The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-11-22
Lively Times in the Circuit Court
A Lively Episode-Bull and OBrien Bellicose.
THE FRgpESpURGH CASE.

| on fIluuy OF last Wcch tiic NlIClIt SOlIt Dc-
gan the trial Of the suit brought by l. II. Frcden-
burgh VS.. The City Of Ottawa, for $4,000 for the
killing of his son, Henry Fredenburgh, on the
18th Of July 1870, by the ovcrturnng of side
walk at the east of Fox river bridge, during Il
violent tempest The case excited much attcn-
| ton, and was not closed until Wednesday even
ing, when it went to the jury with the best
aspects that lawyer Stpp could give it on his
side. The jury, after being out long time, re-
turned verdict of one dollar for the plaintiff,
thus merely saddling the costs on the city
THE oUGHToN MURDER CASE.
| On Thursday the trial of the case of The Peo-
| pie VS.. Oughton was begun The legal battle
began with lively personal rencontrc between
VIM. W. O'Bren, Esq, of Peoria, employed for
the prosecution to assist States Attorney Mayo,
and E. F. Bull ESQ., with Bushnell, for the de
| Tense. From Mr.. Bulls statement it would
appear that he invited his witnesses to meet him
and relate what they knew of the case, but some
how he found them Mt OB'rcn's room, at the
Clifton A scene cnsued and a conflict during
which Mr.. O'Brien violently elected Mr.. Bull
from the room and drew revolver on him, and
purS,aded him to go rather suddenly down stairs.
O'Bricn claims that he invited Bull to enter, and
as Bull became bellicose, had TO put him out.
In the afternoon, when the Court met to begin
the trial of this case, Mr. Bull made statement
to the effect that on entering O'Brens room, the
latter said in a violent, emphatic and profanc
manner that He'd be damned il the witnesses
should leave his ROOM" and on being reminded
of an order of the Court in the premises, he said,
ale didn't care damn for the order Of tho
Court"
The Court-No attorney who has been guilty
of using such language should be permitted to
prosecute before this Court.
O'Bricn arose cXcitcdly and demanded TO be
heard before being tried.
The Court oh! of course You shall
O'Brien-What this fellow says about me using
profane language as to his witnesses leaving my
room and as to the order of the Court is false.
Bushnel-Mr O'Brien, l know you OF old
YOU are known all over the state as a very dan.
gcrous men.
O'Brien-Bull came into my room and excited
ly said, " / know your tricks-this won't do"
said if he could not behave himself like gentle
man he must leave. / can prove this by five wit
nesscs / ordered him out and then he struck
me and pushed him out 1t is false that l said
anything profanc, and when he says so he utters
what is false.
The Court cannot hear this-I have no bus
mess with it, Let this trial proceed.
O'Bricn-Bull assaulted me in a backguard
manner.
Bull-This-this man from Peoria is unworthy
of my notice. | am not here to handy epithets
believe that some of his witnesses would tell
the truth. He struck me first, and afterwards
when in the hall, drew Il revolver on me. He, a
prosecutor of a criminal, draws deadly weapon
himself. OI}rien is a bad man. dangerous man.
this is his reputation throughout the state, and
ought not to be allowed TO practice. His whole
conduct in this affair rutiiunly. He is dclib
erately stating what he knows to be false when
he denies having struck first. O'Bren is blood
thirsty villain and scOundrel and hired assassin
and has done things which would send him TO
the pcnitcntiary if proven,
Here the prosecutor and the Court soto Doce
intcrfcred
The Court said this trial must 90 on. | will
not hear this, and ordered both attorneys to be
seated.
O'Bricn again arose and called for an invcsti-
CATION into his character. IF what Bull says be
true, am guilty Of contempt of Court"
The Court-Sit down, sir. This case must be
tried, and in gentlemany manner.
Mayo moved that w. W. OBricn, of Peoria, be
admitted to prosecute with him in this cause.
The Court, granting the motion, remarked that
in allowing it the assistant prosecutor became
an officer Of the Court, and must not be an advo-
cate to win by any means, but a sort of Judge
Bull desired that O'Brien be disarmed, and
agreed to disarm himself if OBrien would As
he carried no weapons, he was already dsarmed.
O'Bricn said he had heard that Bull was a
coward and carried weapons to shoot him, OBJ
! The Court said he would known how to keep
order, and would enforce decent behavior.
| The cmpanneling of the jury was then begun.
! All of Thursday afternoon and all day yesterday
were consumed in getting a jury, three still
lacking at o'clock
Rr-SrNF.- Mrs.. A--OCI ATIDN-It i, lDprd