Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-08-22

humor when he went to bed that night
\ magistrate himself, he knew what
shifts are often made u withdraw we'll.
connected offenders from justice. and
SO far as he was concerned he would
have cared little had an appeal been
made 10 him, al miScoriidm, TO ac-
knowledge that lie had, perhaps, been
mistaken i'll fancylng that he saw Mrs.
PIX pocket some lace and handker-
chiefs. But Mr.. pottridge could not
bear to I've pcoh-poohed At or threatened
with unpleasant consequences il he did
his duty. He was an Alderman, n
grocer with 4 hlameleSs conscience, and
he feared no man, Feeling that his
character for v1racty and common
sense was ut stake, he resolved To give
his evidence against the wife Of Lord
keynSole'S cousin with no more heSita.
ton than il she were the cemmonest
iail-hird.
From that date, however things be.
gan to 50 wrong somehow with MIR. Pot
fridge. Ii seemed n though his long
luck had torsaken him. Ca the NOR
row Of his adventure in London, Mr..
Chuckleworth, the principal solicitor in
the town, who was Lord keynSole'S
legal adviser, passed him III the street
without noddius. and later III the day
Mrs. {. sent I stiff note begging that
MIR. Pottridge would send in his hill, and
intimatins that she would theucelorth
purchase her groceries At another house.
Now the ChuCklew0rthS had always
been excellent customers Of Mr., Pot
fridge.
This was bad enough, but worse was
to follow. Next day some inspectors Of
weights and measures arrived III the
Alderman's shop aud found piece of
lard sticking under his scales They
declared they should make report Of
the fact Scarcely had they gone, ieav-
ing the grocer speeehleSS with confusion,
when two weildressed strangers entered
and bought some tea, brown sugar,
cocoa. pepper and y pot of mustard:
after which they stated that they were
public ANALYSTS, who were gong to en-
anime the quality OF these goods. They
examined them, in truth, SO fast that
two DAYS later MIR. Pottridge received y
summons to answer charge OF putting
birch.twigS In his tea, sand IN his sugar,
turmeric III his mustard, clay III his
cocoa, etc Mr.. Pottridge shrugged his
shoulders at first taking il for granted
that the charge would be dismissed by
his brother magistrates, Messrs. Bungs
X Co, but before the case came on for
hearing it fortuitously TRANSFERRED that
Mr.. Pottridge had been up to London
interviewing Lord Beaconsleld for the
purposes we know, and this made the
other Aldermen furious. Mr.. Bungs,
the brewer, was particularly angry, and
declared that Pottridge was II traitor,
insomuch rs the poor grocer, instead OF
having friendly bench TO judge
him. found n very stern one.
81 am sorry for you, Mr. Pottrldge,"
said Mr.. Dot, who sat rs chairman,
but men i'll your position should set
an example. Youa fined f20on each
count, with costs. Total, EGO"
Ill-starred Pottridge! He left the
court politically and socially done for,
for he could no longer hope to lac re-
elected mayor nor to marry Miss Dot
He should have, moreover, TO resign his
aldermanship, and his personal char
acter, as well Us that of his tea, sugar
and mustard, was ruined.
SO ruined was Nj, Pottridge that
when he went to London to give evil
dcnce against Mrs Pounceforth Keane,
the first question asked him by the
counsel for the defense-a clustering
Old Baily barrister-was, II believe
you have Just been convicted Of selling
adulterated goods and ut false weight T.
LET me explain, stammored poor
Pottrldge.
"No explanation, sir. Give me q
plain answer, yes or mol"
Eyes. then"
"Well, thep, you are liable to make
mistakes about your weights, you may
err in other things
Perhaps" replied the grocer, desper-
ately, 81 may have been mistaken in
thinking this lady was n thief. ! have
had enough botherabont the business"
"You ought to be ashamed Of your
hippant conduct, sir" cried the counsel
harshly and the wretched grocer hob
bled out of the witness-box feeling very
mean indeed After this confession o.
possible error on the part OF the chief
witness, the case against Mrs. Ponnce-
forth keane was, Of course, dismissed,
and Mr.. pottridge skunk out of court
with magisterial reprimand ringing in
his ears. 70 conclude this little story
one has only to add that when his Royal
Highness the Prince OF Wales gracious
~ went to open the baths Mt Small
borough, it was Mr. Bungs who was
mayor and eventually got knighted,
while Mr.. Pottridge was not even in
vited to the dinner at the town hall,
whereof lie paid his share like other
rate-payers.
lie is no longer regarded rs lucky
man.