Des Arc citizen., 1858-11-13
Anecdotes of the Arkansaw Bar.

q ~-- Anecdotes of the Arkansaw Bar. The pretty little village of Pine Bluff. Arkansas, lies on each side of q line divi- ding two quarter sections of land, owned by different persons--,hc upper one by person named Pullen, the lower by per son named Davies. Pullen first laid of town, after running principal line be- tween the quarter sections upon his own land. and numbered the lots, beginning with No. at the river. A pragmatical old Frenchman, one Antoine Baraque, educated for monk in France, and after wards commissary in Napoleons Span- ish army of invasion--a small adjust, im- petuous old man-bought lot No. l, re- ceived, and caused to be recorded, deed to il from Pullen. The line was after wards run out by Pulen and Davies, and l it was ascertained that Pullen's original line was wrong, and that the true line so struck the river as to cut off lot No. l en- tirely, throwing it upon Davies quarter section. Davies then commenced laying of town on his side, by lots of the same size as Pullen's, and numbering down the rlver from the line, so that what was No. l on Pullen's town became lot No. on Da- vies' town. and was by the latter sold to stout, ruddy, athletic Frenchman named 1 Joe Bonne.
 Baraque found it impossible to under. stand the new order of things; and meet. ing Davies soon after, entered upon an l ,,,,tl, l. b,c raoJpct and the consequences to himself resulting from it. "Good God!' said he, "Mees- tare Davies, Fave my lot No. l in de town of Pine Bluff from dat MT. Pullen, and ave my deed recorded in the clerks office of de county-lot No. l, in de town of Pine Bluff! Hal you no see you rob me of my land. By gar, dere is my deed on record, and will ave my land. l lave buy dat lot, and you number him No. l, and he is my lot"
 "But, my dear sir" said Davies. "you bough of Pulen, and the lot was not upon his land. When the true line was run, the lot fell on my quarter section" "G-d dam de line," hotly responded Baraque; "what you 'spect care for your dam linea Dare is my deed on re- cord for lot No. l. in de town of Pine Bluff, and you number dat lot so, and by gar, will lave my lot."
 "Oh, we'll" said MT. Davies, eff that is all, I will commence numbering my lots down Tn the swamp, and number them up, and then your lot will be lot No. no longer"
 "Oh, by gar," cried Baraque, "dat would be one dam rascally ting, to rob me of my property in dat way, and shall bring one suit for my lot."
 Sue he did, accordingly, by action of ejectment against Joe Bonne, and em- ployed Colonel Fowler to carry on his suit. During the six months that inter- vened between the commencement of the suit and sitting of the court, he wrote
 Fowler, on an average, letter week
 The cause came on for trial-Baraque was
 beaten, of course, and then refused to pay
 Fowler his fee. Fowler thereupoS com
 menced suit against him. Baraque, upon this, healed up the breach between him.
 self and Joe Bonne, and subpened him as witness.
 When the cause came on for trial. our two Frenchmen sat costly in court, check
 by y.jowl, and as the trial progressed, Ba-
 raque often whispered merrily in Joe Bonne's ear. Fowler at length offered
 to read divers letters from Baraque in evil
 dence and selecting one, commenced. It
 ran thus:
 "MR. COLONEL ABsALoM FowLER.- Now want you to be sure and be at court
 to attend dat cause of mine against dat
 dam Joe Bonne for my lot No. l, in de town of Pine Bluff" etc.
 Fowler-a formal, stiff and precise l man-read the letter through without a wink or smile, and proceeded to read an
 other. The third or fourth began in this { style-
 5 "MR. COLONEL ABsALoM FOWLER Sir: I want you to be sure and see to dal case of mine against dat dam rascal Joe Bonne. 1 have no idea of being rob of my land in dat dam rascally way, and ave you know dat am bound to succeed. | Joe drew off from Baraque, and cas upon him fierce glances of anger, and Ba 5 raque turned red and pale alternately
 Fowler drew out another and commenced 3 reading:
 t "DEAR MR. COLONEL FowLER.-I vii ave you know, sare, must be sure anc , ave you at cour, and see to my cast 9 against dat dam rascal Joe Bonne. Wht stole de hogs Ha! l pevare steal anl . hog. If any body want to know wh' stole de hog, let dem ask Joe Bonne." g This clapped the climax; Joe shook hi fist in Baraque's face, and the latter rushed , out of court. Bench, bar and jury, burs ] into universal laughter, and without fur t ther evidence Fowler took his judgment Q ,-[PrKr.