Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-11-20
A Western Lawsuit.
We copy the following unique account of 6
Western lawsuit from the La Crosse (Wis.)


We copy the following unique account of
Western lawsuit from the La Crosse (Wis.)
Democrat 80 r a
Monday forenoon, there came off before
Police Judge Hubbard, in this city, another
lawsuit, the particulars of which are as fol-
lows '--- ag .laa. -
Reinhardt Hendricks. on the 18th of Sep
tember, brought suit against "Brick" POM
eroy, to recover pay for two roosters shot by
the defendant with revolver, the chickens
belong 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 Indiana This
morning the case came off, ex. Mayor /.
Lyndes being the counseTfoF the prosecution.
the defendant appearing in his own defence.
Ihe courtroom was crowded, for the idea
OF trying an editor for stealing, or shooting
chickens, was novelty. The eplaintiff brought
IN hrs bill, swore to its correctness testified
that he owned the chickens, that ltleV- we're
raised by hen belonging itoiIlinl. that lie sarS
the defendant Shoot them; that he had re-
s5eatedly asked the defendant to settle for.
them, and failing TO get pay or satisfaction,
he was compeHed to bring suit, and asked fof
judgment of one dollar aud costs.
The defendant admitted shooting the chick
ems, aud proved by four reliable witnesses the
following facts;
In April. 1866, the defendant owned a
fast running trick mare 6 ISitty.s which ami.
mai was kept in u stabIsohired5by him, and
cared for by one of his employees, Through
little hole in the barn or stable the plain.
tif's hens would fly in and eat oats intended
for the mare kitty" aud on the approach
of any one. would fly out Tn an old barrel.
in. the stables one of tie hens, 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 90 down to
town, purchase thirteen, eggs OF. j. w Rob
inson d Co., grocers, and put them In the
nest. first removing the othere eggs. TheboY
did SO as was proved.
He then personally drove the hen osit Of
the stable dozen times or sIiiore-lIe : fFied
to make her Ieave-she vodid not buterro-
ceeded to ineubqteShis eggs, duly Dohght aud
Pald for, without his consent, leave OF license,
alter repeated efforts on his part, and By his
agents TO have her vacate his fremiseS And
further, when the hen had Iiateheci his eggs
she ran away with his chickens. eIeyeh ih
number, two eggs not producing chickens. Go
her services he brought an offsst, the use 0f
stable and bo3rd bill IN the shape. of oats. he
| charged her Rithuthe two. eggs she s5,oiled.
and demanded Judgment for the BALANCE Of
the flock, nine In number, at fifty cents each.
And, besides. he proved that the chickens did
not belong to that hen, as she was black.
while the chickens were red or specEled. -
Hendricks has sued al his fei1bt,or5 for sa.tSe
trifinsts matter half adozen times each, during
| the past two years: After patient hearing
! the Judge decided that there was NO cause
] for action, and that the defendant was en-,
] titled to the. other nine chickens, and the
/ plaintiff pay tl.eicostsot tliesnif amount
+ ing, tOiS17 81. sai I'd hsrsiss4 q .gep6lf &
/ o939rS- 81 z44.Ou y, hEl o. I'll r. is7fl.
Z The greatest gluttons are those who feed
aPOh slAbdefs e g f'74aA g 7sls5z5s 40 'aa-