Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-07-06
Outrageous Conduct of a Public
officer in Jefferson Township.

The devil and his imps were holding high
carnival in Jefferson township in this coun-
ty, last Sunnay,- desecrating the Sabbath
day, and disturbing the peace of the COM
munity generally. While the citizens were
attending their various places of worship,
or otherwise enjoying the quiet rest of the
sacred day, one-of our township constabIes,
named Frank Dodd, was busily- engaged
with number of hireings, securing the
county for the purpose as he said of COM
plying with his oath of office, in the execu-
ton of the statute to restrain animals from
running at large, the result was that to-
wards evening, the scale at the South end
of the village of JeffersonvilIe, was con-
verted into public pound to confne large
number of animals; sheep, sucking calves,
pigs, &C., &C. large portion of the
stock belonging to several of our wealth
lest farmers which had accidentally got
on the roads, and portion of them belong
ed to some of our poorest citizens. The
said Dodd seems to take especial pleasure
in fleeing his victims without regard to
l
tions. I heard of poor man driving his
three pet pigs (all he had) from the pen
last Sunday for which he had to pay one
dollar for their release, about one third the
value of the lot. heard also nfa-nne-e err4cd
veteran soldier in Jeffersonville, who hay
ing just returned home with his team-se4.ae
time ago from the Rail Road, while ungear
;rc. he bo,coz cI;ry,o5 o1-o1- f,o,,o hin,
down the back alley, and went to browsing
OF grazing in the fence corners. Being hun
cry himself, he concluded to eat his own
supper first, and then bring up his horses;
but imagine his astonishment when he got
out at seeing Dodd or his agents driving
his horses to the scale pen, or pound; and
he was charged two dollars for their release.
We may readily imagine that unfortunate
crippled soldier feeling for his musket with
his remaining hand to resent such wanton
insolence perpetrated under the mask of
law. I heard that about three years ago,
similar outrageous proceedings on the part
of public officer in Paint Township, were
suddenly checked by an accidental contact
of his head with brickbat, flung by the
| nanQ OF q ndlI-WlICGu IGllOW VINO IolU OUT
ragged at his similar conduct towards his
mothers pigs 1t must be confessed that
the law is harsh and tyranical towards the
, poor, who are not allowed to Craze a sheer
or a calf on the road, tho it may be, as al
2 present, loaded with heavy crop of grass
along its borders; because of the wantonlJ
mischievous interference of petty officer
a who conceives it to be his duty (becaust
the law says ''that any constable or Mar
shall of any city or incorporated village, OF
), view or information shall take up and con
n fine such stock suffered TO run at large, u
h to traverse outside the jurisdiction of sucl
n city or village, over the whole township
5 on the Sabbath day even to hunt up ant
y drive such stock to Jeffersonville four o
y five miles off; whether they were suffered
: to run at large or accidentally on the roa
s without the owners knowledge. The Law
seems to apply its mandate to the office
within the limits of the city or corporation
only; and did not intend to degrade ou
N township constables into spys and pi
; hunters and general calf and sheep snatch
- ers over the whole township, especial
e when such stock is not troublesome G
10 breachy and their only offence being tn
O. | grazing of portion of the superabundar
10 grass along the road. The general or mai
as object of the law no doubt was to enabl
30 those who are annoyed OF damaged by sue
ch stock, to obtain a summary remedy agains
ge their depredations and prevent their repet
e- ton and not to enable petty officers an
he illgrained persons to become public pes
ad in their various peighborhoods; am happ
ID to inform you that we have one constab
us us in J efferson Township, Jesse Bloomer, OF
~ ~ of our soldier boys, who together with tt
III IL crippled soldier referred to, were exceIlel
mt fellows at hunting rebels, but who feel
ie little above STOPPING to the position
ay township cali snatchers Wa1t until ne
nd spring; then, We'll see what We sha
nd see, we generally rectify mistakes Il
lat first opportunity that offers.
90. H. K. G..