The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-08-18
A clergyman taken in and done.


The Loat from Albany landed On the pier,
last Tuesday morning, an innocent, unso-
phiSticated clergyman from tie western
part of the State, who Lad never been in
this city before, aud Of course knew moth
ing of the vicious habits Of the ''elelhan,.'
The Clergyman stood ON the pier, with his
carpet bag III his hand, and a wondrouseN-
preston on his mild countehance, when he
was oSpicd by a Jehu, who was on the look
out for fare.
Coach sir:' says Jehu, touching his
hat respectfully, aud looking dennrely.
eyes, my lIcud,' the clergyman replied
waking suddenly from his revere, IL do
want a coach"
"Allrght, sir, come this way" and .Jehu
seized the carpet bag. TO which the owner
hung and was dragged through crowd to
a rickety old machine, which the driver
called a coach.
Where TO, sir:' says Jehu.
TO any respectable public house, am
a stranger here
IN carry you TO the best one in town
the hotel here rooms have been taken for
the King Of France
BLESS me, said the clergyman, SIS the ex-
King of France coming OSer?-l didn't hear
ofthat.'
Expected next steamer, sir-he would
have been here before, only Lie waited 10
see if the Queen of Euslaud wouldn't want
to come along too
'Ah,' said the clergyman, 1--WE live in eX-
citing times
sWe don't do any thing else, sir,' re-
sponded Jehu. a lie Jumped on the box and
applied the whip TO his miserable iags.
| Towhat den Of thieves the rascaly coach
I nj al u
say, since the victim " a. unable TO describe
the place or its locality to the police. But
| IT was opposite dirty looking building that
lac was put down 10y the driver, who then
demanded three dollars fare.
! Three dollars :. exclaimed The good clcr-
gyman, swhy neighbor Of mine said that
| the rates were fixed by law, and that
would have TO pay only three sLillings 10
ride mile in the city,
| 30, that was before the news oitlc French
revolution came, wages have ri2 since then,
and the law now is for every mau,o getas
much as he can, aud keep all he gets, and
we 90 ia for that law-we do
sBut my friend, il had known that you
would have demanded 81 much. | should
have waIl<od.'
.l'aint safe for strangers to walk in the
city-ten TO one they Il meet the ELEPHANT
Meet the olcphant-l don't understand
YOU
BY this time, according to the clergyman's
account, the kuaNe must Lave tired of fool
| ing with his victim, or lie answered sauci.
Iy-
u cant stop 10 talk with you-spuy me
my three dollars aud let inc Go'
The country gentleman, unSuspicious an
! hour before Of such tricks, yet felt tina, he
was being cheated, aud mildly declined 10
Ipav the money.
.Thcn you mus, go before 4 magistrate
cried Johu in rage.
'Willingly-and If the magistrate says
that your charge is right, | will pay it,
| 'Bcter pay II now and save the costs Of
court.
The costs Of couit'-wila justice ofthe
peace charge any thing for answering a
single question?
~ single question: If you goto law with
me, wen have regular Trial. according TO
twelve men, il ihSyy can De .a 20, :. ss!~"y
how answered the hackman.
The clerryman ,ndcavOred to comprcm-
| Use with the Jehu, but a new idea had enter.
ed into the raScal's head, and he now not
only demanded three dollars fare, but ex-
ira pay for the delay. The victim concl-
ded to see the magistrate, aud he rc-cnter-
ed the hack aud was driven of. where ho
could not tell: but his description Of the
scene which followed was luaicrous c.
uough.
was introduced TO the magistrate, who
shook hands with me, asked the hackman
what was the nature of the charge and
shook his head when told that | would
not pay three dollars for riding from tho
steamboat to the hotel; asked him il the
charge was just? lie said that the new
law was not clear TO his apprehension, and
that Jury mus, decide the matter; and lie
thanked God that under the new cons,iii-
ton the jury were judges Of the law and the
fact. aud he didn't care d-n for all tho
benches in the supreme Court--then no
walked away with the driver, and told me
that must consider myself prisoner un''i
the case was admdica,cd. asked h'm Tor
my carpet bag. lie said that the new law
/ did not allow prisoner To have carpet Dag
or trunk, until the chief of police had exam
,incd into its contents. aud he asked me ior
f the key to send with the bag TO tho chiefs
Office. which gave 10 him. waited Tor
more than an hour before ajury was cmpan-
'neled when the Trial began, the msg'sua'e