, 1860-02-11
An Amusing CHAPTER on Collection.

An Amusing Chnpter on Collection.
Laws.
The Legislature anl people of Wisconsin aro
dizcussing The proposed bill for abolislins the
collection laws. 4 rural correspondent Of the
Milwaukee Free Democrat sends up lis testi-
mony in the following chapter:
Early one morning last spring, ~ was con.-
1ortabiy seate. iu my front parlor. reading your
weekly, which had been received from the 20.
ncishbor D., with his wagon and hay.riKxing.
stcpped to the door and accos.ed him with
"iood morning, Mr. D.
"Good morning, SIR" said be, apparently in
much haste. ''Nr. H." said he, III nm getting
rather short on for fodder, and drove down
here ear!y THY morning. (as have to 90 from
home this attcrnoon,) to see whether you would
let me have ab1ut half u ton OF tame hay. US |
have one steer in particular that would like to
keep tn thriving condition through the spring
aud summer, and by fss1ing him some grain
the aooS S1,!s P'r' Of next WINTER will make him
Very we'll s1r. D." said I, "drivc up to the
barn: will cali the boys. and they will assist
you In loading" After the hay was loaded
went out to tic barn, and Mr. u. called my at-
tent!on to the ihay on the wagon, and asked
my Judgment ns to the quantity. lie seemed
oa1sHcu aAttt AE uau uAIl u k0us NQu Sd HA3 i.
"Mr. II )" said b., ~ have no money with
me this morning. will it make any difference
other tt1ne:'
Not particle said I, whenever you can
make it convenient you can pay me-" IretuTn.
ed to the house and charged Mr. D. with the
half ton Of hay at the rate Of ten dollars per
ton.
Occasionally would meet Mr. D., WHO as
often expressed regret that he had not the fire
dollars for me, and | assured him repeatedly
that it made no particular difference justt then.
Matters stood thus until December, when
happening one day to meet Mr. D., politely
hintcd to hin that as the ta1-gatherer would
soon be on his mission, would be very glad if
by II stipulated time l could be the happy re-
cipicnt o. the outstanding i've dollars. At that
tune noticed coldness and Indifference on
the part Of Mr. D., with whom considered
n1r self On the best Of terms. lie made no apo.o-
glrs Or promises, as Was his wont, bat LETT mc
abruptly and in sullcn mood.
4 day or two afterwards, another Of ms ncicl-
bors, Mr.. S., calle3, and In the course Of our
conversation I Was informed that Mr. d. had
expressed his determination, thatif1 got my i've
dollars It would be at tue tail end OF IN execu.
tion, aud the sooner sued him the better lie
would like it.
Imagine h,y astonislment at this disclosure,
However, after revolving the ,nattcr in n,y own
mind, anti feeling withal somewhat ycxed ut
uS!uE hAas k4EAlcQs L Ic*UlfGu 10 nave tQt Ef1Ak
ground out. made application at Squire Els
o1ice Tor 4 summons for relief, which being
granted, was placed in IN officers hands for
service, requiring Nr. u. to appear, and answer
the compliant OF Ar. H., to his damage Of sluJ
or under.
i'e,us rather lenisnt1y disposed, ! supposed
the matter IN dispute would be nmicably adjust
ed upon the meeting Of the parties before the
jjustice, on the return day OF the summons.
But snw plainly depicted upon the counte-
nance Of ~Mr. D. that be meant to resist to tie
last. However, was determined to effect
settlement If possible, without further proceed.
lngs, and calling Mr. d. aside, inquired OF him
why be refused to nay tue debt. and repeated
to him what Mr. S. bud told mt, all Of which be
| frankly acknowledged, and added, TINT iuus-
mich is had commenced legal proceedings to
| recover the debt, and nlr vile hnd refused to
on former former occasions 20 lend Mrs. D. 4
butter bowl 70 battle the baby in, aEtl clothes
bar to dry pumpkins on, thut now could 20
my length, and collect the debt as soon Us the
Law would allow.
offered to take slr. DIS note fur the amount
at ninety IS, and pay all cost Of prosecution
| but all Of no ayail.
Rc-entering the Justice Office, that function
arr inquired whether any pacific measures had
bccn agreed upon, and being informed in the
negative, ne Immediately called the suit.
