The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-03-04
THE LAW EXPLAINED BY A VICTIM.

THE LAW EXPLAINED BY VICTIM
II hate to live in new country" said Jones,
where there is no law"
eyer bet yer" chimed in Thompson. Law
is the only thing that keeps out of everlasting
chaos
Yes, indeed" said a legal gentleman present.
" 1t is the bulwark of the poor mans liberty, the
shield which the strong arm of justice throws
over the weak, the sOlace and balsam of the un-
fortunate and wronged the"
"Oh, stop, er," remarked a man with one eve
" 1 won't have it that way Law is the boss in
vention for rascals of all grades Give me a
country where there is no law, and | can take
care OF myself every time. Now, for instance
when lived in Ohio, got dose of law that 1
will never forget. was in partnership with a
man named Butler, and one morning we found
our cashier missing with So OO0 He had dragged
the safe and put out. Well started after him
and caught him in Chicago, where he was spIurg-
ing around On the money. 1 got him arrested
and there was an examination. Well all the
facts were brought out and the defense moved
that the case be dismissed as the prosecution did
not make out case in the name of the firm, and
that if there was firm the copartnership had not
been shown by any evidence before the Court.
To my astOnishment the Court said the plea was
o. K, and dismissed the case. Before / could
realize what was up the thief had walked of.
Well, l followed him to st. Louis where tackled
him again. 1 sent for my partner and we made
complete case, going for him in the name of the
Commonwealth and Smith, Butler & Co. Well,
the lawyer for the defense claimed that the money
being taken from a private drawer In the safe
was my money exclusively, and that my partner
had nothing to do with it; that the case should
be prosecuted by me individually, and not by
the firm. The old blOke' who sat on the bench
wiped his spectacles, granted round while and
dismissed the case. Away goes the man again.
Then got another hitch on him and tried to
convict him of theft, but the Court held that he
should have been charged with embezzlement.
Some years after l tackled him again. and they
let him 90. Statutes of limitation, you see.
Well, l concluded to give it up, and did.
"But about four years afterwards l was down
in Colorado and a man pointed to another and
said: That fellow has just made hundred
thousand in mining swindle' looked, and it
was my old cashier. 1 followed him to the hotel
and nailed him in his room with the money.
Now, says Billy, do you recognize your old
DOSS. anu OI COURSE, u0 ulu Bays i, Dill,
want that three thousand you stole from me,
with the interest, and all legal and travelling
expenses 'Ah, you do?' says he; didn't the
courts decide that 'D-n the courts says I.
putin a six-shooter foot long under his nose.
This is the sort of legal document that Pm
travelin' on now. This is the complaint, warrant,
indictment, judge, jury, verdict and sentence all
combined, and the firm of Colt & Co., New Ha-
ven are my attorneys in this case When they
speak they talk straight to the point of your
mug, you bloody larceny thief This jury of six,
of which I am the foreman, is liable to be dis
charged at any moment No technicality or
statutes or limitations here and stay of pro-
ceedings won't last over four seconds. / want
$4,000 to square my bill, or I'll blow your
blasted brains OUT Well, he passed over the
money right away, and said he hoped there'd be
no hard feelings. Now, there's some Colorado
law for you, and it's the kind for me! En-, boys?"
and the crowd with one accord concurred in the
cheapness and efficacy of the plan by which
man could carry his court on his hip instead of
appealing to the blind goddess in Chicago and
st. Louis-SaH Lake Tribune.