ben Hogan!"
"Yes," said Ben, joining in the conversation, "Hogan ought to be hung."
"Well, I don't know about that," returned the judge. "In fact, all that I do know about him is what I have heard others say. He seems to be a pretty desperate character, but it would hardly do to hang a man on hearsay evidence."
"Well, he's certainly a hard character," said Ben, with emphasis.
"Yes," was the reply. "I know him better than any one else in the world. I happen to be the gentleman myself!"
"Will you do me the favor and read these letters?" continued Ben.
Finding that Hogan was not after all so terrible a person to meet with, the judge proceeded to give him some points as to how he might get out of his present scrape. Acting upon these hints, Ben furnished straw bail, which was the best he could do.
The men who had really been responsible for the arrests were Golden, and one Christy--a lawyer not overburdened with clients. Naturally enough, Ben and his companions entertained no very friendly feelings toward Golden and Christy, and at a later day they took occasion to square up accounts.
While the case was progressing, Ben and Charley Green put up at Reynold's Hotel, where they dealt a quiet little game of faro in their room, and made three hundred dollars during the night. It was encouraging for the indicted gentlemen to find that some of the court officials were their best customers.
The upshot of the trial was that all the parties under arrest signed a contract not to open a free-and-easy in the town within three months. It is only justice to add that Booke had in no way been connected with either of the establishments, and that he had simply been drawn into the matter with a view to extorting money from him.