The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-11-04


seem to appreciate all the benefits of this
plank road.
1t let out to civilization a class of people
who never before realized the idea that there
was such thing as civilized life, and this
Dodder is one of them. 1t is fact that
soon after | moved there, young woman,
IL years old, cum down out of the noun
tains on the plank road, one day, and said
she had never been out before. She fairly
seemed surprised to see a white man, and
and after asking few questions went back
into the woods. This Dodder was my near
est neighbor, and good nearer than | want
ed him, and hadn't been there long, before
heard that he had been lying about me to
one of the directors, and | soon found out
that he wanted to get his son, who has
sworn here against me, in my place. But
he hasn't done it yet, and if you don't con-
vict me reckon he won't very soon.
1t won't take long to dispose of Dodder
No. 2. He testfies that he saw me throw
three stones al his father, and saw the " old
man dodge" On his cross examination he
says that he was in his own house in the
woods. and had to look over hill twenty
feet high, and also over three slab fences and
two stone walls. Well, if he tells the
truth, all l wish is that had young Dol-
ders eyes. He is certainly remarkable
boy and can't consistently deny his father,
am willing to admit that done wrong
to throw stones at Dodder, and | apologize
to all the world and this court particular
ly, for it. The doctors tell US that there are
two causes for all diseases, predisposition
and excitability. think it was the latter
cause that moved me to stone Dodder.
therefore confess myself guilty of the assault,
but the battery, | deny; and if you find me
guilty of the battery, will appeal from the
decision to the Court of High Heaven itsel
before | will submit to it.
! Now gentlemen, you saw Mr.. Dodder and
heard him swear against me. asked him a
great many questions, and l was 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
TREsP AssED in his woods, where actually the
rocks are so thick that the brakes can't find
their way up through them but then knew
he would deny it, and it would grieve me to
hear him. He admits that he was driving
my three cows up the road, and that he
struck at one of EN-, but says that 1t was
with a SMALL SWITCH. l have proved that
this SWITCH was POLE about 10 feet long
and about inches across the but end, and
have also proved that when he struck the
COW FELL 1t is true my witness couldn't
swear that the stick hit her, he was SO far
off, but take the blow and the fall together,
and we can guess the rest. If you gentle
men should see me point gun man and
pull the TRIGGER, see the flash and hear the
report, and at the same time see the man
drop, think you would say that shot him,
although you might not see the ball strike
him.
Now, the fact is, gentlemen, that on Sun
day, was laying on my lounge in my house,
when my wife said to me that Dodder was
chasing my cows. Jumped up and pulled
on my boots and went out of doors, and saw
Dodder and the cows coming up the road
1t is true he says he wasn't driving them but
says he and the cows was both going along
the road in one direction, and this was as
near as could get him to the cows or the
truth; but it is proved that the cows were
going ahead of him, and he was following
after them, striking at them, with this LITTLE
SWITCH, 10 feet long and three inches across
the butt, and reckon you'll think he was
driving them. sung out to him, Dodder,
stop!' but he didn't obey my order, and |
just threw stone in that direction, which
went about ten feet over his head; at the
same time going toward him, while he was
coming toward me. He paid no attention,