The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-05-21
R1gE RoPE ON THE guEY.

tsBoys, did ever tell you bout the
time sot onto jury with Bile Bope q
asked Joe Duskin, taking q swig out
of the demijohn.
No, we answered.
Bile, you see," continued Joe,
"was jest leetle the contrariest, over
bearinest, crackheadedest cuss that
ever ruffied a eommoonity's temper.
He had Biuebearded three wives to
death, an had jest tackled fourth.
In fact the honeymoon was har'ly
over-though guess there was more
Vinegar'n honey into it-when Bile
an = parcel more OF us was yanked
up before Jedge Grimme to serve onto
jury.
In every case we fried we stood
'leven to one. an Bile was the one =
The jedge got msd at last, and threat
ened, in the next case that came up,
he'd keep us till-we did agree.
IL was one of them pesky hoss-
swappin' cases. Bill Bantere6 put off
onto Hi Greene a sor'l critter with a
false eye an artificial tail. The eye
was found layin' in the manger one
mornin' an The first time the hoss got
wet, his tail came onglued an came
of.
ssThe evidence showed that HID
been partic'lar to ask about the eyes,
and Bill'd said the animal he'd as good
a eye as the next hoss. Bill however
offered to prove that the neat hoss to
his'n at the time was stone blind, but
the court ruled that out.
'sAtter searchin' charge from the
jedge we retired to our room, his |
honor fust admOnishing US that if we
\. 1n11f ~ hn;1
example of us to all fntuF' juries.
It looked like plain case, most on
us thought, and we'd strong hopes
that, for onct, Bile 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 damiges, but Bile !
was unanimous for the defendant, an |
said he'd be drot eff he didn't eat his |
boots afore he'd cave.
We tried to argy with him insisted |
that it was a clear case of fraud, and |
called attention to the strong pints in
the jedge's charge.
But Bile he'd his Own views. lie |
said Bill'd only sed the hOss had a
good eye, which couldn't be constrood |
into meaning te0o good eyes: while,
in regard to the tail, nothing'd been |
sed, nary way; am where there's no
warrantee, mans eyes is his market.
He sed that was good hoss law, an he |
knowed it an didn't care continen- |
tai what the jedge said.
So we jaWed over'n oyer it till we
was tired, but no use; Bije still hung
out.
When the court let out the jedge
ordered us to be took to supper, am
then be locked up
I don't want to dwell onto the mis-
cries of that night. We worried it
through somehow till the court took
up next morning, when the jedge he'd
us brung out, loOkin' for all the world
like so many pennytent tomcats arter
a nights mootooal misunderstanding.
'sHey you agreed on verdict, gen.
tlemen ?p said he.
'sNo, we hav'nt," says the foreman,
sulkily.
ssThere's no hurry says the ledge,
smilin, tthe terDaU last a couple of
q0ecks get. The sheriffzIl take you to
breakfast now, and then you may re-
SOON your deliberations"
After breakfast we felt little peart-
er, an some of US picked up heart to
make another set at Bic; but he
was hsadstroRger IAN ever. an said
we'd ought to be ashamed on our
selves, SO we'd onght, to take adYan-
tage of numbers to bully an honest
mans conscience.
While we was at breakfast the fore
man managed to get hold of county
paper, which had just come out that
and to while away the time
be began to read it.
s.Hello!" said he, swhat's this?p
whats what?" says we.
Listen here" says he, proceeding
to read:
ss.Startltgag Rumor The town is
greatly excited this morning by the
elopement of Mrs. B., the
wife of a prominent citizen. She took
advantage, it is said, of her husbands
absence on public duty, to carry out
her plan. A marked feature of the
affair is, that the lady has scarcely
been married month"
g What's that ?" screeches Bile Bope
in an outburst o. terror.
The foreman read it over ag'in slow
an solemn. Now Bile was as jealous
rs that ere dark-complected chap in
the play. Besides, there wasn't no
other Mrs. B., in the place lately mar
ried, and then there was the circum-
stauceS OF the nuSDdHuS aDSe0Ce On
public duties. Bile had no doubt that
the Mrs. B., was his own wife.
sLet me outn he yelled, running
full butt at the door.
t.Not till you've agreed onto a ver-
dict" says the bailiff, through the key
hole.
sI-I-PIl agree to anything p sput-
ters Bile. For goodness sake, hurry,
gentlemen-a thousand dollars dam
Idges if you like"
We said we thought that was rather
high.
SAnythiny, SO it's done quick p he
gasped in ag'ny. We could hardly
keep him from jumping out o. the
while some of us pretended
to dieker about the amount we should
bring in, Jest to torment him.
At last everything was fixed and we
went to court, give in our verdict and
was dooly discharged.
Bije was rushing out on the double
Iuice with murder in his eye, when
The foreman stopped him:
81 think you're laborin' onder some
Mr.. Bepe,' says he, that
there piece read, you sees from a
paper, and must be at least
Z month old"
DoURrTNG REDUCED TO A MATTER