The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-10-18

How Qne Dob bson was TenPted by
4aoanseo Khss a,lsArl aKninst
d ~1zeE As4syA YYer WITT. &4

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WILKEsBARRE. Pa, Sept. 1.-THE
dull monptony Of our court proceed
ings was enlivened one day last week
IN the case of the Commonwealth
against Dobson, in which the defend
ant was accused of assault upon a
young lady named Heller, by kissing
her against her will. The plaintiff
claimed that Dobson, "by force OF
arms, malice aforethought, and insti-
gated by the devil, did then and there
violently assault, waylay," sc. She
told her story in plain, straightfor.
ward kind of way, to the effect that
she was enjoying the evening breezes
while leaning over her fathers fence,
and that William Dobson came along.
seized her by the hands, and forcibly
pulling her oyer the palisade, commit
ted the assault for which she claimed
redress at the hands of the law. A
sister of the complainant testified that
she did not see the alleged improprie-
ty, because Of the darkness. she being
in another part of the yard, but she
heard kiss, or something that sound
ed like kiss, and knew that some
thing was going OH.
DObson claimed the privilege of be-
ing his own witness, and he told the
part of the story omitted by Miss HeI-
Ter and her sister. He is a jolly spec
linen of an Englishman. His nara
tive of the occurrence in which he had
been involved runs as follows:
Dobson-Yer see, yer 'oners, was
walking along, singing "What will
the 'arvcst be?'
Gen. Mccartney. Counsel for plain
tiff, 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 bel"
Gen. McCartney-Well, go ON, sir.
Dobson-Yes, yer 'oners, 1 was go
ing along, singing, "What will the 'ar.
vest be 2" when heard Mary singing
=" What will the 'arvest be?"
Gen. McCartney-She was singing
g What will the 'arvest be ?"
By this time there were decided ev-
licences of merriment all over the
court room !; but Dobson remained as
imperturbable as though officiating at
funeral.
Dobsou-Yes, sir. She was singing
ing What will the 'arvest be-" but
not so loud as was, and I called out;
j" Halloo, Mary, are that you ?" and she
said it be. 1 went up to the fence,an
she said she were hall Malone, has her
faIber ,ad gone to "class."
Gen. McCartncy-Gone to class!
What did she mean by that9
Dobson- Why, any fool knows
what '.class" means. uer father had
gone to class meeting, and left her
halone. We chatted little, and then
Gen. McCartney-WcIl, you have
heard her testimony. You seized her
and pulled her oyer the fence and
kissed her?
Dobson-No. That testimony is
false. We talked awhile, and she sort
of leaned hover the fence-llke as if
she wanted me to-and just then Sa-
tan got the best of me, and 1 kissed
her right hon the mouth. found out
What will the 'arvest be" and think
she was heasy prey.
Here the gravity of the court, coun-
sellors and spectators gave way, and
seldom in court of justice has there
been such scene of uncomfortable
Judge Harding fairly
roarcd himself hoarse with. laughter,
and all the business was suspended
several minutes to allow those in the
court room 10 recover their equaniIn-
Ity. Dobson was acquitted of the
charge OF assault, but must pay half
the costs of the suit az his share of the
t 'aryest."