The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-11-04
Every Man his own Lawyer-Self-Defence
Triumphant-AIlertOn VS.. DOdder.

Triumphant-AllertOn VS.. DOdder.
At the last term of the Orange Co. IN. W
court very queer case came before the court
for consideration, which we find reported as
follows in the Newburgh Gazette of this
week -
The People VS.. James Allerton. This was
very interesting case, rendered so from the
fact that the defendant acted as " his own
lawyer" Oh the trial, without having the ad-
vantage of being one of the legal fraternity.
His " summing up Of which we are able
to give nearly verbatim report, with the
exception of the "acting,' was decidedly
rich, and afforded much amusement for the
legal gentlemen present. The defendant,
who is a small, red-haired, thin specimen of
Yankee, was indicted for ar assault and
battery on one Mr.. Dodder. The facts, as
divulged upon trial, are briefly as follows:
The defendant is in the employ of the Mon
gaup Valley, Forrestburg and Port Jervis
Plank Road Company as a toll gatherer, and
resides upon the road, some miles above Port
Jervis. He and the complainant, Mr.. Dod-
der, are near neighbors.
On Sunday in February last, the defend
ant saw the complainant, in the act of beat
ing his, (defts.) COWS along the highway.
anu oil lOl nun W HblN, lluliCNA
few stones at him, one Of which, as the
back of the neck.
The testimony being concluded, the de-
fendant addressed the jury as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE jury II don't know
much about law, and since this trial has
been going on have concluded that ought
to know little more. | ought to apollo
gize perhaps for appearing in my own de-
fence, and will do so by telling you, that
feed one LAWYER, and hired another, in this
case, but they both come up missing when
need them most | suppose | might have
secured the services of some of these other
limbs of the law that | see around me,
but having been cheated by two of 'em,
concluded to 60 it on my own hook, and
here | am | want to tell you gentlemen,
before go farther, that it is not my fault
that this case is here taking up the time of
this honorable court think you will give
me credit for telling the truth, when say
that it ought to have been tried before
Justice of the Peace, it being better adapted
to the capacities of such a court, than of
this one After this difficulty Dodder did
get a warrant for me from Squire Cudder-
back, over in Deerpark. He then charged
that had insulted him, but five or six
months has freshened his recollection, and
he now says that assaulted and battered
him. believe there is some difference be-
tween the two charges.
Dodder says that he swore to the COM
plant before Squire Cudderback, and leave
it for you to say whether he tells the truth
now in saying that battered him. / was
taken by constable before the Squire, and
either because the Justice was ashamed of
what he had already done, or hadn't time to
attend to it, don't know which, it went
down. Two or three weeks after that was
was arrested again. and my wife having been
confined, | thought it best, as dutiful hus-
band, to be around hum, so | got rid of it
by giving security for my appearance to
court.
You know gentlemen that I am in the
employ of the Mongaup Valley, Forrest
burgh and Port Jervis Plank Road Company,
as a gate keeper. This company it seems
had sufficient confidence in my integrity and
honestyto place me in that important sta
tion, and even if | should receive SS3, 900 and
steal Ssl 800 of it, that's between me and
the company, and its none of Dodder's bust
ness. Now when the company sent me up
along the road to collect tolls this Dodder
was one of the inhabitants found there in
the woods, and | will say for him that he is
very fair specimen of the rest of the popu