Weekly New Oregon plain dealer. (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1866-1867, 1866-11-02
"A EssasEsy L.2ygsUit-Tlae
Troubles sagsGCsi by
a Settling HEN.


From the Lacrosse Democrat
Monday forenoon there came of
before Police Judge Hubbard. in
this city, another lawsuit, the par
ticulars OF which are as follows:
Keinhardt Hendricks, Oh the 18th
of September, brought suit against
Brick Pomcroy, to recover pay
for two roostcrs shot by the defend
ant with revolver, the chickens
belonging to the plaintiff, to the
value OF fifty cents each. Through
the kindness of the judge the case
has been adjourned from week to
week till the return of the defendant
from an electioneering tour of Indi-
ana. This morning the case came
off, Ex-Mayor Hon. James |. Lyndes
being the counsel for the prosccu-
tion, the defendant appearing in
his own defence. .s.
The court room was crowded, for
the idea Of trying an editor for
stealing or shooting chickens, was
a novelty. The plaintiff brought in
his bill, sworc to it's correctness,
testified that he owned the chickens,
that they were raised by hen be-
longing to him, that he saw the de-
fcndant shoot them, that he had re-
pcatcdly asked the defendant to
settle for thom, and failing to get
pay or satisfaction he was comp ell
ed to bring suit, and asked for judg-
mcnt Of 81, and. costs.
The defendant admitted shooting
the chickens, and proved by four
rc!ia bic witnesses the following
facts: .' .; ..-a
In April. 1856, the defendant
owned fast running trick mare,
''kitty,' which animal was kept
in stable hired by him, and cared
for b. one of his employees.
stable the plaintiff hens would fly
in and eat oats intended for the
mare ''kitty,' and on the ap-
proach Of any one would fly out.
In an old barrel in the stable, one
of the hens, a black one, made her
nest, laid thirteen eggs therein,
and proceeded to raise family.
When the hen got ready to set, the
defendant instructed the boy who
took care of his mare to 60 down
town, purchase thirteen eggs of j.
". Robinson and & Co., grocers,
and put them in the nest first, re-
moving the other eggs. The boy
did 50 as was proved. He then per-
sonalIy drove the hen out of the
stable a dozen times or morc-hc
tried to make her ieavc-she would
not but proceeded to incubate his
eggs duly bought and paid for,
without his consent, leave or
license, after repeated efforts on his
part and by his agents to have her
vacate his premises. And farther,
when t hen had Matched his eggs,
she ran away with his chickens,
eleven in number, two eggs not pro-
ducing chickens. TO her services
he brought an offset, the use Of sta.
bic and board bill in the shape Of
oats-he charged her with the two
eggs she spoiled, and dem anded
Judgment for the balance of the
flock, nine in number, at fifty cents
each. And besides he proves thai
the chickens did not belong to that
hen, as she was bla elk, and tho
chickens were red or speckled!
Hendricks has sued all, his neigh
bors for some little trihing matter,
half dozen times each during tht
past two years. After a patient
hearing, the judge decided that
there was no cause of action, ano
that the defendant was entitled to
the other nine chickens, and the
plaintiff must pay the costs of tho
suit, amounting to seventeen dollars
and thirty-seven and half cents.
THE REAL IDEA.
Some man in the Boston Daily