Litchfield enquirer., 1842-07-07
'Cheer up,' said the attorney laughingly

boys can't endure that Mars and Apollo
should meet together in your person. and
the harrister winked wickedly to me, as
SlaNn,ey, marshallcd by the Sheriff, prece-
ded It's into the hall Of Justice.
1t was with a rueful countenancc that he
took his scat in the court. The room was
densely filled with the usual motley assem-
bsge at Il county session. Loafers half in
rags, and shopmen in the latest cut; portly
farmers with huge mud-stained boots, and
drovers carrying heavy loaded whips-here
a sober Quaker with broad trimmed beaver,
and there n gay young lawyer with more
wit than brets-long men and short men
fat ones and lean ones--some with merry
round faces, and others with countenances
as sour as crab apples-officers and loun-
gers, attorneys and clients, filled up every
vacant space outside the bar, Willing away
the time until the appearance of the judge,
by specializing on the prospects of crop, or
discussing the points of a case set down tor
trial during the term. At length his honor
made his appearance; and, bustling and
bowling through the crowd, assumed the
bench, wiped the perspiration from his rubi-
cund face. cougheG with judicial gravity,
and ordered the crier to open the COURT
That high functionary accordingly started
to his feet, and in nasal twang mumbled
|
tinctly, but which appeared to be recap;tu-
lation of the iniquities of those in authority
| generally, and of his honor in particular, as
it ended with hope that God would save the
| commonwealth and the honorable court
After the crer sat down, q very sharp nose
and very squeaking voice, called out John
| Smith,, whereupon little fat man jumped
up and said here but the clerk, without
seeming to notice him, went on and called
Joseph Thompson, Joab Johnson, and the
Lord knows how many more ThompsonS
and Johnsons, all of whom severally jumped
up and said here Then, the jury being
empannelled, the case came on, and the at
| torneyS got into towering passions, and
seemed as if they could have eaten each
other up, while the jury smiled and nodded,
and their foreman-the little fat nan-strok.
ed his chin and looked extremely wise.-
After this was gone through with, there was
general buzz through the room, when sud-
denly the Judge cried 'order,' and then
the sheriff cried 'order,' and the sleepy con-
stables and tipstaves opened their eyes and
echoed 'order,' more Justify than either;
whereupon his honor turned over one or two
big books bound in white calf, consulted his
notes for moment, and then proceeded to
sum up the evidence and charge the jury.
The next case was that Of Slashbey-and
the same Formally was gone through with
until about half of the jury had been sworn,
when the attorney. general rose to acquaint
the court that the PANEL was exhausted and
that therefore he prayed tales from the
lookers-on. These few and simple words
of the encouragement acted on the specta-
tors like the upsetting of a crowded beehive.
Instantly there was u rush towards the door.
Drovers and farmers, shopmen and gentle
men, staid Quakers and burly topers, all
started in the race at once, tumblng and
scrambling over each other in their haste to
reach the entrance, while the tipstaves
shouted 'order' until they were hoarse, and
the sheriff and his deputies sprang to the
door in order to close it before the egress of
fusion, and Slashbey was forgotten in the
melee. Even the Judge had eyes only for
the scrambling fugitives
| Now said /, nudging Slashbcy, who sat
by me not far from the easement NOW is
your time-clcar the window at a leap-my
horse Thunderer is fastened not twenty
yards off-ride like the devil and don't draw
rein till you get to Squankum.'
Sashbey understood my plan ns readily
and rapidly as had conceived il, and, just
waiting to see that the coast was clear, he
placed his hands on the sill, and, portly as
he was, shot through the open window like
a bomb, unseen by all except his honor, who
caught sight Of the fugitive's coat tails as
they disappeared outside.
AN escape = shouted the Judge, starting
to his feet; sheriff, your prsoner-the cap
tain is off,
On the instant the talesmen were forgot.
ten, and sheriff, deputies, tipstaves and free.
; holders turned around, NTH open mouths
and curious eyes. 1t was a minute or more
before the matter could be explained and by
that time / saw that Sashbey had got
mounted. l shouted Il stop thief at this and
sprang out Of the window, as if in pursuit,
followed by the sheriff and his constables,
!umbling helter-skelter over each other after
me. The officers no sooner caught sight of
the fugitive than they roared Justify to stop
comitatus' like bull of Bashan. It was no
time TO respect property, SO followed the
example of the officers, and sprang on the
first steed came across. eager to see the
fun.
The court house stood nearly at the oppo-
site end OF the village, from that out OF which
led the road to Sqankum, and when mount
cd my horse Slashbey was securing down
the main street, some hundred yards ahead.
Before a minute, however, the sheriff and his
pack were in full cry at the fugtive's heels,
while as many of the spectators as could find
horses and vehicles started of, few TO aid
The law but most to enjoy the sport. And
by my faith-what sight 1t was! Fore
most in the chase gallopped the sheriff, his
hat off and his queu flying behind, bawlIng
himself red in the face by cries of stop
thief head him off, maintain the laws,
amid the laughter of some and the shouts OF
others, of tho crowd. At every few leaps