Squatter sovereign., 1856-02-19

three stones at his father, and saw the old
man dodge. On 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 TIE
truth, then all ] wish is that had young
Dodder's eyes. He is certainly remark
liable boy, and can't deny his father.
ann willing to admit thatI done wrong
IN throwing stones a: Dodder, and apol-
ogise to all the world. and this country par
iicularly, for il. The doctors tell us that
there are two causes for all diseases. pre-
: disposition and excitability. think it was
the latter cause that moved me to stone
Dodder.
therefore confess myself guilty of the
assault, but the battery I deny! and if you
find me guilty of the battery I will appeal
to the Court of high Heaven before will
submit to it.
Now, gentlemen, you saw Mr.. Dodder,
and heard him swear upon me. asked
him great many questions. and I was
sorry to hear him answer as he did. !
might have asked him more questions-I
might have asked him if he didn't kill
my cat, and if he didn't stone my chickens,
because they trespassed in his woods where
actually the rocks are so thick that the cats
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 struck at one of 'em, but says it was
with a small switch. I have proved that
this switch was pole about ten feet long,
and about two inches across the butt end
and / have also proved that when he struck
the one fell. 1t is true rny witness couldn't
swear that the stick hit her, he was so far
of. be, take the blow and the fall together
and we can guess the rest. If you. gen.
tlemen. should see me point gun at a
man and pull the tricker, see the fash and
the report, and at the same time see the
man drop, think you would say that /
: sho; him, although 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 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 was not driy-
ing them, but 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 1t is proved
that the cows were going along ahead ol
him, and he was following after them
striking at them with his little switch, ten
feet long and two inches across the butt
and reckon you'll think he was driving
them. sung out to hirl-' Dodder stop!
but he didn't mind my order, and just
threw stone in that direction, which went
:. about fifteen feet over his head, at the same
: time going toward him. He paid no at.
tention. and | sang out again Dodder,
stop!" Still he didn't mind me, and then
|, just threw another stone but ON ne came
and on went, and threw the third stone
. which he says hit him on the back of the
!. neck, but which think was rather strange
as we were going towards each other as
i fast as we could go. But he never slack.
/. ed up. and by this time were within abou
eight feet of each other. I halted, and
: hallooed at the top o. my voice Dod.
der, why in HI don't you stop!' Abou
then he did stop, and raised his ten fee
p switch as if to strike me. sung out
o Mr.. Dodder, look out You may wolluE
!. my cows. but if you wollup me with thai
a switch, you'll wollup an animal that'll
r hook!' There the orator made an appro.
pirate iesture of the head as In the act o
q hooking which was followed with tumul-
: tuous shouts of laughter, that continued
several minutes.
= Now, gentlemen, if you convict me, this
e Court can fine me $3.50 and jug me fol
S six months. and if you really think ough
i to be convicted Of this assault. say so. fol
: / am in favor of living up to the laws. a:
ri long as they are laws. whether it is the fu'
!. gitiye-slaye law, the Nebraska bill, or the
e excise laws. will read you little law
q however. which have just seen In bool
1t I found here. The speaker picked up q
$ book and read as follows: IS Every mai
Il has right to defend himself from person
I al violence Now don't know whethel
d tina. is law or not, hut find IL In las
i book, a veteran member of the bar svha
d was sitting near the speaker, remarked II
:. him that j. was good iaw.l Well. gentle
t, men, here is an old man who looks as
. he might knsw something, and he says
IS good law. Nowif you viii turn to Bar