The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-06-07
UNCLE JOE IN COURT.
BT COL. DUNLAP.

lOD uOIe ne was tue lltdU 10 90 H. IN snort
he was sort of universal MAN Friday.
and for consideration he would perform
any work which might be called for. He
was happy old fellow; as full of fun as an
egg is full Of meat, and he could crack
some very hard jokes without hurting any
body. He owned little cnttage back of the
village, to which was attached few acres
of good land and besides this he had COW
and some other items of stock. He lived
quite comfortably and the impression had
gone abroad that he had managed TO lay UP
some money.
Capt Daniel Lober, who had recently
settled in the town, owned a fine piece OF
land adjoining Uncle Joe's lot, and he was
not long in making himself very disagreea-
BILE to our good man Friday. He was u
proud, selfish person, and little mean
wlthal. Uncle Joe had some geese and they
ran upon Lober's land upon which the in
dignant captain threated to shoot them if
he caught them there again.
''Ef yo'd make your fence tighter my
geese wouldn't get through" meekly sug-
gestcd poor Joe,
My fence is as tight as the law requires, :"
answered the doughty captain and with
this he walked away.
So Uncle Joe had go to work and tight
en- the fence, and put larger yoke upon his
geese
lIober next move was against bis hens
He swore that he would shoot them if they
We're not kept out of his lot Joe built a
hen house, aud placed his feathered birds
therein; but it was sore trial to him, and
people sympathiged with him, though they
could not help him.
One season Capt Lobcr plowed up his land
some ten acres OF it--and sowed it with
wheat. The grain came on finely, and the
owner used to take men out there to show
them his field. 1t was acknowledged to be
the best OF wheat in town. But the captain
was destined to a piece Of ilI-fortune which
he had not thought Of, This land was ut
some distance from his dwelling, and when
busy at other points week or two might
pass without visiting it. One afternoon he
came to see his wheat, and when he reach
ed the edge of the field he. stood aghast at
the sight that met his gaze The tall grain
was trodden and trampIed down over half
OF the lot, presenting "A scene of havoc and
destruction truly horrible to behold, And
the aStounded own was at no loss to ac-
count for the desolation, Tor near the center
Of the lot he saw horse 1t was iaunt
heavily built ANIMAL of tlingy white color;
and though evidently we'll stricken with
years yet he capered and frisked about with
marvellous splrt-now cropping q few Of
the well filled wheat heads, aud anon tram.
plng away upon the devoted grain as tho
he were trcading the wine vat.
| should not dare to tell all the oaths
which Captain Lober then and there poured
forth; but they were terrible ones, and the
white foam stood upon his lips Us he raved.
As soon as he could collect his thoughts he
started for Uncle Joes s. lie knew that Joe
must have seen the horse in therefor the
animal could not have been less than three
or four days at the work-and perhaps the
dcpredator might belong to Joe. just as
tie Captain reached the road, he met Sam
W arnC". Sam was not Temperance man,
nor did he brlong to the church, but he was
Il particular friend to Uncle Joe, and didn
think much of Daniel Loher.
Mr.. Warner" cried the captain, trcm-
bling all over with rage, does Joe Bassett
own horse2
"Yaas, b'iove he does, Squire" return
ed Sam.
is it white onc9"
Kind o whitish.' -
How old is it?
''Wal-'taint very old nor very young.
But it's kind o shaky around the knees. "
Captain Lobcr posted Oft to Uncle Joe 5
cot, and found the old fellow at work about
he premises.
Mr.. Bassett," he said with awful mean
ing, do you own a Eorse?"
Wal rather kalkiate as how | dew,
Squire, answered the old fellow.
And did you know that your horse had
destroyed more than half of my wheat2"
'Je-rctc -salem You don say so, Squire!
exclaimed Joe, in terror,
1t Isl fact, sir; and now you May settle
1t or suffer the consequences.
But Squire-railly | kant believe it.
My boss is such quiet crtter.
Are you willing to'scttle it? cried the
captain madly.
'But-'Squiro-railly, ] couldn't pay ye
moth 'n-sartn couldn't"
Then you'll pay somebody else. You
know that your horse has been in my
field. D."
II couldn't swar at he hadn't, that's
fact. "
That's enough" And with this the
captain went off, He went to one Of the
assessors, from whom he learned that Joe
owned some two or three hundred dollars
worth Of property and then he went to q
lawyer, and had Joe Bassett sued, setting
the damages at one hundred dollars. The
lawyer sent Joe letter, but the old fellow.
refused to take any notice of it, and the
case was carried into court, Captain Lober
having sworn that he would push Uncle Joe
to the last extremity.
he Il 81, l.. r.
the trial arrived. The room was crowded,
for whisper had gone abroad that Uncle
Joe would get the best Of it. Finally the
case was called on, and Lobers counsel
made statement of the cause which had led
to the SUIT, enlarged upon the damage which
had been done to his client S property, and
explaining how little the trnnsgressor had
eeemed to care for it,
where is the dciense?" ..
No body seemed to know.
is the defense in court?'
All eyes were turned upon Uncle Joe,
and he arose.
Are you the defendant in this case?"
asked the court
"Me?" returned Joe, with vacant
stare.
"Yes-you."
lie is, your honor said 1Iober's Law
yer
Have you got council, sir; the Judge re-
sumed.
.'Not's know on. replied Joe, with
half foolish, half wicked look.
You are probably aware of the reason
why you have been called here pursued
the court, seeming to pity the mans foolish
ness. ~c,r s..- ..c ..... .t. 4.
SIS Es'pose its for some kind O complaint
Capt'n Lobers been maxim" - '--'
Exactly, said Lob MS counsel 'Yeur
horse has destroyed much. property belong
ing TO my CLIENT -.
"Guess not, Squire returned Joe,
, cause that's ongossible. Ny hoss couldn't