Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-04-03
SERVING A WRIT.

one OF the orle boxes !''-Harper's Mag.
SERVING A WRIT.
Some forty years ago there lived on
the western shores of Ireland q certain
gentleman, who was by profession an
attorney -at-law and member of Parlia-
ment. Previous to setting out for Lou-
don to attend to his Parliamentary duties,
be gave into the hands of bailiff a writ
which he held against a gentleman who
resided in remote part of the county,
and Instructed the baiiiff to have person
al service made; but on his return home
some months afterward he was not lit
tie surprised to learn that the writ was
not, or could not possibly be served, in
asmuch as the party against whom it
was issued kept himself closely confined
to his house, furthermore, it being found
highly dangerous for a stranger to ap-
pear in the nei ghborhood, as two or three
fellows, armed with shillelahs, were con-
stantly prowling about the place, whose
intention was no doubt to thrash the first
unfortunate bailiff whom they could lay
hands on.
The NJ. P. had tenant named Tom
Macnamara, very shrewd fellow, and
quite an adept at minor matters of Law,
and who was usually called on to decide
Gtigous disputes between the tenantry,
by whom his opinion was considered as
good as that Of the Lord Chancellor.
The M. P. having sent for Tom, made
known to BIN the failure of the bailiff to
serve the writ, and the causes 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 exclaimed:
"By lingo, I have hit it! Give me the
writ, and he must be either the devil or
DR.. :Faustus if 1 don't shove it into his
mitten."
Having received the writ he proceeded
on his journey. On Lis arrival in the
neighbcrhood, he made his way toward
the police barracks, which was situated
within half a mile of the gentleman's
house against whom the writ was, and
concealed himself behind fence, where
be had view of the barracks. After
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
inside the fence again, and appeared to
hide himself; but when the police came
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
himself, he said that he had always a
horror of police, and wished to avoid
them by every means. He was next in
terrogated as to his place of residence,
ana in answer stated that he belonged to
certain district 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 be-
ing 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
TERRY 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 be to the gen.
tleman whom Tom was in quest of.
AAC PoA'y oO1 Oul, tsAu vi AuClA way
they encountered two men with shiilelahs,
who expressed their sympathy for the
poor prisoner and muttered impreca-
tions 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
''Terry Alt" in charge, who was about to
escape the country when they apprehend
him. The magistrate ordered his
domestics to admit the party. He was
not long before he made his appearance,
and after eliciting from Tom the informal
ton which he bad already given the
police, he informed him that be had no
doubt whatever but that Tom had COM
mitted some heinous crime and intenaed
to escape, but that he should commit him
to prison until further proof could be
had against him.
"Indeed, your Honor" said Tom, ~
never did harm to man or mortal. I am
poor, honest laborin' man. as the
character which his Reverence Father
Meehan, the priest of the parish, gave me,
will show; and his reverence has known
me since wac the hight of your Honor's
knee"
"Have you that character about you?"
asked the magistrate.
II have, your Honor" said Tom, taking
from his pocket the "character," and
hanGing it to the magistrate, at the same
time saying that his Honor would get all
the necessary information therein.
When the magistrate unfolded the
'character," he became deadly pale,
and glanced about the apartment as if
looking for some weapon, which Tom
perceiving. called on the police fol pro-
lection until he got clear of the house
and neighborhood.
"Take the rascal out of my sight," ex-
claimed the magistrate-"hei is more
rogue than fool"
"Do you mean to acquit him, sI9''
quired the constable, who had not yet
comprehended the affair.
"Of course" said the magistrate; ''don't
you perceive that he is playing trick
on usin order to serve me with writ2''
Service acknowledged, your Honor"
said Tom.
TEeparty left the house and on their way
they met the ''shillelahs," who we're over
| joyed when Tom informed them that His
Honor had liberated him.
Tom, having thanked the police for
their service, put on fair quantity of
| steam until he got out of that locality
and as he approached the house Of his
master, he heard the sounds of vevelry
at night" for the NJ. p, who was al adj
| mirer of the social board, had been en-
tertaining party of his friends at din
! ner, who were at the time doing honors
to the merry god. On being informed
that Tom had returned, the NJ. P. sum-
moned him to the presence Of the party,