Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-03
THE WAGONING SYSTEM.

| Some time since we laid before our read
ers the full history and 'beauties" of the
Wagoning system as introduced in Cincin-
natl, COvington, Newport and the suburbs,
| as told by a reporter of the Cincinnati
! Commercial, whose interview with the man
/ in the ''wagOning" business at the time of
the former publication was as follows:
"Waite-Yes; but only as last resort,
! you know. We don't want to wagon a
man unless we're sure he's dead beat.
"RepOrter-How's it managed?
"WaiJe-WeH, our wagon is a gaily
painted affair-sure 10 attract general atten-
| ton. On it is painted Protection Agency
| and Bad Debts Collected We have two
collectors i'll this wagOn-One to drive and
the other 10 present the bill. This wagon
never stops before door unless there is a
bad case inside of that door. OF course if
it stops everybody sees what it means. The
collector goes inside and presents his Jill to
the dead beat. If the fellow happens to be
employed at that place, his employer isn't
going to stand that very long. As matter
of course, we are prepared to take care OF
ourselves. l send out only stout, able
bodied men, who can fight if necessary; and
then we carry weapSns, in which the au-
thoritieS will sustain us. And Pm not
man to send collector where | will not 60
myself But these are unpleasant portions
of the business"
Last Monday evening, George Babcock,
the wagon man Of the company in Coying-
ton, drove up to a lawyers office on Fifth
street, near Madison, but did not find the
Aforesaid lawyer in. 1t was probably lucky
for the collector that the attorney was alb
sent, as an unpleasant affair was thereby
avoided. While the collector was talkingtO
the crowd that had gathered around him
some one noticed pistol sticking out of his
pocket, which led to his arrest. His exami-
nation, charged with carrying a concealed
deadly weapon, took place yesterday before
the Mayor Of COVington, occupying nearly
the whole day.
4 number Of witnesses were examined
on the trial. Marshal Daley and officer
Lytle testified to having taken the pistol
away from Babcock. For the defense it was
shown that the peculiar method adopted by
Waite & Co., OF collecting debts was ex-
tremely dangerous; that the collectors were
frequently threatened with bodily harm,
and on this account they claimed that they
had right TO carry weapons. After hear
ing all the testimony the court instructed |
the jury as follows:
Al. If the jury believe from the evidence |
that the defendant, George Babcock, did on /
or before the Goth day of February, 1872, |
within the city of Covington, carry CON
Cealed upon his person a deadly weapon,
they must find the defendant guilty and as
sess a fine against him in any sum not ex-
Ceeding fifty dollars, unless the jury believe
from all the evidence that the defendant at |
the time he carried the weapon concealed
as aforesaid, had reasonable grounds to be-
lieve his person or the person of some of his
family, or his property, to be in danger
from violence or crime. In which case the
jury must find the defendant not guilty.
so. In order that a person may justify
himself in carrying concealed upon his per-
son deadly weapon as set out in the first
he must have reasonable
grounds to believe that the danger therein
stated existed at the time the weapon is so
carried, at which time said person or prop
erty must be in such places as the law per-
mitted them to be in, and the danger so ap-
by the person so carrying the
concealed weapons must net arise by reason
Of the doing or intended doing by him Of
an unlawful act.
SO. Whatever right a creditor or bis
agent may have repeatedly and persistently
20 solicit payment of debt, no person may
aWfully enforce or attempt to enforce the
of any debt by any other means
han those that the law provides and pre-
,cribes,fOr the enforcement of payment of
leb., and any attempt to enforce the pay
nent of debt by force, violence or threats
If ANYTHING other than lawful legal pro-
,eedings to that end, or by intentionally or
Yillfully or by exposing the debtor to in
any, contempt on ridicule in the cOmmu-
lity by words verbal or written, or by any
painting or device or continuance whatever,
he natural or probable consequence of
which would result in such exposure, is I'M
awful.
81. If the jury, from all the evidence,
lave reasonable doubt Of the guilt of the
they must acquit him."
The following instruction was offered by
he defense and admitted |
IS. That it is lawful for any creditor in
bis State to call upon his debtor, either in !
,erson or by agent, at all proper times and !
laces, and in a manner not calculated to l
,royoke a breach of the peace, to collect
nv debt due him, and that every person [
las the full right and privilege of passing G
yer anv of the public streets and highways L
n this State with any lawful vehicle drawn I
" horse or horses, and that every person t
as the right to advertise his lawful business P
n the sides of said vehicle, or upon any
property belonging to him, provided that in
0 doing he violates no right of any other n
erson or of the public" !
The case was argued by r. d. Handy d
nd Walter Ellis for the Commonwealth, Il
nd Orlando P. Smith and Mr.. Blakeley for
be defense. 81
The jury, after a short consultation, "
rought in verdict of guilty, and fined the Il
efendant fifty dollars and costs. I
Shortly after Mr.. Waite left the court a.
pom, he was arrested by constable Joseph b
Iavlfn upon warrant sworn out by John n
ates. Mr.. Bates charges that Waite came W
his meat store and made threats against
i'm, and attempted to provoke breach Of
he peace. The trial of this case is a
xed for 9 O'Clock this morning before the d.
,ayor. =