The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-11-03


stone my chickens because they trespassed
in bis woods, where actually the rocks are SO
thick that the brakes cant find their way
through them; but then knew he would
deny IT, and it would greve me to hear him
lie admits that he was driving my three cows
up the road. and that he struck at one of'en,
: but says il was small switch. have pro-
we'd that this switch was pole about 10 feet
long and about inches tc.oss the gutt end,
and have also proved that when he struck,
the COW fell. 1t is true my witness couldn't
swear that the stick hit her. he was so far
of, but take the blow and the fall together,
and we can guess the rest. If you gentle
men should see me point a gun at man and
P,;'l theltrigger,. see the flash and hoa--.Le
4 report and at the same time see the man drop,
think you would say that shot him, al
though you might not see the ball strike him.
Now, the fact u.s. gentlemen, that on Sun
day, was lying on my lounge in my house,
7, when my wife said TO mt that Dodder was
chasing my cows. jumped up and pulled
on my boots and wen. out Of doors, and saw
Dodder and the cows coming up the road. 1t
is true he says he wasn't driyin. them but
says he and the cows was both going along
the road in one direction, and this was as
near as could get him TO the cows or the
truth; but it is proved that the cows were
going ahead of him. and he was following af-
ter them, striking at them with this little
switch, lo feet lor g and inches across the
butt, and | reckon you'll think he was 'dri-
wing them. | sung out to him, 'Dodder stop"
butt he didn't obey Wy order, and just threw
a stone in that direction, which went about
10 feet over his head; at the same time going
towards him, while he was coming toward
me. He paid no attention. and | sung out
again, 'Dodder, stop!' still he didn't mind me-
aud then just threw another stone; but on
he came, and on | went, and ] threw the
third stone, which he says hit him in the
! back of the neck, but which think is rather
strange, as we were going toward each other
as fast as We could 60. But he never slack
ed up, and by this time we were within about
eight feet of each other. | halted and hol-
lowed at the top of my voice, 'Dodder, why in
- don't you stop!' about then he did
stop, and raised this 10 foot switch, is if to
| strike mel sang out-'Mr. Dodder, look !
out! You may wollup my COWS. but if you
wollup me with that switch, you'll wolup an
! animal that'll hook! Hero the orator made |
an appropriate gesture Of the head, as in the |
act of hooking, which was followed with tu-
! multuous shouts and laughter, that continued
several minu.es.]
Now, gentlemen, if you convict me, this
Cert can fine me $3.50 and JUG me for six !.
months, and if you really think ought to be
convicted of this assault, say so, for I am in /
favor of living up to the laws, as long as they ,
are laws, whether it is the Fugitive Slave !
Law, the Nebraska Bill or the Excise Laws. !!
will read you a little law however, which !
! have just seen in book found here-Uhe !
speaker here picked up Jaw book and read
as follows.) Every man has right to, de- !
fend himself from personal violence. Now
don't know whether that is law or not, but
| find it in the law book, Ga veteran member !
of the bar who was sitting near the speaker,
remarked to him that twas good law.) Well
gentlemen, here is an OLD MAN, who looks as
if he might KNOW SOMETHING, and he says
this is good law. Now if you will turn to
Barbour something, page 399, you'll find that
the same doctrine is applied 10 CATTIE-(great
laughter.) Therefore take it, had right
to defend my COWS against Dodder's 10 foot
switch. Why, gentlemen, nearly all my
wealth is invested in them three cows and +
you can't wonder that became lit le ex-
ci ed when l saw Dodder switching them
with his ten foot pole. | am poor mar, ,and
have large family consisting of wife and ,
six children, which | reckon is doing pretty
well for as small man as | am, and could
not afford to let Dodder kill my cows!
Now gentlemen, don't believe you'll con-
vict me, after what have said. But if you
do, and the Court fines me $3.50, Il shall re-
pudiate,' because 'cau't pay And if I'm
jugged for six months, why these Dudders I
will have it all their own way up there. But
all this, am willing to risk ,
myself in your hands, and ifyou think ought /;
to have stood by and not done anything, a.,
when saw Dedder hammering my cows,why -,
then am gone in toll gate ard all. a
1t is true, l am poor man, but not a mean $
one. The name of klerton can be traced to {
the May Fioicer: when she landad tlre pill t
grims on Plymouth Rock, among the passen- I
gers was widow, Mary Allerton, with four S
children, and am descended from h
that Puritan stock; and from that day to this f
there has never lived an Allerton who hadn't G
Yankee spirit enough to stone a Uodder for
polling his COWS. I'm done. (Here the laugh f
ing and shouting were exceedingly bolster
Gus, in which aHparticipated, and it was sew
eral minutes despite the repeated cries of
order, ORDER by the court before order could
be restored Our eloquent and usually un-
District attorney, tearing to
cope with 50 formidable an antagonist,merely "
1T is a plain CASE &C., and left it !
to the Jury, who promptly brought in yer.
dict of Not Guilty. Mr. Allerton certainly tn
deserves judicial promotion, and We move
that he be appointed cricr of the Court.)
10
AN ECCENTTIC WILL-Mr, Railinr OF :,