The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-25
CONNECTICUT DOGBERRYs.
A Keen Rivalry as to Which Shall
Send Up the Most Cases for Trial.

Norwich Conn., Letter.J
For years there has been q keen
rivalry between the rural Dogberrys in
Eastern Connecticut as to which should
send the greatest number of cases to the
Superior Court for trial. The result is
that the dockets of the Court are con-
stantly crowded with petty cases, two
thirds of wlach are dismissed by the
State Attorney for want of evidence.
Justice O.W. Douglas of Montville made
the best score at the criminal session in
New London yesterday. None of his
cases came to trial. A specimen of his
judicial undertakings is his now cele-
brated 'hen case," which he had pre-
pared with elaborate care and dscrim-
ination. This is the shape in which he
handed it over to the Public Prosecutor,
Mr.. Waller:
Seven hens (speckled) were stolen from
Mr.. Charles Naples of Montville, and
the business of looking up the thief was
vested in Sheriff Bugbee, who dispatched
his deputy, G. A. Chapman, instructng
| him to spare neither time nor expense to
\ find the hens. Deputy Sheriff Chapman,
SO he says, rode over 200 miles before he
came on the traces of the supposed hen
thief. He Travelled over every country
road in New London County, scanning
chicken coops, back door yards and
stables for seven speckled hens. When
he set out he had no clue to either chick
ems or thief, but his detective sagacity
carried him through.
One day, after a week or more of dis
piriting travel, jaded and road-stained,
he passed through the village Of Deep
River, on the bank Of the Connecticut
River. Searching the door yards of the
residents OF this little hamlet, he stopped
before a discovery that thrilled him.
AT his feet, in the b ok yard of Jere-
miah Walden, lay seven speckled hens
heads. There was nothing to indicate to
MIR. Chapman where the bodies of the
hens were, but he gleefully put the seven
heads in his pockets and arrested Mr..
jeremiah Walden and lodged him in
Jail. Justice O. W. Douglas turned
over to State Attorney Waller the seven
speckled heads as Exhibit l, the story of
the deputy as Exhibit 3, the prisoner as
Exhibit 3, and travel fees of $40 so as
Exhibit 4.
as this all the proof7" asked the
| Prosecutor
"Yaas," replied Judge Douglas. 1--WE
| wanted ter git hold on ther tail feathers
fur ter identify flrder, but yer see they
| warn't ter be found"
The Justice was asked if he didn't t
want a hen expert to sit on the hens
| heads.
Dammit" said he, "crime is gettin'
rampant up in our parts, and public SEN
terment demands victim. Walden's
ther man, else how did ther heads git
inter his y I'd? Yer see, too, they're in
vestigatin' crime in all parts OF ther
State, an maxim expense, an we don't
see why we shouldn't hev chance"
The State Attorney, as he dismissed
the case, commended the Justices alacri-
ty and public spirit, and suggested that
he go on obtaining evidence against Wal
den, and that by the time the case was
prepared for trial the seven hens heads
would cost more than the expenses of
the Hayden trial. The complaint
against Mr.. Walden was made over a
year ago, and the Justice had fined him
81, from which decision he had appealed.