The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-07-11
Serving a Writ.

1
western shores of Ireland certain gen.
tleman, who was by profession an attor-
dey at law and member of Parliament.
Previous to setting out for London to at
tend his Parliament duties, he gave into
| the hands of a bailiff writ which he held
against gentleman who resided in a re-
mote part of the country. and instructed
the bailif to have personal service made,
but on his return some months afterward,
he was not little surprised to learn that
the writ was not or could not possibly be
served, inasmuch as the party against
whom it was issued kept himself closely
confined to his house, and furthermore, it
being found highly dangerous for stran-
ger to appear in the neighborhood as two
or three sturdy fellows, armed with
shillalahs, were constantly prowling
about the place, whose intentions were no
doubt to thrash the first unfortunate
bailiff whom they could lay hands on.
The M. P. had tenant named Tom
Mcnamara, a very shrewd fellow, and
quite an adept at minor matters of law,
and who was usually called on to decide
litigious disputes between the tenantry,
by whom his opinion was considered as
good as the Lord Chancellor. The M. p.
having sent for Tom, made known to him
the failure of the bailiff to serve the writ
and the cause assigned, and asked him if
his fertile Imagination could not enable
him to devise some plan by which it could
be accomplished. For a few moments
Tom appeared to be in deep meditation,
then, taking sudden start, he ex-
claimed:
-. BY jingo, L have it! Give me the
writ, and he must be either the devil or
DR.. Faustus if I do not shove it into his
mitten."
Having the writ, he proceeded on his
journey. On his arrival in the neighbor-
hood, he made his way towards the police
barracks, which was situated within a
half mile of the gentlemau's residence,
against whom the writ was issued, and
concealed himself behind fence, where
he had view of the barracks. After a
short time he saw two of the police COM
ing toward him, but as soon as he was
aware of being seen by them he went in
side the fence again, and appeared to hide
himself but when the police came up to
the place, they looked over the fence and
saw Tom crouched up against it. They
took him into custody, and, on being
questioned as to the cause of his hiding,
he said that he had always horror of
police, and wished to avoid them by every
means. He was next interrogated as to
his place of residence, and in answer
stated that he belonged to certain dis
trict-naming one which at that time was
infested by "Terry Ats" and where four
of the police had been killed short time
previous and on being asked as to his
destination, replied that he was on his
way to Galway to take shipping for
America. The police at once came to the
conclusion that he was Terra Alt"
who had committed some depreciation
and was about to escape the country, and
they decided on taking him before
magistrate for examination. The nearest
at hand happened to be gentleman
whom Tom was in quest of
The party set out, and on their way
they encountered two men with shille-
lahs, who expressed their sympathy for
the "poor prisoner" and muttered im-
precautions against the police On arriving
in front of the house, the magistrate put
his head through an upper window, and
was informed by the police that they had
Terra Alt {" in charge, who was about
to escape the country when they appre-
hended him. The magistrate ordered his
domestics to admit the party It was not
long before he had made his appearance,
and after elicting from Tom the infor-
nation which he had already given the
police, he informed him that he had no
| doubt whatever but that Tom had COM
mitted some heinous crime and intended
to escape, but that he could not commit
him to prison until further proof could be
had against him.
Indeed, your Honor" said Tom,
never did harm man or mortal. I am 9
poor, honest, Iaborin' man, as the charac
ter which his Reverence, Father Meehan
the priest of the parish, gave me, will
| show and his r everence has known me
since l was the height of your Honor'i
knee"
Have you that character about you
said the magistrate.
Ihave, your Honor" said Tom, TAX
ing from his pocket the " character ans
handing it to the magistrate, at the sam,
time saying that his Honor would get al
the necessary information therein.
When the magistrate unfolded tn
character" he became deadly pale, an,
glanced about the apartment as if lookin
for some weapon, which Tom seeing
called on the police for protection unit
he got clear of the house and neighbor
hood.
take the rascal out of my sight," ex
claimed the magistrate - he's NOR
} rogue than fool"
"Do you mean to acquit me, sir ?" in
quired the constable, who had not ye
comprehended the affair.
"Of course said the magistrate
don't you perceive that he has been play
ing trick on US in order to serve me wit
writ"
Service acknowledged, your Honor
: said Tom.
Then the party left the house, and o
. their way they. met the shillelahs," VIII
were overjoyed when Tom informed thel
that his Honor had liberated him.
Tom, having thanked the police #
4 their service, put on fair quantity
g steam until he got out of that locality
and as he approached the house of b
master, he heard the sounds of revelr
at night,n for the NJ. p, who was an a,
mirer of the social board, had been el
! tering party of his friends at Dime
e who were at the time doing honors to tt
9 merry God. On being informed that To-
had returned, the M. P. summoned him
the presence of the party and their laugl
ter made the welkin ring as Tom, in b
own peculiar humorous way, related IL
: means to which he had recourse in ord
toserve the writ.
d An Irishman said that if Queen vi
le toria did not die soon the Prince of Wal
would live long enough to see his 81