The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-09-14

Some surprise was created last Saturday
by the appearance Of John W. Gordner in
town. II was generally understood that
he mad been taken to Centre county on
the charge Of obtaining team OF horses
under false preteDses. Gordner explains
the transaction in this way he says he
had team of horses which he traded for
the black team, and that he was not the
man who bought the horses with forged
check The owner Of the horses failed TO
identify him, and he was discharged.
Gordon claims that he was entirely inno-
cent in the transaction, and did not know
how the man with whom he traded came
in possession Of the horses. Not wishing
to do him injustice, we give his statement,
and In order that our readers may have
both sides Of the story we reprint the ac-
count Of the affair as given by the Ply
mouth Record, as folows
zone Of the most exciting horse cases,
that probably ever interested Plymouth
people occurred here last week. On Fri
day last, Mr.. ]. w. Gordner, Of Columbia
county, accompanied by Mr.. vanHorn,
of Hunlock's Creek, drove into town with
a span of black horses, and endeavored to
negotiate their sale, with several parties
here. They had been in town but a short
time, until Gordner was arrested on the
charge of horse-stealing, and placed in the
lookup. Subsequently he had a hearing
before justice Roberts, which for some
cause, was postponed until Saturday morn
ing. In the meantime the prisoner was
placed in charge of Chief Of Police LODI
crick. He procured counsel In the person
of G. w. McAlarney, Esq, who appeared
before the Justice and demanded his re.
lease as there was no evidence to sustain
the charge. He also required an order for
the release Of the horses. In the mean
time, the plaintiff, a resident of Centre
county, appeared to prove that Gordner
had represented himself as Mr.. Santee,
and had purchased team OF horses from
him, for which he paid $375, by giving
him check, on the Lewisburg bank,
signed j. Santee. On presenting the
check at the bank payment was refused, as
j. Santee had no business. transactions
with them and they knew no such person.
The plaintiffs attorney, H. G. Magee,
Esq, then had him arrested in the name of
j. Santee on warrant issued by Centre
county justice, for getting goods on false
pretence. Gordner's attorney insisted that
his clients name was not Santee, as the
warrant implied, and produced witnesses
to prove that his real name was Gordner.
He therefore insisted upon his discharge.
The Justice lhowever adjourned the hear
| ing until 8 o'clock. In the meantime the
| plaintiffs counsel had secured the atten-
dance Of Deputy Sheriff, Mike McGauhan,
| who came armed with o writ Of replevin
| to get possession of the horses. As there
was an apparent irregularity in the pro-
ceedings, a proposition was made by
which the matter was compromised, by
the plaintiff surrendering the fraudulent
check, and Gordner agreeing to give up
the horses, and pay the costs incurred. II
is evident that Gordner had forged a
check in the name Of ]. Santee, with which
he purchased the team, and he deserved to
be punished, but the legal proceedings
were not sufficiently straight to enable the
plaintiff to accomplish his purpose, and
he was therefore only too glad to recover
his property and give up the evidence
which he held against Gordner. Both
parties have, we trust, been taught salu.
tary lesson. The plaintiff, not to trust to
the deceptive representations Of an entire
stranger, and Gordner, that obtaining
horses under false pretense or forgery, is
as bad as horse-stealing and as likely to
lead to as deplorable results"