Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-11-17

very soon.
SIT won't take long to dispose Of bod
der No. 3 He testifes that he saw me
throw three stones at his fathcr, and saw
the "oll msn dodge" On cross examina-
tion he SAYS that he was in his own house
in The uoo,ls, and had to look over hill
twenty feet high, and also over three slab
fences and two stone walls Well if be
tells the truth, all / wish is that l had
young Dodder's eyes He is certainly a
remarkable boy, aud can't deny his
".f,ther"
81 am willing to admit that l done
wrong in throwing stones at Dodder, and
| apologize to all the world, and this
county particularly, for it. The doctors
tell US that there are two causes for all
diseases, ,predisposition and ex citability., l
think it vas the latter cause that moved
me to stone Dodder.
81 therefore confess myself guilty of the
assault, but the battery 1 deny! and if
you find Inc guilty Of the battery l will
appeal from the decision to the Court Of
high Heaven itself before l will submit,
to it.
"Now Gentlemen, you saw Mr.. Dodder
and heard him swear upon me. l asked
him great many questions, and l was
sorry to hear him answer as he did. ]
might have asked him more questions-l
might have asked him if he didn't kill my
cat, end if he didn't stone my chickens,
because they trespassed in his woods, where
actually the rocks are so thick that the
fern can't fnd their way up through them;
but then knew he would deny it, and it
would grieve me to hear him. He admits
that he was driving my three cows up the
road, and that he struck at one Of 'em, but
says it was with small switch. l have
proved that this switch was apoie about ten
feet long, and about two inches across the
butt end, and l have also proved that when
he struck the cote JeN L, is true my wit
ness 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, gentlemen, should see me
point gun at man, and pull the triekef,
see the fash and hear the report, and at
the same time see the man drop, l think
you would say that sho. him, although
you mig ght not see the ball strike him
"Now the fact is, gentlemen, that on
Sunday, was lying on my lounge in my
house, when my wife said that Dodder was
chasing my COWS. l jumped up and pulled
on my boots and went out of doors, and
saw Doddcr and the COWS coming up the
road. 1t is true he says be was Mt driving
them, but says he and ihe cows was both
going along the road in one direction, and
this was as near as l could get hin, to the
cows or to the truth bu. it is proved tina,
the COWS were going along ahead Of him,
and he was following after them, striking
at them with his little switch, ten feet long
and two inches across the butt and I reckon
you'll think he was driving them. l
sung out to him: ''Dodier, stop" but he
didn't mind my order, and I just threw u
stone in that direction which went about
10 feet over his head, at the same time 60
ing toward Lim. He pail no attention,
and l sung out again: "DOdder, STOP"
Still he didn't mind NE, and then 1 just
threw another stone but ON he came, and
on l went, and l threw the third
stone, which he says bit him on the back
Of the neck, but which l think is rather
strange, as We were going toward each
other as fast as We could go. But he never
Stacked up, and by this time We were within
about eight feet of each other halted,
and hallooed at the top Of my voice ::
"Dodder, whJ in HI don't you stop"
About then he did stop and raised his ten
feet switch, as if to strike me. l sang out:
"Mr. Dodder, look oat ! You may wollup
my cows, but if you wollup me with that
switch, you'll wollup an animal that'l Il
hook :" [Here the orator made an ap-
propriate gesture Of the head, as in the
act of hooking, which was followed with
tumultuous shouts and laughter, that con-
tinued several minutes
"Now, gentlemen,if you convict me, this
Court can fine me $3.50 and jug me for six
months, and if you really think l ought to
be convicted Of this assault, sag SO, for /
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 little
law, however, which have Just seen in a
book found hcrc-(the speaker picked
up law book and read as follows y eve
ry man has right to defend himself
from personal violence" Now I don't
know whether that is law or not, but l
find it in a law book, "a veteran member
Of the bar who was sitting near the speak
er, remarked to him that it was good law.