The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-06-29
SERVING A WRIT.

the western shores Of Ireland q certain
gentleman. who was BY profession an
attorney at law ard 8 member Of P.r-
lament. Previous 10 setting ont for
London 10 s.tend his Parliament duties,
be gave into the hands of o bailif =
writ which he held against gentleman
who resided 10 . remote part Of the
country. and instructed the bsilif TO
have personal service made; but on
his return sGme months afterward. be
wss not little surprised to learn that
the writ Sss not or could not possibly
be served. inssmuch - the party against
whom it wss issued kept himself closely
confined in his house, and Furthermore.
it being highly dangerous for stranger
10 appear in the neigh hboebood, as two
or three sturdy fellows, armed with
shillelahs. were constantly prowling
about the place. whose intentions were
no doubt 10 thrash the first unfortuuste
bailif whom they could lay hsnds on.
The III. p hsd . tenant named Tom
McNamars. q very shrewd fellow, and
quite an adept ~ minor matters of law.
and who was usually called on TO decide
litigious disputes bet ~een the tenantry,
by whom his opinion WAS considered as
good as the Lord Chancellor. The NJ.
Z. having sent for Tom made known 20
him the failure Of the bailiH to serve
the writ, and the cause assigned. aud
asked hin If his fertile imagination
could not enable him TO devise some
plan by which it could Ike accomplished
For . few moments Tom sp. cared to
oe in deep meditation then, taking .
sudden start. he exclaimed:
by jingo. / have it Give me the
writ. and he must be either devil or
DR.. Faustus if | do not shove it into
his mitten.'
Having received the writ. he pro
ceeded on his journey. On his arrival
in the neigh borhood, he made his way
toward . police barracks, which WAS
situated within half q mile Of the gen
tlemnns residence against whom the
writ wss issued. and concealed himself
behind fence. wh,re he had view 81
the barracks. After . short time be saw
two Of the policemen coming toward
him, but rs soon as be wac aware Of
being sen by them. he went inside the
fence again. and appeared I" hide him
self; bu, when the police came to the
place they looked over the fence and
saw Tom crouched up against it. They
tool: him into custody. aud. on being
questioned AS TO tie cause Of his hiding,
he said be had always horror OF police
and wished 70 avoid them by every
means. He WAS next interroaated as
to his place Of residence. and in an
swer stated that he belonged tn q ce:-
tain ndis,rict--namiEg.. one which at that
time was infested by Terry Ats" and
where four Of the police had been killed
o short time previous-and on being
asked az 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 Att" who had committed
some depreciation and was about to es>
cape the country, and they decided on
taking him before q magistrate for ex
animation. The nearest at hand hap
pened to be the gentleman whom Tom
was in quest OF.
The party set out. and op their way
they encountered two men with shille-
lAhs, who expressed their sympathy
for the poor prisoner" and muttercd
imprecations against the police. On
arriving in front Of the house. the mag
istrate put his head through an upper
window, and was informed by the police
that they had . Terry Alt" in charge,
who vas about to escape the country
when they spprehended him. The
magistrate ordered the domestics 81 sd-
init the party. 1t WAS not long before
he made his appearance. and after elic-
iting irom Tom the information which
he had already given the police, he in.
formed him that he had no doubt what.
ever but that Tom had committed some
heinous crime aud intended to escape,
but that lie should commit him to prison
until further proof could be had against
him.
Indeed, your Houor." said Tom, Il
never did harm to man or mortal.
am . poor. honest lsborin man. as the
charscter which his Reverence. Father
Meehan. the priest Of the parish. gave
me. will show; and his reverence has
known me since I WAS the hight Of
your Honor's knee"
"Have you that character about you!"
said the magistrate.
II have. your Honor said Tom.
taking from his pocket the character"
and handing it to the magistrate. At the
same time saying that his Honor would
get oil the necessary information there
in.
When the magistrate unfoljed the
character, hs became deadly pale. and
glanced about the apartment - It look
ing for some weapon. which Tom per-
ceiving. called on the police for protec.
ton until be got clear OF the house and
neighborhood.
Take the rascal out Of oy sight.
exclaimed the magistrate-"he u more
rogue than fool"
"Do you mean to acquit him. sir ?
incurred the constable. who had not
yet comprshcnded the affair.
"Of course" said the mseistrste ;
don't you perceive that he has been
playing trick on US in order to serve
me with . writ -,
"Servios acknsvledged. your Honor.
said Tom.
Then the party left The house. and on
their way they net the 'shiile!ahs.
who we're overjoysi when Tom informed
them that his Honor had liberated h'm.