The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-07-31
A PITIFUL PLEA
Made By q Peddler Arrested For
Selling Goods Without Coun-
ty License.

An old man giving his name as John Nc.
Guire was yesterday arrested on the
charge of peddling without license. He
was selling thermometers and barOmeters,
and had his merchandise displayed about
his neck, while he carried small hamper
of weather indicators strapped to his waist
Ii seems that the old man Immediately
upon arriving in the city secured city
peddler's license, and thinking that this
was all that . was required of him,
commenced business. He was very
much surprised when he was arrested bv
Deputy Constable Wallace on the charge OF
peddling goods without license, and when
first srraigned before Justice Rife was
rather inclined to treat the matter in the
light of a joke, but when informed that the
least penalty for selling goods without
state or county license was fine Of SO and
costs, he began TO enter a pitiful demurrer
against what he was pleased to denominate
persecution and injustice The prisoner
stated that he had travelled all over the
United States; that this was the first city in
which he had ever been compelled to pay
a county license; that it seemed to him it
was only done to prevent him from selling,
and that If they intended to treat him this
way he might as we'll 60 to Jail. In spite
of all the assertions made to the prisoner
by the justice, prosecuting attorney and
the constable, that they sympathized with
him and were only doing their duty as off,
GERS of the law, the prisoner insisted that
he was being persecu;ed, and tears ever
and anon would come to his eyes, which he
wiped away with q soiled handkerchief,
and In a voice broken with emotion
said that he could pay no
fine, or no additional license and that they
might rs we'll throw him in dungeon and
he done with him.
The Justice offered to allow the disconso-
late peddler time to prepare for trial, but
he would not listen to reason, SO the case
was proceeded with, resulting, of course, in
q verdict of guilty. The lowest fine. viz.
$40 was imposed, which, together with the
costs, aggregated $3.50. Take me tc
Jail" whinned the peddler. "You may turn
me upside down and You will not find that
amount of money about me-"
The commitment was then made out.
The prosecuting attorney, his heart being
touched by the piteous aspect of the pris-
oner, offered him a stay of execution until
such time as he could, by bis business.
make the amount of his fine, provided that
he would pay the state and county license.
Mcclure said that be could not do this,
and that they might as we'll throw him in
the dungeon and be done with it.
The officers by this time having their pa
thence thoroughly exhausted, Constable
Carnes started to Jail with his prisoner, but
when the massive iron door swung back to
receive the new conner, he wilted and
begged piteously for compromise. He
was finally released upon putting up col.
lateral security for the amount OF his fine,
iu the shape of a silver watch. Upon be-
ing released, the peddler Lit out for the
depot, avowing his intention OF leaving
such q God-forsaken city. He informed
the constable that he would redeem the
watch in a few DAVIS