New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-27
THE RICHEST COURT SCENE OUT.

term of the Orange County Court and we find it re-
ported in The EerJurgh Tel.yraoh;
The People agt James Alinston.
District Attorney Tor People Prisoner in Person.
This was one of the most amusing trials ever wit
messed by bench or jury in this county The prisoner
was indicted for an assault and battery upon man
by the name Of Dodder II seems that plank road
had iu,t been laid in the to xn Of Minsiuk running
through the lands Of said Dodder, and that Arlington
il the toll gather and that the gate house is bu Ii
upon or adjoining the lands Of Doiaer. The other
facts will appear in evi5ence.
The cau.e was duly opened by the District Ator-
ney when bis Honor, the Judge noticed the defend
ant sitting within the bar, with pencil in hand ready
to take down whence, without counsel
Have you no counsel, Mr.. Arlington = inquired
the Judge.
No Sir"
"Tbere are plenty Of gentlemen around you who
would be willing TO assist You.
"Well your Honor, have feed one and engaged
another and they both turn up mssicg and therefore
have concluded to try the case myself"
every well Sir"
The Dstrct-Attorney, after stating the to the
Jury, calico the complainant Mr.. Dodder, upon the
stand, who testified as follows:
i know the defendant; he is neighbor Of mine
war driving his cows eff my land when he came out
upon the road and stoned me. He sent as many = a
dozen at me and the last one struck me upon the
back Of the neck. IL hurt consder ably; not very
badly, however, as the rim Of my hat hung down,
and i and the coat collar prevented.
"You can examine him now, Mr.. Arlington, said
the District Attorney.
All eyes were now turned upon the defendant.
Tn re he sat busy engaged in taking notes little
short red headed Yankee with his feet resting the
lower round of the Oh sir, and his body bent for ward
at angle Of As degrees. At that remark he sn4p-
ped hs be ad back Ike blade in sek knife, his eyes
twipkled aud in a shrill loud voice he commenced:
"Have you been on good terms with the defend Ant
i mean me, Mr.. Dodder!"
Dodder besitated.
Come Mr.. Do6der, have We been on good
termsT
"Icapt say" replied Dodder.
"Well, recollect Mr.. Dodder, that you must say"
"Say yes or no." interposed his honor.
eyes or no responded the defendant
81 can't say that we are on speaking terms, an
ewered DOdder.
"Wel, Mr.. DOdder you say that struck you
with a stone. Will you please state 70 the Jury
whether it was the first stone that struck you''
mo- Sir
"Did il not go fifteen feet to therightl"
about that"
"Well, was it the second J"
"No Sir"
Ibid not that go three feet over your head p
"Yes Sir"
"Were YOU not running after my Gov with stake
sbarpened at one end and did you not knock her
down and was it not because You would not stop
that ] sent the other stone at you"
"Well, Sir, must explain.
"Nore Of your Vi maroles here, Mr. Dodder No
explanations Sii-Yes or No, SIR"
IL cant answer"
"You must answer Come, Sir, Yes or No.
at WAS mt a stake, it was stuck
ayes q ipcbes as :S S' ,~eive feet long.
Ono Sir. one inch across and tapering TO the end"
"Yon knocked the COW down. did nj you =
~ struck at her-cant say struck her
did Mt she fall T.
"CaDt cay"
"Well. Mr. Dodder, you were chasing her, were
you mott"
al was in the road, Sir, and she was on the side"
"Was il icy ~
dyes"
"Snow deepi'
"Yes"
Now, will you say on your oath, Mr.. Do'der, that
You did not strike her 7"
Witness hesitsiiDg. 81 will not be positive
"WeD, Mr.. Dodder, were You not coming to ward
mel"
YES, SIR"
You was coming up the road and was going
down."
"Yes, cir"
you did not run back at ALL did you !"
You are sure you did not look or go bsck, are
your
"Ceriainly am"
Are YOU rs positive OF that a. you are OF AL Tue
ret you have sworn to =
al am cir
"Wen cir, will you then please to inform this Jury
end my se bow that stone came 10 strike you on the
beck ojthe meek =
lsu. liter bur. from bench, bar and jury, as well as
the spectators
Il AIN DO, done with you yet" exclaimed the de-
ftndaut Gs Mr. Dodder seemed rather uneasy and in-
olii I'd TO vacate the chair. -,
"Whose house DO live in, Mr.. D0ider
al consider is mine.
odd you serve notice ON me not 10 use tne rooms
the rarret or the cellar, when WAS moving IN It
"yes, Sir CT,
"Was there any thing else to use, Sir
"WIo built the housel"
"Tbc Pisnd Road Compsny
ain whose possession is it, Mr. Dodder
"Plank Road Company -. -.
How ord you come TO say that the hoose was was
yours, when the Company have IL IN ?oSse'''on UNI
Another burst of laughter followed this question,
and poor Dodd.r looked as II he wa sttins uP'"
bntebel Dodder gave no reply