Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-04-08
WHOLE No. 240.
The Glorious Uncertainty of the Law.
By Mr.. BONES.

Tho most litigious fellow / ever knew
was Welshman named Bones. He had
got possession, by come means, of bit o,
waste ground behind public house in Hog
wash street. Adjoining this land was yard
belonging 20 the parish Of st. Jeremiah,
which the parish trustees were fencing in
with wall. Bones alleged that one corner
of their wall was advanced about ten inches
on his ground, and as they declined to re-
move it back, he kicked down the brick work
before the mortar was dry. The trustees
having satisfied themselves that they were
not only within their own boundary, but that
they left Bones some feet of the parish land
to boot. built up tho wall again. Bones kick
ed 1t down again.
The trustees put it up third time, under
the protection of policeman. The inexo-
Table Bones, in spite of the awful presence
of this functionary, not only kicked down the
wall again, but he kicked the brickayers in
the bargain. This was too much, and Bones
was marched OIL to Guildhali for assoultiDg
the bricklayers. The magistrate rather pooh
Poohed tho complaint, but bound over Bones
10 keep the peace. The causd beiti, the wall,
was re-ediiced a fourth time; but when the
trustees revisited the place next morning, it
was again in ruins! While they wero in
consultation upon this last insult, thoy wero
politely waited upon by an attorneys clerk,
who served them al with ''writs' in an ac.
ton Of trespass, at the suit of Bones, for en-.
erosching or his land.
Thus war wac declared about dirty piece
of land, literLlly not so big as door step, and
the fee simple Of which would not sell for
shilling. The trustees, however, thought
thoy ought not TO give up the rights of tho
parish TO the obstinacy of perverse fellow.
like Bones. and resolved to indiet Bones for
assauling the-workmen. Accordingly, the
action and Indictment went on together.
The action was tried first, and as tho evil
dence clearly showed The trustees had kept
within their own boundary, they cot the ver-
diet. Bones moved for new trial; that fail
cd. The trustees now thought they would
let the matter rest, as il had cost the parish
about one hundred and fifty pounds. and they
supposed that Bones had had enough Oft
But they had mistaken their man. lie bro't
q writ of error in the action, which carried
the cause into the Exchequer Court, and tied
II up nearly two years, and in the meantime
he forced them a0ieas U0tens to try the indic,-
mont When tho trial came on the judge
said, that as the whole question had been do
cided in the action, there was no occasion,
for any further proceedings, and therefore
tho Defendant had better be acquitted, and
so make an end it.
Accordingly Bones was acquitted; and tho
very next thing that Bones did was to sue
the trustees in n new action, for maieiousy
lnstituting the Indictment against him with
out reasonable cause. The new action went
on to trial, and il being proved that one OF
tho trustees had been overheard to say that
they would punish him. this was taken az ev-
dence of malice, and Bones got a verdict of
forty shillings damages bcsides all the costs
Elated with this victory. Bones pushed on
lis old action in the Exchoqucr Chamber to
| hearing, but the court affirmed against him,
without hearing the trustees counsel.
The trustees were now sick Of the very
lame ofBones. which had become a sort of
'ugbenr, so that if friend met trustee in
he street. he would be greeted with an in
iuiry after the health ofhis friend Mr.. Bones.
They then would have gladly let tho whole
natter drop into oblivion, but Jupiter and
zones had determined otherwise; for tho in
omitablo Bones brought a writ of error in
nc House Of fLords, on the Judgment of the
sxchequer Chamber. The unhappy trus.
ees had caught Tartar, and follow him in
0 tho House of Lords they must. Accord
lgly, after another year or two's delay, the
ase came on in the House of Lords Their
iordships pronounced It tho most trumpery
'rit OF error they had ever seen, and again
hirmcd the Judgment, with costs again
'ones. The trustees now taxed their costs
nd found that they had spent no less than
We hundred pounds in defending their claim
, a bit ofground that was not ofthe value of
n old shoe. But, thoD, Bones was condem-
i to pay tho costs. True; sc they issued
yecuion against Bones; caught him after
'me trouble, and locked him up in gaol.--
he next week, Bones petitioued the insolent
ourt, got out OF prison; and, on examination
the schedule, his effects appeared TO be
0. 0s. 3D.. Bones had in fact been fight
e the trustees on credit for the last threo
ears; for his own attorney was put down as
creditor TO large amount which was the
lly satisfaction the trustees obtained from
,rusing MS schedule.
They were now obliged to havo re-
urse to the parish funds TO pay their own
W expenses, and were consoling themselves
ith the reflection that this did not come out
their ORA potketS--when they received tho
ual notification that bill in ehancery had
en- filed against thom, at Mr.. Bones suit
overhaul their accounts with the parish,
d prevent the miSapplicdtion Of the parish
,ney TO the payment Of their law costs!--
his was tho climax. And being myself
sciple of Coke. have heard nothing furth-
of it; being unwilling, as well, perhaps as
lqualified, to follow the case into the lab
nthic vaults of the court of ehanceiy., The
tastropho, If this were tale, conld hardly
mended 800 the true story may end here.
a RIcH JoKE.--A morning paper, with
cided Cass tendency, giving report OF