Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-21
sELF-DEFENCE TRIUMPHANT.

HE PEOPLE VS.. JAMES ALLERroN.-Thls was YER
interesting case rendered from the fact that the de
PENDANT acted " his lawyer" the trial. withou
having the advantage Of being Of 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 TO
the legal gentlemen present The defendant, who is
small red haired thin specimen Of Yankee, was in
dicted for assault and battery Mr.. Dodder
The facts, divulged upon trial. briefly follows
The defendant isin the employ ofhe Mongaup Valley For
resburg, and Port Jervis Flank Road Company toll
gatherer, and resides upon the road, miles aboy
Port Jerys. He and the complainant Mr.. Dodder ar,
near neighbours.
On Sunday in February last the defendant saw tn,
complainant in the of beating his (deendants)
along the highway, and, inducement for him t.
quit hurled few stones at him, one of which, thu
complainant testified struck him on the back of the
neck.
The testimony being concluded the defendant address
ed the jury as follows:
Gentlemen of the Jury don't know much about law
and since the trial has been going have concluded
that ought to know little ought to apologize
perhaps for appearing in my Defence and will do
by telling you that feed lawyer and hired another
in this case but they both up missing when need
them most suppose might have secured the services
of some of these other mbs of the law that see
me- but having been cheated by two of em concluded
to go it ON my own hook, and here am Iwant to
tell you, gentlemen, before 60 further, that it is my
fault that this is here taking up the time of this
honorable court think you will give me credit for
tried before Justice of the Peace it being better adapt
edto the capacities of such court than of this
After this difficulty Dodder did get warrant for
from Squire Cuddeback, over in Deerpark He then
charged that had nsulted him but Eve or six months
have freshened his recollection and he says that
assaulted and battered him. believe there is some diff
ference between the two charges.
Dodder says he to the complaint before Squire
Cuddeback and leave for you say whether he tells
the truth now in saying that battered him. I was
taken by constable before the Squire and either be-
the Justice ashamed Of what he had already
done hadn't time to attend to it, don't know which,
it went down. Two or three weeks after that was
again. and my wife having been confined thought
it best, as dutful husband to be around hum, got
rid Of by giving security for my appearance to court
You know gentlemen that am in the employ of the
Mongaup Valley, Forrestburg and Port Jervis Plank
Road Company as gate keeper. This company, it
seems had sufficient confidence in my integrity and ho
nesty to place me in that important station and If
should receive $4,000 and steal 500 Of it, that's be-
tween me and the company, and its OF Dodders
business. Now, when the company sent me up along
this road to collect TOLLS this Dodder of the in
habants found there in the woods and will say for
him that he is very fair specimen of the rest of the po
pulaon But there isn't any Of them that to APP
preciate all the benefits Of this plank road.
1t let out to civilization class of people who
before realized the idea that there such thing
civilized fe and this Dodder is one Of them 1t is
fact that after moved there young woman, II
years DID, down out of the mountains on the plank
road day and said she had been out before
asking few questions went back into the woods This
Dodder my neighbor and good deal nearer
than wanted him; and hadn't been there long before
heard he had been lying about to Of the drec
tors and soon found out that he wanted to get his
who sworn here against me, in my place. But he
hasn't done it yet and if you don't convict me reckon
he won't very
1t won't take long to dispose of Dodder No. O. He tes
titles that he throw three stones at his father
and the old man dodge" On his examine
ton he says that he in his house in the woods
and had to look hill twenty feet high and also
over three slab fences and two stone walls Well if he
tells the truth all wish is that had young Dodders
eyes. He is certainly remarkable boy, and can't
sstently deny his "fath.r."
am willing to admit that did wrong to throw stones
at Dodder and apologize to all the world and this court
particularly for it. The doctors tell that there
two for all Diseases predsposton aud excitab-
y think it was the latter that moved to stone
Dodder therefore confess myself guilty Of the assault
but the battery deny and il you find guilty Of the
battery will appeal from the decision to the Court of
high Heaven itself before will submit to it.
Now, gentlemen, you saw Mr.. Dodder and heard him
swear against me- asked him great many questions,
and sorry to hear him answer as he did. might
have asked him if he didn't kill my cat and if he didn't
stone my chickens because they repassed in his woods
where actually the rocks thick that the brakes
can't find their way through them but then knew he
would deny it, and it would grieve to hear him. He
admits that he was driving my three cows up the road
and that he struck at Of em but says with
small switch. have proved that this switch was pole
end and have also proved that when he struck the
FELL 1t is true my witness couldn't that the stick
hit her. he far off; but take the blow and the fail
together and guess the rest Ii you, gentlemen
should point gun at man and pull the trigger,
the fash and hear the report and at the time
the drop, think you would say that shot him,
although you might not see the ball strike him.
Now, the fact is gentlemen that on Sunday was ~
ing on my lounge in my house, when my wife said to me
that Dodder was chasing my cows. jumped up and
pulled my boots and went out of doors and saw bod
der and the cows coming up the road 1t is true, he
says he not driving them but he says he and the
both going along the road in direction and
this was as could get him to the cows or
the truth sproved that the going ahead
of him. and he following after them striking at them
with this little switch three inches the
butt and guess you'll think he driving" them.
sung out to him, Dodder stop" but he didn't obey my
order and just threw stone in that direction, which
about 10 feet his head at the time going
\ toward him, while he coming toward me. He paid
attention, and sung out again, Dodder, 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 israther strange, going toward
each other fast we could But he Stacked up
and by this time within about eight feet Of each
other halted and hoered at the top of my voice. bod
der, why in don't you stop 2" About then he did
stop, and raised his ten foot switch if to strike me-
sang out Mr.. Dodder, look out! You may wollup my
cows, but If you woup with that switch you'll vol
lup an animal thatn hook" Here the orator made
appropriate gesture Of head in the act Of hooking
which was followed with uncomfortable laughter that
tnued several minutes.
Now gentlemen if you convict me- this court can flint
me $3.50 and Jug for six months and, if you really
in favor Of living up to the laws as long as theJ
are laws whether il is the Fugitive Slave Law the Ne