The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-07-05

hlugWay, was VI CudldCtCt ulOIo lClu |
than seen. His wisdom and shrewdness |
were always in requisitiop, and had |
much to do with not only the settlement
itself, but in all the atFails of county and |
township influence at home and abroad.
AS before mentioned, the township Of
Ridgway was large, composing about
onc-third part of the county of Jefferson
The south part of the county could
outvote Ridgway, and they were in
measure disposed to keep Ridgway " out
in the cold" In triennial assessments,
much watchfulness was required to OBJ
tain fair play. The expenses Of the
county were mainly supported by the
tax on unseated lands, which were, if
we judge by the complaints of the own.
ers, often unrclontngy assessed. Thus
for county purposes, the southern part,
holding the offices, and having control
Of all the funds, could, and did, too of.
ten, make hard acquisitions upon th2
tax funds of Ridgway township, Bridg.
es and other improvements were made
by county funds in one part of the coun.
ty to the entire exclusion of Ridgway
township. It required srch man as
Enos ellis to counteroct these measures,
which he did to great eztcut, and for
which he deserved more thanks than lie
got from laudholdcrs or citizens. lie
was for many years a prominent manag-
er of the Milesburg & Smethport
Turnpike Company" to the necessary
details OF which he was indefatigable
and successful.
In intellect be was far above medioc
rity. AS nagistrato--an office which
lie held, as we'll as others, in the county
of Ontario, N. Y, from which place he
removed to Ridgway-.his decisions ant
records were subjects Of approval anG
comment among legal men. His objec
was more to reconcile and adjust be
tween parties than to litigatc.
One case, however, came before hin
which required all his tact and recur
renee to " technicaiities " in the law u
obviate Injustice to party, and at til
z same time to decide according to tn
evidence, as magistrate. The defen
5 dant was proprietor of a tonnery-i
was unenclosed, at least 50 far as to ex
> clude the canine race in shape of dogs
: These animals, as is well known, hav
d an ardent ponehant for scraps of raw
hide, and if not plenty, 90 not hesitat
= to carry Of Il whole skin. 4 prowlin
one Of his species, worthless to osociety a
t well as to his owner, bad o1cn Con
d mischief aboat the premises, and b.
/ watchiu,ncss TIE owner Of the yard an
Z, a magistrate to boot-caught the ani
: NAL in the act and actually shot him
poor doggy ran home aud died upon tn
;hreahhold OF his masters door, who's
> wrath was kindled against an innocer
neighbor. The owner was Hollaude
i and like his prototype, (anothcr Dutcl
u man.) Although bis dog was worthless
i, yet, az he killed him out.oG spite h
should pay for him." lie made info
- nation before GIIis against his innocer
i neighbor for malicious mischief, in xii
. ing his dog. AS magistrate, aad a.
10 cording to his usual custom, Gillis trie
# to uppease the angry owuer-offered
! pay something himself, rather than tt
- scandal cf a suit before him should O.
cur, and all for the sake of a pernicio,
70 cur dog! All Of no avail with tt
Dutchman; he rendered the fees an
). demaLded warrant, which was final
4, granted. The trial came on, and to Il
+ annoyance Of the magistrate, some of h
It friends who had an iuEn?S of the fac
j, were in attendance to witness .A2 fu
n and tact Of the magistrate
Tie witnesses werG maaj, AID .AC
/. swore tc the good character Of tho do
At He was never known to 60 off Il
st farm, and was quiet dog never sto
u nothing, nor run sheep; hadn't sing
~ enemy except this ncighbor, who ha
o often said the cuss ought to be killed
n and as it happened that about that tim
4, this man was actually seen with his gu
u and that discharge of the same w
heard just before the dog arrived hon
bleeding and soon liieless-much acl
mony was eyinced before the magistra
hut hn