Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-06-19
Fowl Preceetings-.Hen Fruit That
Will Not be Very PalatabIc to
the Tax Payers OF Gala.
tin County.

, We HdSc oi'el icstiu OI Il mole nil eX
panding to the proportions of mountain
but it is seldom that the old adage receives
as literal an illustration as it did in tile in
significant chicken suit tried before Judge
Mcpherson on Friday and Monday last.
1t appears that j. A. Farnsworth, for sew
eral months past, has been necessarily an
noyed by a neighbours chickens, and that
failing in his efforts to fence against them,
or by his circumstances to the owner, to
keep them out Of his garden patch, he kill
ed one OF more of them and threw the dead
chickens over into the adjoining lot, where
he considered they would do the most
good.
In the absence of r. p. Viyion, Col. Ira
Pierce is acting as District Attorney, and
on complaint of Mrs. Miles, Col Pierce in
stituted a suit, under the criminal laws of
the Territory, against Farnsworth for ma
licious mischief. Mr.. Armstrong, a young
lawyer recently from Kansas, appeared for
the defendant. A jury of twelve men was
empanelled and the case was tried before
Judge Mcpherson as stated. The cause of
complaint appeared to many to be so triv-
ial in itself that it was thought it would
hardly assume the dignity of trial, but
as legal business was somewhat dull, and
the prosecuting attorney appeared very
jealous and deeply in earnest in the
prosecution of the case, it soon assumed
gigantic importance, if not on its merits,
at least in its results to the tax payers of
Gallatin county. A large number of wit
nesses were examined, when the case was
summed up in eloquent speeches by Pierce
and Edwards on the part OF the prosecu-
ton, and Armstrong for the defense, and
1t was finally submitted to the jury about
six O'Clock p. M, Friday.
After the jury had heen out eighteen
hours. and, failed to agree, they were very
considerably discharged by the Judge.
They stoo' so we are informed, three for
and Zine for acquittal. II
On Saturday, the Nth inst, a petition l
was drawn up and signed by seventy citi- !
1ens, including most of the prominent res q
dents and business men of Bozeman, re- i
luestiDg Col. Pierce not to prosecute the T
;ase any farther, on the ground that it had I
llready cost the county considerable sum, c
md that it was not probable that any Jury
ould be found that would agree on a YER
lict. This the Colonel utterly disregarded. c
lie was bound that the law should be en-
Orced and its dignity maintained, though
ne heavens should tall, or even more u
erious catastrophe should bcfall the coun- II
=. OF what consequence are few paltry CT
undreds or thousands of dollars to the ri
lready overburdened tax payers of Gala
n county, when compared with barn. NJ
ard rooster whose precious life has been 10
lthlessly sacrificed by twisting its neck at
i'd then shooting it with shot gun? til
The Colonel was not to be bluffed or
flied with in this way; so re-hearing ST
as demanded and granted. A new jury co
six good men and true" was found, IA
ho was supposed to know nothing of W.
is, and precious little of any other, case. ce'
re examination of witnesses was gone wa
rough with again in all its details, and are
3 speeches reiterated with humorous va
tiOns, except that of Mr.. Edwards, who, ma
g supposed, became SO thoroughly dis Tau
sted with the affair that he took no part he
the re-hearing. The case was closed and eau
omitted to this second jury at little at
6p. NJ, Monday, and they, failing to hn !.
zee, were in turn discharged on Tuesday Dui
rning. 1t is estimated that this trifiing Ii
has already cost tbc county un,vords to s
Four Hundred Dollars but whether he
Pierce will consider that the law has the
n sufficiently indicated or not remains M
'e seen. But, in our judgment, the peo- 20"
who will have to foot the bills and pay Den
costs Of this extremely trifling, or vim as G
i've, prosecution-which ever it may be In 6
i've had too much of it already; and in goo
language of the learned counsel for the goo'
nse, who, perhaps, is better versed in tlon
than gospel, we say: Al
f the old rooster which was recently aura
by Farnsworth could be raised from OF u
lead and brought into this court, to Al
ess all the fuss and trouble that is be- ury
made over him, and the fearful expense LOCI
is ho;ng manfred tberahv m Gal,at;r succe
tv. he would initiate the examnla ot He C,
ock, when Peter crew, and 60 out and iena
bitterlv.n lady,
week
e Standard Dramatic Troupe gave two tory
FINANCES in town last week. The PLAYS expet
GOOD. and the characters generally that {
sustained. The Irish comic singer. on ac'
nv. is a decided success. The troupe frora
not greeted with as good houses as two v
link they were fairly entitled to, but These