The Empire County argus., 1854-12-02


'How did you come to say that the house was
yours, when the Company have in possession and
built it !''
Another burst of laughter followed this question
and poor Dodder looked as if he was setting on a
hatchet. Dodder gave no reply.
"Now, Mr.. Dodder, have you not been trying to
get me out of that house, that you might get your
son in my place And have you not been to the
Directors and have you not applied to them for
your son ? and have you not told them things de-
rogatory to my character !'
"None of your long preambles Mr.. Dodder; you
know it is so and am going to prove it too. Yes
or No"
81 can't answer; must explain"
''No explanations, sr-Yes or No"
"Did you not go to three of the Directors !'
"Did you not order window put in the cellar OF
the house, when building, and say you wanted it
there for your sons accommodation 2"
81 might have done it."
"Did you not get warrant out for me before
was bound over to appear here %
"Yesn
"Did you not then swear that had only assault
ted you by throwing stones, but did not hit you %
Dodder was completely staggered again-he
changed all manner of colors and moved about
very uneasily on his chair.
'Come, MIR. Dodder, answer" exclaimed the de-
fendant.
81 can't remember
eyes you do-come, +think--did you then swear
| had hit you at all, sir II
II might not'
CHOW comes it that you remember it tnow--three
months after--and you could not then 2"
This was too much for poor Dodder. He looked
appealingly round for relief. Nothing met his gaze
but room convulsed with laughter. His legs SEEM
ed to be under magnetic influence and in great
desire to try their powers of locomotion AT last
the defendant told him to CO. "That will do, MIR.
Dodder--I guess we are through with you for the
present" And off he shot as if death was behind
him while the whole bar fairly screamed, as he
made awful strides down the aisle, and the Court
buried their faces in their handkerchiefs and shook
convulsivey
Dodder No 2 was then called of the old
Dodder-who testified as follows:
81 was in the house. heard a noisesaw father
driving cows saw defendant come out of his house
and throw stones | ran out and a hin was between
me and them, and when got up all was over
Saw defendant throw three stones-dd not see any
strike
Cross-examined by defendant.
'You were in the house, you say!
Yes"
SIS there not ah twenty feet high between your
house and where was q
''About that"
| SLOW many stone walls, also--about four q
"About that"
'How many plank-fences or slab-fences-two q
"Only one, | think"
"Well, sir, how could you see through four stone
walls, one sab-fence, and hill twenty feet high
That will do, sir; you can go.'
And without waiting for reply, offwent Dodder
No. 2.
District Attorney, on part of the people here res
ted
"If you please, your Honor, and Gentlemen of
the jury am green hand at this ERE Dizziness.
| am ashamed that such little, small consairn
should ever come before an Orange County Jury. 1t
was not my wish, am sure | was taken up once
before and then he only swore to an assault; but
three months thinking has put the battery to it.
acknowledge the assault, but am justified, for he
was assaulting my cow. He has tried to pick a
quarrel with me ever since went to the gate. He
stones my cows, my chickens and | can't stand it
threw the stones admit it--frst, fifteen feet tC
the right, then over his head, and when | saw the
COW fall as he knocked her down, then did shave
him, but dnt hit him, and that amt all I'll prove
it and | ask you farmers, if you would not do the
same thing! | can prove he knocked her down by
my brother"
Defendants brother was then called, and sta
ted, that it was Sunday when the occurrence hap
pened saw complainant, Dodder, running after
and striking at defendants cows. Saw him strike
and one fall--cant say he struck her. Defendant
ran out and followed to him-did not mind him
Defendant then threw three stones none hit him
7 went out, and when came up to Dodder he said
defendant had thrown stones at him, but he had
managed by jumping and dodging not to have any
hit him.
The testimony here closed.
The defendant then proceeded to sum up the
cause. His honor dropped his pen, the jury leaned
forward the members of the bar were winking and
nodding to one another, and a universal tittering
pervadcd the room. He commenced and his sharp
shril voice drowned all else
Gentlemen of the Jury--This is the first time
was ever in such pickle-never did | before ap
pear before jury of my country. This MIR. bod
der has brought me here, and have to appeal tC
you. not knowing whether you are Woody Heads
Silver Greys, Hard Shells or Soft Shells. Yet
think this Dodder will find out before am through
that am harder she than he imagined.
You know, gentlemen, that am in the employ
of the Mongaup Valley, Forrestburgh and Port Jer
Wis Plank Road Company, q gate keeper. This
company it seems had sufficient confidence in my
integrity and honesty to place me in that mpor
tant station, and even if should receive $4,000 and
should steal 81 800 of it, that's between and the
Company, and its none of Dodders business. Now
when the Company sent me up along this road tc
collect tolls, this Dodder was one of the inhabitants
found here in the aDoods and | will say for him
that he is very fair specimen of the rest of the
population. But there isn't any Of them that seem