Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-12-01
EVERY MAN HIS OWN LAWYER

to law. He is certainly something in a
law fight, as well as handling "dornicks."
This amusing case was tried at the recent
term of the Orange County Court, and
we find it reported in the Newburg Tele-
graph:
"1he People agt. James Arlington"
"District Attorney, for People; Prison
er in Prison"
This was one of the most amusing tri- |
ais ever witnessed by bench OF jury in this
country. The prisoner was indicted for
an assault and battery upon a man by the
name of Dodder 1t sccus that IL plank
road had Just been laid in the town of |
MiniSink, running through the land of
said Dodder The other facts appear in
evidence.
This cause was duly opened by the Dis
trict Attorney, when his Honor the Judge,
noticed the defendant, sitting within the
bar, with pencil in hand, ready to take
down evidence without council.
Have you no counsel, Mr.. Abingdon p
inquired the Judge.
NO, SIR
There are plenty of gentlemen around
you who would be willing to assist you
We'll, your Honor, l have feed one
and engaged another, and they both turn
up missing, and, therefore, | have conclu-
ded to try the case myself
Very well, sir
The District Attorney, after stating the
case to the jury, called the complainant,
Mr.. Dodder, upon the stand, who testified
as follows:
know the defendant; he is neighhor
of mine. | was driving his cows off my
land when he came out upon the road and
stoned me. He sent as many as dozen at
me, and the last one struck me upon the
: back of the neck 1t hurt me considera-
bly,; not very badly, however, and the rim
of my hat hung down, and it and the coat
collar prevented.
You can examine him Mr.. Abingdon,
Alleges were now turned upon the de-
, fendant There he sat, busily engaged in
taking notet, little short, red headed
Yankee, withhis feet resting on the lower
5 round of the chair, and his body bent for,
, ward at an angle of 45 degrees. At that
$ remark he snapped his head back like tho
: blade to a jackknite, his eyes twinkled
and in a shrill. loud voice he commenced
t Have you been on good terms witt
! the detenlant-I mean me, Mr.. Dodder.
t Dodder hesitatod.
n Come Mr.. Doddcr, have we been OF
: good terms %
J. L can't say replied Dodder,
e well, recollect Mr.. Doddor, that 70,
IS must say
n Say yes or no, intcrposed his honor
r, 'Ycs or no. responded the defendant
Y Il can't say that we are on speaking
IF terms answered Dodder.
4, well, Mr.. Dodder, you say that
a struck you witha stone. Will you pleas
|, to state to the jury whether it was the frs
nr stone that struck you p
or No, sir?'
h. did it not go fifteen feet to the right
About that
O. well, was it the second? {?
at mo, sir
lis did not that go three feet over yo,
a. head "
" YES, sir
on Were you not running after my co
d. with Il stake sharpened at one end ? al
81 did you not knock her down =? and was
,cr not because you would not stop that l Sc
zee the other stone after YOU
it We'll, sir, l must explain
;. None of your rigmaroles here, M
he Dodder. No explanations, sir. Yes
he no, sir
eel Il can't answer
,lv You must answer. Come, sir, yes
no?'
1T wasn't stake, it was stick
lie YES, two and half inches at the bl
M and twelve feet long,
of No sir; one inch across and taperi
Va to the end
ICE You knocked the COW down, did
yas you?'
he Il struck at her; l can't say that stru
ro- Didn't she fall q
to Cant say
m well, Mr.. Dodder, you were chasi
all. her, were you not ?
md Il was in the road, sir, and she was
ith the side
md WAS it icy?'
to Yes
ted 'Snow deep?'
,at Yes
of Now, will you say on your oath,
the Dodder, that you did not strike her?'
en- Witness hesitated.
fast y will not be positive
the We'll, Mr.. Dodder, you were not co
of ing toward me"
les, Yes, sir
sur you was coming up the road ant
was going down.
Yes, SIR
AVE >rYou did not run back at all, did yc
old No, SIR
d @pa' ~ You are sure you did not look or
dav back, are you?
lick, Certainly, am
off Are you as positive Of that as you
and, and of all the rest you have sworn to 2
y"er ,"ea Il am, sir
well, sir, will you please to inf'
this jury and myself how that stone CT
re- to strike you on the back cfMe heads'
snce Witness was evidently non-plussed;
who a roar of laughter burst from the bel