The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-10-28


but says it was with small switch. have
proved that this switch was pole about ten
feet long and about three inches across the
butt end, and have also proved that when
he struck the COW fell. 1t is true my wit
ness couldn't swear that the stick hit her, he
was so far off; but take the blow and the fall
together and We can guess the rest. If you,
gentlemen, should see me point a gun at a
man and pull the trigger, see the flash and
hear the report, and at the same time see the
man drop, think you would say that shot
him, although you might not see the ball
strike him.
Now, the fact is, gentlemen, that on Sun
day was lying OH my lounge in my house,
when my wife said to me that Doddcr was
chasing my cows. jumped up and pulled
on my boots and went out of doors and saw
Dodder and the cows coming up the road. 1t
is true, he says, he was not driving them,
but he says he and the cows were 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 go
ing ahead of him, and he was following after
them striking at them with this little switch
ten feet long, three inches across the butt,
and guess you'll think he was "driving'
them. sung out to him. "Dodder, stop"
but he didn't obey my order, and just
threw stone in that direction, which went
about ten feet over his head, at the same time
going toward him, while he was coming to-
ward me. He paid no attention, and l sung
out again, ''Doddcr, stop" Still he didn't
mind me, and 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 his neck, but which think is rather
strange, as we were going toward each other
as fast as we could Buthc never Stacked up
and by this time We were within about eight
feet of each other. l halted and hollered at
the top of my voice, "Dodder, why in-
don't you stop?" About then he did stop,
and raised his ten foot switch as if to strike
me. sang out, 'Mr. Dodder look out !!
You may wollop my cows, but if you wollop
me with that switch you'll wollop an animal
| that'n hook ~ Here the orator made an
appropriate gesture of the head, as in the act
of hooking, which was followed with uncon-
trollabe laughter that continued several min
utcs.
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, say so, for am
in favor of living up to the law as long as
they are laws, whether it is the Fugitive
Slave Law, the Nebraska Bill, or the Excise
Laws. Twill read you littlelaw, however,
which l have just seen in book | found
here; 1.-THE speaker here picked up a law book
and read as follows y every man has
right to defend himself from pers onal vio-
lencc." Now don't know whether that is law
or not, but find it in law book. A veteran
member of the bar, who was sitting near the
speaker, remarked to him that it was 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 Borbour something, page 800,
you II find that the same doctrine is applied
to cattle. [Great laughtcr.] Therefore l
take it l had a right to defend my cows
against Doddcr's tcn-foot switch. Why,
gentlemen, nearly all my wealth is invested
in them three COWS, and you can't wonder
that l became little excited when I saw
Dodder switching them with his ten.foot pole
I am poor man, and have a 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
convict me after what | have said but if you
do, and this court fines me $3.50, l shall re-
pudiate," because ''can't pay" And If
I'm jagged for six months, why these Dod-
ders will have it all their own way up there.
But, notwithstanding all this, l am willing
to risk myself in your hands, and, if you
think ought to have stood by and not done
anything when I saw Dodder hammering
my COWS. why then am "gonc in," toll
gate and all.
1t is true am poor man, but not mean
one. The name of Allerton can be traced to
the May Flower. When she landed the Pill
grims on Plymouth Rock among the passen-
gers was widow, Mary Allcrton, with four
fatherless children. and am descended from
that Puritan stock; and from that day to this
there has never lived an Allerton who hadn't
Yankee spirit enough to stop Dodder from
polling his cows. I'm done.
Here the laughing was exceedingly boIs-
ferrous, in which all participated, and it was
several minutes, despite the repeated cries of
'Order, order" by the Court, before order
could be restored. Our eloquent and usually
unvanquishable District Attorney, fearing to
cope with so formidable an antagonist, mere
ly remarked, ut is a plain case" &C., and
left it to the jury, who promptly brought in
verdict of 'not guilty"
MARRIAGE.-We celebrate the wedding,
and make merry over the honeymoon. The
poet paints the beauties and bushes of the
= u = Al L.. l. r xA.,.,,