The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-11-27
The Other Side.

I'D. N. P. FARMER: l notice in the last
ISSUE 0: your valuable paper under the start
ling headline SIS it MURDER an unjust and
;a!se accusation against myself and the Of
f'cer engaged in distraining the goods and
"hattels OF =. NJ. Jones. am led thus to i'll
trudc upon your space, in order to correct
the errors, commonly termed lies, that is
in circulation and to give the facts as briefly
AS possible, You, as we'll as many others, are
probably aware that the roads between
deer Creek, Blut1ton and Wadena are in an
cXerabe condition. Complaints have been
l:,'tic 10 the Supervisors at different times re-
During them to repair and put them in a
l"ssablc condition. They accordingly in
>tructed their efficient ove:Seer, Grin Hoyt
10 cal! out all inhabitants liable to poll tax
and use all money and means at his COM
aand for the improvement of the roads.
Noyt went at the work with a zeal and ener-
~ seldom shown by public officer. Three
OF four persons living in the town refused
to appear and work upon the roads, Com
plants were made against them, summons
issued and in most cases a compromise was
usually made by the parties satisfactory to
the overseer. Among the number notified
to appear and work the highway was p. NJ.
Jones. He refused; suit was brought against
linn, he did not apeear at the trial, judgment
was rendered, and warrant Of execution is
sued against him and given the constable to
serve. Aud here let me say that the Sheriff
never refused to serve them. The supposed
deputy sheriff. o. A. Knudson denied being
deputy consequently the papers were not
offered him The constable proceeded to
levy upon the goods and chattels of p. NJ.
Jones. Jones and wife, so says the consta-
ia t>e h
take the property. The constable concluded
like the darby at Bull Run, that "selfpreser-
vation was the first law of nature," left the
property in peaceable possession of Jones
and wife. Hoyt hearing OF the threats made
by Jones, Informed the constable unless he
performed his duty he (Hoyt) would make
complaint against him. The constable re-
signed and Charles Wilson was appointed
{not deputized) by the board disappointment.
After Wilson came in possession OF the war
rant he proceeded, he says, to levy upon the
property. before reaching the residence OF
Jones he employed J. Sand:ord and team to
carry the property. On arriving at the
house he found that Jones had gone to Wa
'lena and not likely to return for a week; he
accordingly levied upon two pows and
yrindstone, and while endeavoting to place
the breaking pillow in the wagon Mrs. Jones
assaulted him with pail and tried to pre-
vent him from executing the warrant. Both
Sanford and Wilson claim that Wilson did
not strike her nor injure her in any manner
whatever, and that her conduct Was shame
iul and disgraceiul. Curses and threats were
heaped upon them and in such a manner as
only thos: that have seen her under like cir
cu,nstances can conceive. Mrs. Jones has
since caused the arrest of Wilson and Sand
ford. The object of Sandfords arrest is ap-
parent, and is undoubtedly Intended to
rloud his testimony az witness and give
10th Jones and wife AL opportunity of wreak-
ing til Fir malice which they have for some
time held against him.
Now my dear Editor, since you have so
boldly and positively asserted that Jones is
exempt from poll tax Oh account of his be-
ing pensioned soldier, | respectfully ask Of
YOU to produce your proofs. As q Justice of
the peace could not do otherwise than rem
der judgment against him iii his case before
The Tor the reason that he did not appear eth
TT in person or by counsel and had no proof
tina: nc had ever been soldier.
In the revised statutes OF 1878, page Pts,
chap. -, sec. 8, find t'that every male in
labitant being above twenty lone yesrs and
under the age OF fifty, excepting paupers,
idiots, Iunatics, land right here is where
Jones missed it III not claiming exemption)
and such others as are exempt by law shall
i've subject to poll tax. Page 1924 in Mscel-
3aneous laws sec. 81, l find that all discharg-
I'd soldiers who served as volunteers in the
war Of 1891, citizens of and residing in the
State Of Minnesota who were honorably dis
charged from such service OH account of
wounds received while on duty in such serv-
ice having lost limb or being otherwise
permanently disabled shall be exempt from
poll tax and from sitting as jurors in any of
the courts Of the State. Now how does this
law effect Jones. Admitting that he is
Iensivnod soldier, does the law mention
;,ensioned soldier. Pensions are granted in
many cass for disease contracted in service.
In my opinion the soldier must be diScharg-
ed on account of wounds. Jones was not,
but was regularly mustered out with his
company. OF this fact Jones informed me
since the trial. lie has lost no limbs and
does not claim to be permanently disabled,
:or nearly every one knows he carried on a
blacksmith shop at Wadena, and does the
work on a farm as we'll As the average man.
l am afraid that have i,Itruded too much
a,pon your time and space and will conclude
with this remark ''and don't you forget it"
that the illegal understanding of Justices of
;he Peace in this frontier country" may be
slight and verlant, yet we will, in our verdi
cncy, give the Editor good Christmas tur-
key if lie can show us under the law Of the
State Of Minnesota whereby a pensioned
soldier is exempt from paying poll tax I'M
less discharged us mentioned in Sec. 81,
page 1924, OF tho revised Statutes.
NJ. J.. HEArHcoTE.
i List Of unclaimed letters remaining in the
post Office at Wadena, Nov. 27, 1879,
Grown Gilbert A Kelley NJ
I3aEtoa nha I