Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-11-16
THE RICHEST COURT SCENE
OTTT.

=
er in Person.
This was one Of the most amusing tri-
ais ever witnessed by bench or jury il
this country. The prisoner was indicted
| for an assault and battery upon man By
the name Of Dodder 1t seems that {
plank had just been laid in the towr
Of Minisink. running through the land.
of said Dodder and that Arlington is the
toll gatherer. and that the gate-house i
built upon or adjoining the ktpds Of bod
der. The other facts will appear IN cyl
dence.
The 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 counsel
"Havc you no counsel, Mr. Allington?"
inquired the Judge.
No Sir"
"Thcrc are plenty OF gentlemen around
you who would be willing to assist you. "
SWELL your Honor, have feed ono and
engaged another, and they both turn up
missing, and therefore have concluded
to try the case myself"
Every well Sir"
The District ATTORNEY. after stating
the case to the jury, called the complaint.
Mr.. Dodder, upon the stand, who testified
as follows:
/ know the defendant; he is neigh
Dor of mine. / was driving his cows off
my land when he came oat upon the
road and stoned me- lie sent as many
as a dozen at me, and the last one struck
me upon the back Of the neck. 1t hui t
me considerably not very badly, howcv-
er, as the rim of my hat hung down. and
it and the coat-collar prevented.
You can examine him now Mr.. Al
lington" said the District Attorney.
All eyes were nov turned upon the
defendant There he sat. bus:ly cngar-
ed in taking notes little, short, red
headed Yankee, with his feet resting on
the lower round of the chair, and his bo-
dy bent forward at an angle of45 degrees
At that remark be snapped his head back
like blade in a jack-knile his eyes twin
killed., and in shull, loud voice lac COM
menccd:
"Have you been on good terms with
the defcnant-i mean me, Mr.. Dodder2"
Dcdder heSitated.
"Come, Mr.. Dodder, have we been on
good terms?"
u can't say" replied Doddcr
swell, recollect, Mr., Dodder, that you
must say"
"Say yes or no" interposed his honor.
Yes CT no, responded the defendant.
Il can't say that we are on speaking
TERMS" answered Doddcr.
"Wcll, Mr.. Dodder, you say that l
struck you witha stone. Will you please
state to the Jury whctherit was the first
stone that struck youW
"No Sir"
Sid it not 90 fifteen feet to The right?"
"About that"
"Well was it the sccond?"
mo Sir"
Odd not that go thrce>feet over your
hcad?"
Eyes. Sir"
"Were you not running after my cow
with a stake sharpened at one cud2 and
lid you not knock her.down? and was it
not because you would not stop that
sent the other stone at you?"
"Wcll, Sir, | must explain"
None Of your rismaroles here, Mr..
Dodder. No explanations, Sir-Yes or
No, Sir"
Il can't answer"
"You must answer. Come, Sir, Yes
Or No"
sit wasn't stake it was stick"
eyes, p inches at the butt and twelve
feet long"
"No, Sir. one inch across and tapering
to the end" ...-
you knocked the COW down, did Mt
you?"
Il struck at her-can't say I struck
her"
add Mt she fall 2"
Cant say"
"Wcll, Mr.. Doddcr, you were chasing
her. were You notm
81 was in the road, Sir, and she was Oil
the side"
WAS it icy?"
Snow deep"
YES
'Now, will you say on your oath, Mr.
Dodder, that You DID not strike her!n
Witness hesitating. q will not be
positive"
"WclI, Mr.. Doddcr, were you not com
ing toward me!"
Yes. Sir"
You was coming up the road and I
was going down?"
Yes, Sir"
"You did not run back at all, did you?"
No, Sir"
"You are sure you did not look or go
back, are you?"
Certainly am
Are you as positive Of that as you are
of all the rest you have sworn toy
i am, SIR
'Well, sir, VIII You then please to in
form this Jury and myself how that stone
came to strike yon on the back Of The
nech?"
Witness was evidently, non-plussed
and a roar Of laughter burst from bench
bar and jury, as well as the spectators.
i am not done with YOU yet cXclainl-
Cd the defendant, as Mr.. Dodder seemed
rather uneasy and inclined to yacate the
chair.
Whose house do | 1--we in, Mr.. Dodder?'
L consider it mino.'
Did you serve a notice on me not to
use the rooms, the garnet or the celler
when | was moving in it?'
Yes Sir
Was there any thing else to use, Sir?
No, Sir
Who built the hcuSe?'
! The Plank Road Company
/ IN Whoocpossessjonisit it, Mr.. Bodder?
Plank Road Company.
How did you come to say that the
house was yours, when the Compan,
have 1t IN possession and built it?'
Another burst Of laughter followed