Alter reading the summons he called tho par
ties" Mr.. II. here. Mr. D. here" presented
my account and Mr. D. gaye notice Of an offset.
t;entlcmen are you ready for trials" | an.
swered Y.es,' Mr. II. answered " No," ,"and be-
lnG asked the reason, answered, that the Law al
lowed an adjournment Of a week or more, and,
further, lie wanted d subpoena for his witnesses,
some oil whom resided in d distant part Of the
country. SO the case was adjourned for week,
aud subpoena granted to Mr. u.
On nly way home could not helm but reflect
upon the case, and tue necessity Of Mr. D. hay
ing any witness, and what offset 9ir. D.. could
f.Hve; but Oh the day to which the snit stood
adjourned got out Of tic fog.
Fhc4pastics again appearing before the court,
| the usual question was propoundet TO the par
answered in the affirmative, the defendant Mr. d.,
demanded ve,irc, Is he was not going to trial
/ without 4 Jury.
"TAunIer and Nart," thought !, this thing
is assuming quite formidable aspect, and Us /
presently betiel member Of the legal profess
ty 1cproacheti myself for having commenced the
suit. hut would not hack out at this stage Of
| the proceedings.
The yenire Icing made ont, the constable de-
parted in e discharge Of his duty. After co.-
sunling about two hours, Infringing Ipcn do
,nrssc tranquility, md Getting The entire nrio.
aoElotel ugo2, with malice peepensc, repairing
to the Justices Office, aud con.i ,:n:uy both
to place hotter than the Arctic re9ious, be-
cause they were torn from their ordinary labors
aud legitimate business, d sufficient number ar
rived to form jury, consisting Of Germans,
Irish, butch and Americana, and as the case was
p'nin one. no objections were urged on my part
to the panel.
Alter the swearing Of the jary'on book, the
! eorer Of which had u chalk mark somewhat in
the shape Of the letter T, the trial proceeded.
proved my account, as already stated, and rest
I'd my. case. Then the errca ba= member ot
your city arose, and commenced haransuc,
while the jury liS:euld with bseathless at,c,,-
ton. lie rscted the imas sinary wrongs to
which his client was subjected in consequence
Of tue commencement Of this suit and that
was Influenced by n1ercenary motives, and en-
deavotipg to traluc his clients character a.1d
standing III the community, Gud wound up by
prrsentin: to tho court and jury an account hs
client had trumped up Of an occurrence that
had trausp'red some two years previously.
Two years ago last summer ore Of my cows
got mircd, and ail Efforts on my part to e1tri.
cate her without extraordinary means proved
unayailing. l Was about to eena one of u.y
boys to yoke tho cattle and rope to saait her
out; when eucountering A1r. D.. who was at
work just oyer the line fence, protfered his ser.
vices with his cattle for that purpose. "He3y
well, AE. d." said ! ard at tie same time ii,
racted the boy to bring the rope only. Allthirc rs
being prepared, the animal was soon extzicated
D. how much should pay li1a fof his humane
Efforts in my behalf, ''Wby," said Mr. D., "~(}o
you ssppost uouAL take anytAin4 as pav for d
neight0rty aet!' No. sir. Tam not Mat lind o,
man.: thanked III. D. very kindly, and VI
separated.
To resume my narrative: Mr. D. had Wit.
| nesses to prove that owed him for services with
his cattle ;,nl TWO hired men, in assisting ME in
takinz the cow from, the miro that The bay he
received Of me WIS Of poor quality; and that
there certainly could not lave been to exceed a
quarter of a ton weight.
The evidence being gone through with, the
counsel for the defence made au elaborate argu,
ment to the jury, aud By i frequent nod Of as
sent on the part Of some Of the jurors, began
to trembe for my country when reflected
that God was just.'
The result was the jury failed to agree upon q
verdict, leaving my claim uuadjusted aad unset
tied.
Now, Nessrs, Editors, what would you advise
nc to do. Shall commence another suit, o,
let the account 20 By the board: Ny claim il
already more than swallowed mp in the costs
and fees which have paid, and 10 pursue The
phantom justice any further. may result like
splitting against the wind. Ny dander is up
and am nu xious to give Mr.: D. jessie; but
will await vour counsel and advice II.
| =. ST. have just been informed by the Town
Clerk, that the fat steer Of Mr. D. is under 4
chattcl mortgage: Il.
| POLITICAL.
The Charleston -Nrrcury receives the au.
nounccment of the cle:tion Of Mr. Pennington