The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-09-21
OUR PHILOSOPHERS COLUMN.
From the Weekly Knickerbocker.1

| "H0SS StedtnS. perhaps there is no
State in the Union where the people generally
are better informed in matters of law than in
Georgia; yet in the "dark corners" of some of
the counties, we sometimes find instances of
men of small legal attainments occupying
trusts of honor and emolument, aud, ergo,
hear of rather strange proceedings In the way
of dealing out justice to the community
Jasper County had one of these "dark cor
ners." One John Snubbs, very learned man
in those parts, aud traveller withal, for he
'had been all the way to Augusty," had been
selected by the good people as justice of the
peace. During his administration very seri-
Gus misdemeanOr was committed within the
bounds of his jurisdiction. 1t happened in this
wise. A small planter had in his employ a
rather green specimen, named Peter jones'
When Peters time of service was about to
expire, he bethought himsef-"Now I've been
working for the Deacon Price this three
months at eight dollars and he hain't said
nothing about paying up. prcspose he's
going to shuck out on it and leave me to go
awhistng for my pay. I'll be even with him.
He owes me twenty four dollars, and his gray
colt is worth that much, if not more. TH
settle the matter by taking the olt,"-and he
set about his laudabe undertaking.
When the Deacon arose the next morning,
ha ln1 60 hnt
He went to the stable, and 10! his gray colt
was gone. He mused, and sagely came TO the
conclusion that Peter and the colt had gone
off together. The Justice was consulted,
warrant issued, and the "baifi" was soon on
track of the fugitive. Twenty-four hours
passed before any tidings transpiged, but the
end of that time brought happiness to the
disconsolate Dcacon-his property was re-
stored, and the now "chop-fallen" Peter was
prisoner.
Justice Snubbs had the prisoner immedi-
ately brought before him, and summoning n
jury of five, put the unfortunate young man
upon his trial for grand larceny. The Deacon
testified that he had suddenly "missed the
man and colt without any preordination;" the
bailiff testified that "he had fonnd them, one
on the back of the other" and to complete
the chain of evidence, which was waxing
strong, the prisoner confessed that "thc colt
had cair'd him away" The jury brought a
verdict of guilty without retiring, and the
Justice Of the Peace arose 10 "pronounce his
decision"
"Gentlemen," he commenced, addressing
himself to his surrounding admirers, tive have
assembled here to-day to witness and execute
a most al.important trust. This prisoner
whom we all behold, to wit, Peter Jones, has
been convicted by II jury of his country of the
great and awful crime of hoss stealing, which
is denomnated in the statutes grand larceny.
say boss stealing, becase nothing is said in
the law about colts, and as colt is young
hoss, according to Walker, which authority
have consulted, pronounce colt stealing and
hoss stealing MS individuality the same thing.
Wal, gentlemen, MS this ere pint is settled, !
will have the honor to say to you that have
consulted the Georgia Justice" and find that
the peanulty for hoss stealing are imprson-
ment in the penitentiary from two to four
year. Now, Peter Jones, stand up and hear
your sentence. You have been convicted of
great crme-a rery great crme-for which
you deserve the extreme pcanulty of the law;
but being as You are young man, and this is
your fust offence, I'll be MS easy with you as
| kin. therefore sentence you TO hard labor
In the penitenti"ry for two years, and may
God bless your soul The baiIilf will sec that
my order is executed"
The bailif' started for Miledgevlle with
his prisoner, but was stopped in Monticello,
where he learned that the whole proceeding
wasilcgal. Cursing the Ignorance of the Jus
ticc, he set the prisoner free, and "made him
self scarce"