The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1854-11-16
Every Man hts Own I.awyer--3eh De-
fence Triumphant.

AT the last Term Of the Orange CO. IN, W
court, the following case was tried, upon
which the jury was addressed by the defen.
dant, who had concluded 10 appear in bis
own defence
The peopis Us. james Alefton.-This was
very interesting case, rendered so from the
fact lha, the defendant acled as "his own
lawyer" on the trial, wit hou, having the ad-
vantage of being one of The legal Fraternity.
His "summing up" of which We are able
10 give nearly verbatum report, with the
exception OF the "acliRg," was decidedly
ri oh, and afforded much amusement for the
legal gentlemen present. The facts, as di-
vuIged upon trial, are briefly as follows -
The defendant is in the employ Of the Mon
gaap Valley, Fonestsburg and Port Jeuis
plank road company. He and the COM
plant, Mr. )Dodder, are near neiehbors.
On Sunday in February last, tho defend
AMI saw the complainant IN the act Of beat
ing his Gdeiendan;'s1 COWS along the high.
way, aud as an inducement fot him 10 quit,
hurled few stones at him, ore Of which,
as the complainant testified, struck him on
ihe back. e-s a.. aas
The testimony being concluded, the defsn-
dant addressed the Jury as follows.
GEnrLEmss or THE JURy!-I don't know
mach abou, law, and since,he trial has been
going on have concluded that | ought 20
know little more. | ought 10 apoligise
perhaps for appearing ia my own defence,
and will do so by telling you, that | feed one
lawyer and hired another, in this ase, but
they both came up missing when needed
them most. suppose might have secured
the sevices Of some Of these other limbs Of
the law tha, see around me, but having
been cheated by two of 'em, concluded 10
go j. 'on my own hook AMI here l am y
want 10 tell you, gentlemen, before 60
further, that !. 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 1t ought to
have been tried before q justice Of the peace,
Il being better adapted 10 the capacities of
such a court than this one. After this diff.
Guilty Dodder did get warrant for me from
Squire Cuddeback, over in Deerpark. He
then charged thai had assaulted him, but
Eve OF six months has freshened his mem.
ory, and he now says tha! assaulted and
battered him. believe there is some diff.
ference between the two charges.
- a. : o.
before Squire Cuddeback, and leave il for
you to say whether he tells the truth now in
saying tina. | battered him. was taken by
constable before the squire, and either be.
cause the justice was ashamed Of what he
had already done, or hadn't time to attend
10 il, don't know which, ]. wen. down
Two or three weeks after that was arrested
asaio, and my wife having been confined,
| thought II best, as duliful husband, 10 be
around hum, so got rad Of ilby giving Sc
curly for my appearance 10 court.
You know, gentlemen, that am IN the
employ Of the Mongaup Valley, Forresl5urg
and Pon Jsrvis plank road company, as a
gate keepet. This company, il seems, had
sufficient confidence in my 4 integrity and
honesty as to place ms 10 that imponsn, sta.
ton, and even IL should receive $4,000 and
steal $500 oi II, that's between me and the
company, and il's none of Dodder's business