The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1877-10-06
How Dobson Was Tempted by Satan to
Kiss . Girl.

The dull monotony of our Court pro-
ceedings was enlivened one day last
week writes correspondent from
Wilkesbarre, Pay, in the case of the
Commonwealth against Dobson, in
which the defendant was accused of as
sault 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 plain, straight
forward kind of way, to the effect that
she was enjoying the evening breezes
while leaning over her fathers fence,
and that William Dobsor came along,
seized her by the hands, and forcibly
pulling her over the palisade, committed
the assault for which she claimed re-
dress at the hands of the law. A sister
of the complainant testified that she did
not see the alleged improperly, because
of the darkness, and she being in an
other part of the yard, but she heard a
kiss, or something that sounded like a
kiss, and knew that something was go
ing on.
Dobson claimed the privilege of be-
ing his own witness, and he told part of
the story omitted by Miss Heller and
her sister. He is a jolly specimen of an
Englishman. His narrative of the oc-
currence in which he had become in
volved runs as follows:
DObson-Yer see, yer 'onors, 1 was
walking along, singing, "What will the
the 'arvest be?-"
Gen. Mccartney Counsel for plain
tiff, disposed to have some fun while
confusing the witness)-You were sing
ing "What will the 'arvest be?" (close-
ly initiating the information of the wit
ness).
Dobson Every composedly)-Yes, sir.
"What will the 'arvest be?'
Gen. McCartney-"Wha will the
'arvest be?''
Dobson (unruffied) What will the
'arvest bep''
Gen. McCartney-Well, go on, sir.
Dobson-Yer see, yer 'Onors, was
going along, singing, /" What will the
'arvest beP" when 1 heard Mary sing
ing, "What will the 'arvest be?'
Gen. Interchangeable was singing
"What will the 'arvest be?" -
By this time there were decided evil
dences of merriment all over the Court
room; but Dobson remained as imper-
turbable as though officiating at a flu
neral.
Dobson-Yes, sir. She was singing,
"What will the 'arvest be?' but not so
loud as was, and l called out, Z" Halo,
Mary, are that you?" and she said it be.
l went up to the fence, and she said she
were hall halone, has her father 'ad gone
to "class.''
Gen. McCartney-Gone to class!
What did she mean by that?
Dobson-Why, any fool knows what
"class" means. Her father had gone
to class-meeting, and left Ter Malone.
We chatted a little, and then
Gen. McC artney-Well, you have heard
her testimony. You seized her, pulled
her over the fence, and kissed her?
Dobson-No. That testimony is false.
We talked awhile and she sort o. leaned
hover the fence-like as if she wanted
me to-and just then Satan got the best
of me, and l kissed 'er right hon the
mouth. l found out "What will the
'arvest be" and l think she was heasy
prey.
Here the gravity of the Court, coun-
selors and spectators gave way, and sell
dom in Court of Justice has there
been such a scene of uncomfortable
hilariousness. Judge Harding fairly
roared himself hoarse with laughter,
and all business was suspended for sew
eral minutes to allow those in the court
room to recover their equanimity. Dob
son was acquitted of the charge of as
sault, but must pay half the costs of the
suit as his share of the /" 'arvest.n