Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-05-05
miscellaneous
A CHAPTER ON THE COLLECTION LAWS.
HAlL's Corners, Feb'y 4, 1850.

Ed
noticed in yorr paper Of late, considerable
discussion relative to the collection laws.
II it Is not out of place, | will give you some.
what in detail my experience Of tho laws com.
polling a man to pay his debts.
Early one morning last spring, as I was COM
Portable seated in my front parlor reading your
weekly, which had been received from the p. o
tho e'ening previous. who should drive ny but
n~eighbor D.. with his wagon and hay rigging. ]
stepped to the door and accosted him with good
morning, Mr.. D.
Cod morning. Sir,' said be, apparently in
much haste. Mr.. H. said he, I am getting short
on for fodder, and l drove down here early this
morning. las | have to 60 from home this after
noon.) to see whether yod would let mo have
about half a ton Of tame hay, as l have one
steer in particular that | would like to keep in
thriving condition through the spring and summer
and by feeding him some grain the early part Of
next winter. will make him good beef"
Very we'll Mr.. D. said I, drive up to the
barn, l will call tho boys, aud they will assist you
IN loading" After the hay was loaded | went
out TO the barn, and Mr.. d. called my attention
TO the hay on the wagon, aud asked my judgment
as to the quantity. lie seemed satisfied that be
had half u ton, and 80 was I,
MT. H. said d., - have NJ money with me this
morning, will it make any difference whether |
pay you for the hay now or some other time p
Not a particle, said |. whenever you can make
it convenient you can pay me-" l returned to the
house and charged Mr.. D. with the half ton Of hay,
at the rate Of ten dollars per ton.
Occasionally I would meet Mr.. D.. who az Of
ssn expressed regret that he had rot the Eve dol!
lars for me, and | assured him rep ,atedly that il
made no particular difference Just then.
Matters stood thus until December, when hap
poning one day to meet Mr.. D, l politely hinted
to him that as the tax-gatherer would soon be on
hia mission, ! would be very glad if by a stipulat-
ed time ] could be the happy recipient of the out
standing Eve dollars. At that time ! noticed a
GOODNESS and Indifference on the part of Mr.. D..
with whom l considered myself on the best OF
terms. lie made no apologies or promises as was
his wont, but left me abruptly and in a sulleu
mood.
A day or two after wards, another Of my neigh
bors, Mr.. S. called, and in the course Of our con-
versation, | wac informed that Mr.. D. had express
sed his determination. that if l got mv FIVE dollars
it would be at the tale end of an execution, and
the sooner | sued hin the better he would like it
Imagine my establishment at this disclosure
However, after revolving the matter in my own
mind, and feeling withal somewhat vexed at being
thus treated, | resolved to have the grist ground
out. l made application at Squire Els Office for u
summons for relief. which being granted, was plac
ed in an officers hands for service. requiring Mr..
D. to appear, and answer the complaint of Mr., IL.
20 his damage of 500 or under.
Being rather leniently disposed, I supposed the
matter in dispute would be amicably adjusted up
on The meeting of the parties before the Justice, on
the return day Of the sunmons. But l saw plainly
depicted upon the countenance of Mr.. D. that he
meant to resist to the last. However, l was deter.
mined to effect a settlement if possible, without
further proceedings, and calling Mr.. D. aside, in
quired Of him why he refused to pay the debt, and
repeated 70 him what Mr.. S. had told me, all
Of which he frankly acknowledged, and add
ed, that inasmuch as / had commenced legal
proceedings to recover the debt, and
my wife had refused, on former occasions, to lerd
Mrs. D.. u butter bowl to bathe the baby in, and n
clothes bar to dry pumpkins on, that now l could
go my length, and collect the debt as soon as the
law would allow.
offered 10 take Mr.. Dis. note for the amount OF
ninety days. and pay all cost of prosecution, but
all Of no avail.
Reentering the Justices Office that functionary
inquired whether any pacific measures hal been
agreed upon. and being informed in the negative
he Immediately called the suit.
After reading the summons he called the par
lies-'Mr. Ii. here, Mr.. D. here" / presented
Z my accOcnt and Mr.. D.. gave notice Of an Offset.
"Gentlemen are you ready for trial 2" answer
ed yes" Mr.. D.. answered NC" and being asked
the reason, answered. that the law allowed an ad.
journmens of o week or more, and. further, be
wanted q subpoena for his Witnesses, some Of
whom resided in a distant part Of the county. Sc
the case was adjourned for a week, and a subpe
ma granted co Mr.. D.
1Ei On my way home l could not help but refoc
Upon the case, and the necessity of Mr.. D. having
any witness, and what offset Mr.. D. could have
but on the day to which the suit stood adjourned
got out Of the fog.
The parties again appearing before the court
the usual question was propounded to the partie
being ready for trial, the court being answered il
the affirmative, the defendant, Mr.. D., demandet
a vsnire, as be was not going to trial without
jury.
"ThundsS and Mars" thought |, this thing i
assuming quite a formidable aspect. and as | pres
emily beheld q member of the legal profession
from your city, entering the room, | secretly re
preached myself for having commenced the suit
But / would not back out OF this stage Of the pro
csedings.
The Venire being made out, the constable de
parted 10 the discharge Of bis duty. After con
Stunning about two hours, infringing upon domesti
tran quility, and setting the entire neighborhoo
agog. with malice prspeuse. repairing to the jus
tees Office, and consigning us both to a place hot
ter than the arctic regions, because they were ter
from their ordinary lahors and Legitimate business
o sufficient number arrived 20 form a jury, consit
ting Of Germans, Irish, Dutch and Americans, an
as the case was q plain one. no objections wer
urged on my part to the panel.