Squatter sovereign., 1856-02-19
afliistellalleoas.
THE RICHEST COURT SCENE OUT
The People VS.. Jas. Arlington.

District Attorney for People; P. isoner in Person
The following amusing case was tried
at the recent term of the Orange County
Court. and we find it reported in the New.
burg Telegraph:
This was one of the most amusing trials
ever Witnessed by judge or jury in this
country. The prisoner was indicted for an
assault and battery on a man by the name
Of Dodder. 1t seems that plank road
had just been laid in the town Of Mini
sink, running through the land of said Dod-
der. and that is the toll gatherer, and that
the gate house is built on, or adjoining to
the lands of Dodder. The other facts will
appear in evidence.
The cause was duly opened by the Dis
trict Attorney, when his honor, the Judge,
noticed the defendant sitting with the bar
with pencil in hand ready to take down ey-
idence without counsel
"Have you no counsel, Mr.. Allington?"
said the judge.
No, sir"
"There are plenty of gentlemen around
you who would be willing to assist you"
"Well, your honor, ! have feed one, and
engaged another, and they both turn up
missing, and therefore have concluded to
try the case myself"
"Very well, sir
The district attorney, after stating the
case to the jury, called the complainant,
Mr.. Dodder, upon the stand, who testified
as follows:
know the defendant; he is a neighbor
of mine. was driving his cows off my
land, when he came out upon the road and
stoned me. He sent as much as a dozen
at me, and the last one struck me upon the
| back Of the neck. It hurt me considers.
bly,, not very badly however, 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 now turned upon the de-
fendant. There he sat, busily engaged in
taking notes, little. short, red-headed
Yankee, with his feet resting on the lower
round of the chair. and his body bent for
ward at an angle of forty-fve degrees.
At that remark he snapped his head back
like blade in a jack-knife, his eyes wink
ed. and In a shrill, loud voice he COM
menced-
Have you always been on good terms
with the defendant Al mean me, Mr..
Dodder."
Uodder hesitated.
"Corne. Mr.. Dodder. have we been on
good terms {"
IT can't saw" said Dodder.
"We!l, recoiIect, Mr.. Dodder, that you
must say"
"Say yes or no" said his honor.
Yes or no,r said the defendant.
Il can't say that we were on speaking
terms" said Dodder.
Well. Mr.. Dodder, you say that /
struck you with stone. Will you please
state TO the jury whether i, was the frs,
stone that struck you 3"
"No, SIR"
Didn't it go fifteen feet to the right 90
"About that"
well. was it the second?"
"No, sir"
Did not that go three feet over you
head"
"Yes, SIR"
Were you not running after my COW
with stake sharpened at one end and
did you not knock her down. and was it
not because you would not stop that sent
the other stone at yous"
Well, sir, must explain"
None of your rigrnaroles here, Mr..
Dodder. Not any explanations, .ir-Yes,
or no, sir
81 can't say"
"You must answer. Come, sir. yes Oh
| no go
"It was not stake, it was only stick
| sir"
"Yes, two and half inches at the but
and twelve feet long"
No. sir, one inch across and taperina
to the end
You knocked the cow down. did yor
| not, sir.''
~ struck at her, but cannot say ssrucl
her."
Didn't she fall ."
"Can't say"
"Well. Mr. DoddsE. yon were chasing
her, wasn't yous"
AT was in the rosd. sir, and shs was O
Isas sids.'s
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