Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-08-13
We nlden TYNE.

Gen. ". w. Jones, of Dubuque, recalls
to mind one of the best stories told by
that veteran jurist, Judge j. L. M ills of
Lancaster At the time Gen. Jones re-
sided in Grant county, in the early days
OF tho territory, he was the possessor
OF a negro named Bob As the inhabi-
tants of that section were mainly ma
tives of Missouri and Kentucky their
exercise of the right divine seemed not
at all incompatible with good citizen
ship, as it became later after the apos-
toic teachings of Judge Mills. j. Allen
Barber. and Joseph Cover had trans
formed the county into stronghold of
abolitionism.
Bob being a musician Of considerable
native ability was in great demand at
country festivals, where the notes of his
violin sent many a clumsy stoga and
trim gaiter pattering merrily on the
puncheon floors In these wanderings
Bob was practically his own master,
until finally he was left to drift about
from one homely frolic to another, re-
turning to his masters roof only when
such course was found absolutely nee
essarY. After matters had continued
IN this manner for several years Bob
conceived the idea of bringing suit in
the circuit court of the county To obtain
his freedom and wages due him from
Gen. Jones for services to date The
suit was duly entered on the calendar,
and when it became noised about at
iracted an unusual throng of spectators
to the session of court, which was held
at Lancaster, Grant county, Judge
Chas. Duna, the first territorial Judge,
presiding.
The case occupied several days and
engendered considerable feeling. The
abolition doctrine had just then begun
to take root, and few OF the more ad
vanced swore by all manner of oaths
then in vogue that Bob should not only
go free, but should have remuneration
for the years which be had been in SER
vice.
At last arguments were concluded,
the Judge charged the jury, and that
body of twelve good men and true were
locked up in one of the upper rooms OF
the courthouse. The composition OF
| the jury was not preserved in the rec
ords. Only one name was handed
down for the benefit of future genera
tiens, that of Free Williams, an ex-
| Missourian, ana character in his way.
When the jury came to be polled, after
they had been locked up, it was found
to stand 10 to , in favor of giving Bob
the amount claimed by him. OF the 9
one was Williams. BY dint of argu
ment the eleventh man was won over,
and left Williams the only dissentient.
In vain the other eleven argued and
pleaded and threatened. Williams was
proof against all.
Boys. y was his unvarying response,
II am willing that Bob should have his
freedom, but d-n me if he shall have a
cent of money for wages if stay here
until court sits again. with this he re-
tired to corner and settled himself iu
a chair for long siege. The jury had
been locked up early in the forenoon
The dinner hour passed, and still there
were no signs of agreement. Sharpened
appstites added energy and point to the
earlier arguments, but still Williams
stood out. As the shadows began &c
lengthen an unusual disturbance on the
square adjoining the courthouse
brought the jury, or as many as could
crowd about t he small-sized aperture
to the window. Agaunt, rough-lookina
woodsman had just driven on the square
having in his wagon two cages, each OF
which held full grown timber wolf.
In those days it was the custom when a
wolf had been successfully trapped to
save him until market or fair day and
then put him up for dog batting. In
the present case the owner of the two
wolves offered to let them loose on the
square, one at a time, for the sum oil
$50 each. Money in those days among
| the lead mines was as plenty as in Cali
| fornia or Nevada later, and the sum
named was quickly put up and the or
der given to let the brute out All this
had taken place before the eyes of the
| jurymen, locked in their pen. Their
eagerness to view the contest from adj
yantageous points was folly as great as
that of any outsider. To use modern
phrase, they severally and collectively
Laid down. on Free, imploring him
to agree to a verdict so as to allow them
to see the fight. In vain did they offer
to reduce the sum demanded one-third,
one-half, three -fourths.
"No, boys" was the reply, mot a
cent shall the darby get by Free Will
Jams vote If you want to see the
| fight so bad come over to my side and
we will be out of here in two minutes. y
No, that was impossible.
Very good, then, here we stay
| In the meantime the wolf had been
let loose and been Immediately bounced
upon by a half dozen dogs of all eolors,
sizes and breeds. He quickly shook
them of and took refuge against the
side of the courthouse, Immediately
under the window of the unfortunate
iurymen. Back and forth the battle
ragged. First the wolf and then the
dogs were uppermost. The window
was crowded with as many heads as
could conveniently project from the linn
tied space.
Finally the wolf escaped and slipped
around the corner of the building, with
the dogs in hot pursuit. From a dis
lance the sounds of the battle were
borne to the ears of the raging jury.
For God s sake, Free Williams let us
out they implored.
Not if it gives that darky any
wages, was the stubborn reply.
The yclping and snarling grew louder,
and another rush was made for the
window.