The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-06-19
M is eIIaneous
BRINGING ROUND AJUROR.

will be remembered that John Morgan
| Brig. Gen. G. S. A., took notion, with q
| select party OF friends, to make horseback
| excursion through the Ioosier and Buck
eye States
We didn't feel particularly hospitable
just then to such Yisitors-wc on the north
side of the Ohio and quickly as the tcle-
graph spread the news, every man and boy,
able to carry fowlng-piece or squirrel
rifle, hurried TO the nearest point at which
his services might be needed to repel the
intruders
Fast as recruits poured in they were form
ed into companies and battalions under of.
ficers improvised for the occasion the wri-
ter having the honor to be an orderly SER
geant, in which capacity he served for sew.
eral days and nights. 1t wasn't his fault,
and should, he thinks, detract nothing
from his modcum of merit, that it was the
finest of July weather the while, pleasanter
out of doors than in, or that the enemy had
the discretion not to come in his way. At
any rate, he has never demanded back-pay
or bounty for his services.
But it wasn't military autobiography
we sat down to write, but Joe Duskin's
story, which he told us as we lay in camp
one night.
"Boys, did l ever tell you bout the time
sot onto jury with Bile Bope ~ asked
Joe, taking swig out of the company dcmi-
john.
"No," we answered.
"Would you like to hear it 2" said he.
awe may be IN our CORY beds tomorrow
night, an never hev another opportunity"
He was invited to proceed.
''Bie you sce," continued Joe, "was Jest
lcetle the contraricst, ovcrbearinest, crank
hcadedest cuss that ever ruthed a COM
moonity's temper. He he'd Bluebearded
three wives to death, an he'd jest tackled q
fourth. In fact, the honeymoon was hardy
ovcr-though guess there was moro vine
gar N honey into it-when Bile an pas
sci more on us was yanked up afore Jcdge
Grimm to serve onto a jury.
SIN ev'ry case we tried we stood leven
to one, an Bic was the one. The jedge
got mad at last, and threatened, in the next
case that come up, he'd keep us at it tell
we did agree.
SIT was one of them pesky boss swappin
cases. Bill Banter d put off onto Hi
Greene Il sor'l critter with false eye an Il
artificial tail. The eye was found layin'
into the manger one mornin', an the furst
time the boss got wet his tail came onglucd
an drapt off.
"The evidence showed that Hi d been
particular to ak about the eyes, an Bill d
sud the animal had as good eye as the
next hoss. Bill, howsoevcr, offered to
prove that the next hoss to his'n, at the
time, was stone blind, but the court ruled
that out.
after Il searchin' charge from the jedge
we retired to our room, his Honor fust adj
monishin us that CT we didn't agree this
time, he'd make an example on lis to all
futur' jures.
at looked like plain case, most on us
thought, an we'd strong hopes that, for
onc't, Bic would listen to reason. But
the fust vote we took showed how fur we
was out in our reck'nin'. 'Leven on us
stood for givin' the plaintiff damidgos,
but Bile was unanimous for the defendant,
an said he'd be drot eff he didn't eat his
boots afore he'd cave.
ave tried to argy with him; insisted
that it wos a clear case of fraud an called
attention to the strong pints in the jedge's
charge.
"But Bile had his own views. lie said
Bill d only said the boss he'd good eye,
two good eyes; while, in regards of the
tail, nothing ID ben said, nary way an
where there was 10 warrantee, n mans
eyes was his market. He said that was
good hoss-law, an he knowed it, an did
not care continental what the jedge said
80 we lowered over n over it tell we
was tired, but no use; Bile still hung
out.
@1,, LAT n,,f t1,a Il,
dered us to be took to supper, an then to
be locked up tell mornin'.
81 don't want to dwell onto the miseries
o. that night. We worried through some
h0w tell court took up next mornin', when
the jcdge he'd us brung out, lookin' for all
the world like so many pennytent tom
cats arter a nights moosocal misonder
standin'.
"'Hev you agreed onto a verdict gen.
| tleman 2 says he.
"'No, we heven'tp says the foreman,
sulkin' up.
"'Therc's no hurry says the jedge, smi-
lin; the term u last couple Of aCeeks yet
The sheriff III take you to breakfast, now,
an then you may resoom your delibera-
tons ........
."Arter breakfast we felt little pearter,
and some on us picked up heart to make
another set at Bic but he was headstronger
AN ever, an said we'd ought to be asham-
ed on ourselves, so we'd ought, to take adj
vantage o. numbers to bully an honest
mans conscience.
"While we was at breakfast, the fore
man d managed to get hold o. the county
paper which had jest come out that morn,
in, and to while away the time, he began
| to read IT, ... .. ..