Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-01-18
Helena, Montana, Thursday, January IS, 1877.
DYES! Dyes!

From the Worcester Press]
All who have had the privilege of being
drawn on q jury must be familiar with this
quaint old Norman-French expression. used
by the Sheriff or his representative when
opening court But few have been lucky
enough to listen to such an exordium as
came upon the astonished ears Of the Mans
fields and O'Connors of Muskingum from the
lips of compatriot of Bismarck.
William Ruth is Sheriff of Muskingum
county, O. He is also of the Teutonic per-
suasion. When he was ignorant of his du-
ties and greatly troubled about the way of
opening Court he confided his troubles to
Congressman Southland and several young
members of the bar, and they coached him
in his duties, giving him to understand that
he was higher official than the Court itself,
and that Judge Frazier, of the Common Pleas
was in the habit of interfering with the Sheriff
in manner that no well-regulated Sheriff
ought to tolerate. ''Py shiminy, ish dot so!"
said the functionary. '.Vell, yust vait till |
opens de court, and he find dot Bill Root is
not Pense Lloyd by chug full"
When the Court came on Sheriff Ruth verl-
fed his prediction. For weeks he had been
practising his opening speech, and Judge
Frazier turned to him with look of judicial
dignity and said:.
''Mr. Sheriff, open the Court"
Mr. Ruth struck an attitude and began:
20 yez, hear we eberybody und der peoples
in sheneral dat der honorable Court OF Com
mon Sessions, in und fer der honorable poddy
of Muskingum county, ish now in pleas, und
dat its doors are open for to hear der gom-
plants of all der yeomanry und common und
take gognizance of all misdemeanors und-
"Hold on there! Hold on there, Mr..
q nj 0f ri
marole?" exclaimed Judge Frazier.
'.Shudge, shust hold little on" returned
the Sheriff. I'm Bill Root, der Sheriff of
dis county, und know my business to trans
act in dis court, und any causes to present
for its honorable consideration will now ap-
proach und dat same make known. und may
God Almighty haf mercy on your souls, und
all off nit your hats way quick p
By the time the Sheriff concluded even
Judge Frazier was roaring with laughter. 1t
took the Constable half an hour to restore
order. The first case was called, and the
Judge said:
''Mr Sheriff, call Peter Jones. John Smith
and Sara White three times at the door"
Advancing to the door and opening it about
three inches, he pitched his voice to the
highest key and began:
''Peter Shones, Shon Smit. Sara Vite, Sara
Shores, Peter Vite, Sohr Smit, come into
Court NIT your dree dimes. Your honor, dey
gone hon."
Judge Frazier. That will never do. Call
| them three times-one at a time.
Sheriff Ruth. Mr. Shudge, shoost look
here. Dat is when you make foolish NIT me.
You say call dree times vonce, and den you
say cali dem vonce dree times, und you say
dat ish worsh and worsh. If you want Peter
! Shones und Shon Smit und Sara Vite vonce
dree dimes or dree dimes 7once, you better
call dem yourself. l not dot kind of foolish
! ness.
Sheriff Ruth retired to Fred Ditner's and
refreshed himself with sundry glasses OF
| lager, while the Constable called the wit
| naSaPS