Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-10-01
FUN IN A COURT ROOM.
How One DobsOn was Tempted by
satan 90 Kiss Girl Against Her
Will.


How One DobsOn was Tempted by
Will.
WILKEsBARRE, September II
The dull monotony of our court
proceedings was enlivened one day
last week in the case of the Com
monwealth against Dobson, in
which the defendant was accused
of assault upon young lady named
Heller, by kissing her against her
will. The plaintiff complained that
Dobson, "by force of arms, malice
aforethOught, and instigated by the
devil, did then and there violently
assault, waylay," etc. She told her
story in a plain, straightforward
kina of way, to the effect that she
was enjoying the breezes while lean
ing over her fathers fence, and that
William Dobson came along, seized
her by the hands, and forcibly pull
ing her over the palisade, commit
ted the assault for which she claim
ed redress at the hands of the law.
A sister Of the complainant testified
that she did not see the alleged i'm
propriety, because of the darkness,
and she being in another part of
the yard, but she heard a kiss or
something that sounded like a kiss,
and knew that something was 60
ing on.
Dobson claimed the privilege of
being his own witness, and he told
the part of the story omitted by
Miss Heller and her sister. He is
a jolly specimen of an Englishman,
His narrative of the occurrence in
which he had become involved runs
as follows:
Dobson-Yer see, yer 'onors,
was walking along, singing "What
will the 'arvest be ?"-
General Mccartney (counsel
for plaintiff, disposed to have some
fun while confusing the witness)-
You were singing "What will the
'arvest be?" CLOSELY initiating the
intonation of the witness).
Dobson VERY composedly)-Yes
sir, "What will the 'arvest be?"
General McCartney-"What will
the 'arvest be?
Dobson (unrufled)-" What vii
the 'arvest be? ?"
General Mccartney - Well, g,
on, sir.
Dobson-Yer see, yer 'onors,
was going along singing, "What viii
the 'arvest be ?" when l heard Mar,
singing, "What will the 'arvest be p
By this time there was decided
evidences Of merriment all over tn,
court room; but Dobson remained
as imperturbable as though officia
ting at a funeral.
Dobson-Yes, sir, she was sing
ing, "What will the 'aryest be-" bu
not so loud as | was, and | called
out, "Hello, Mary, are that you?'
and she said it be. | went up to th,
fence, and she said she were hal
halOne, has her father 'ad gone tt
class"
General Mccartney - Gone t.
classl what did she mean by that
Dobson--Why, any fool know
what "class" means. Her fathe
had gone to class meeting and lef
'er hall halone. We chatted a little
and then
General McCartney-Well vol
have heard her testimony. Yol
seized her, pulled her over the fenc
and kissed her.
Dobson-No. That testimony i
false. We talked a while, and shD
sort of leaned hover the fence
like as if she wanted me to-anC
just then Satan got the best of me
and l kissed 'er right hon th,
mouth. l found out "What will tn,
'arvest be-" and | think she was
heasy prey.
Here the gravity of the court
counsellors and all gave way, anC
seldom in a court of justice hal
there been such a scene of uncon
trollable hilariousness. Judge
Harding fairly roared himSel
hoarse with laughter, and all bust
ness was suspended for several min
utes to allow those in the court
room to recover their equanimlty
Dobson was acquitted of the charge
of assault, but must pay half the
costs of the suit as his share of the
"'alvest."
-a--o-U-