Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-04-04

fairiy seemed surprised to see a white
man, and after asking a few questions
went back into the woods. This DoddeI
was my nearest neighbor, and good deal
nearer than l wanted him and I hadn It
been there long before / heard he had
been lying about me to one Of the direc-
tors, and | soon found out that he wanted
to get his son, who was sworn here against
me, In my place. But he hasn't done it
yet, and if you don't convict me l reckon
he won't very soon.
1t won't take long to dispose of Dodder
No. 2 He testifies that he saw me throw
three stones at his father, and saw the
old man dodge" On his cross -examin-
alton he says that he was in his own house
IN the woods and had to look over bill
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 Dodder's eyes He is certainly
remarkable boy, and can't consistently
deny his ;'father.H / am willing to ad
NIT that [ did wrong to throw stones at
Dodder, and apologize to all the world
and this court particularly, for it. The
doctors tell us that there are two causes
for all diseases, predisposition and excita-
billty 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
itself before | will submit to it.
Now, gentlemen, you saw Mr. Dodder
and ntard BIN swear against me- | asked
him great many questions, and [ was
sorry ID 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 be-
cause they trespassed in his woods. where
actually the rocks are so thick that the
brakes can't find their way through them
but then | knew he would deny it, and it
would grieye me to hear him He admits
that lie was driving my three cows up the
road and that he struck one of 'em. but
says it was with small switch. | have
proved that this switch was a pole about
ten feet long and about three inches across
the butt end. and [ have also proved that
when he struck. the COW fell 1t is true
that my witness couldn't swear that the
stick hit her, he was so far off; but take
the blow aud the fall together, and we can
guess the rest. If you, gentlemen, should
see me point gun at man and pull the
trigger. see the flash and hear the report.
and at the same time see the man drop, I
think you would say that l shot him, al
though you might not see the ball strike
him
Now, the fact is, gentlemen, that on
Sunday | was lying on my lounge in my
house. when my wife said to me that bod
der was chasing my cows [ jumped up
and pulled on my boots and went out of
doors and saw Dodder and the cows com
ing up the road 1t is true. be SAYS, he
was not driving them, but he says he and
the cows were 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, aI3 he was following after
them striking at them with his little switch
ten feet long. three inches across the butt,
and I guess you'll think he was driving"
them. | sung out to him, g Dodder, stop l''
but he didn't obey my order, and l just
threw a 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.
and | sung out again, Dodder, stop p
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 on the back of his
neck but which | think is rather strange,
as we were going toward each other as fast
as we could But he never Stacked up,
and by this time we were within about
eight feet of each other | halted and
L. ~, of, TioJIa,
why in - DON'T you stop z" About then
he did stop, and raised his ten foot switch
as if to strike me. | sang out, . MIR. Dod-
der, look out You may wallup my COWS,
but if you wallup me with that switch
you'll wallup an animal that'll hook p
Here the orator made an appropriate
gesture of the head, as in the act of hook
ing. which was followed with uncontrolla-
bic laughter. that continued several min
utes
Now. gentlemen, if you convict me, this
conrt can fine me $3.50 and jug me for six
months; and, if you really think | ought
to be convicted of this assault, say SO, for
am in favor of living up to the laws as
long as they are laws, whether 1T is the
Fugitive Slave Law, the Nebraska Bill;
or the Excise Laws. | will read you a
little law, however, which / have just seen
in book l found here (the speaker here
picked up a law book and read as follows }
" Every man has right to defend him.
self from personal violence" Now. don't
know whether that is law or not, but |
find it in a law book. EAVeteran member
of the bar. who was sitting near the speak
er, remarked to him that it was good law
Well, gentlemen, here Is an old man, who
looks as if he might know something, and
be says this is good law. Now, if you
will turn to Barbour something, page 399,
YOU ulf-find that the same doctrine is ap-
piled to cattle. Great laughter. There
| fore | take it | had right te defend my
COWS against Dodder's tenfoot switch
Why. gentlemen, nearly all my wealth Is
! invested in them three COWS, and you cant
wonder that | became little excited
when / saw Dodder switching them with
L. .,D f,ot mole t an a moor man and