Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-01-30
AN AGREEABLE DECISION.


Excitement Over an Attempt u D.feas
Justice In Horsehezsd County.
lhe people of Horsehcad County are
very much exercised over a recent at
tempt to defeat justice in shat part Of
the country. A young fellow named
eparerlbs was arrested for stealing a
par OF home-knit socks, and was ar
falgned before Justice Swasft, Il jurist
IN whom the entire community imposes
great faith. The blacksmith shop,
where the court usually meets, was
crowded with mules o1hthe day set for
the trial; so, in order that the spank
ing hand of justice might not be kept
It's work, Judge Swash proposed
that the trial should take place in an
adjoining lot. The Judge took his,
seat on the fence and Spareribs climbed
up on a stump.
Prisoner at the BAR -
prisoner on the stump, your HONOR
suggested a lawyer.
That's a fact. Prisoner on the,
stump. como up to the rack and!
Plead
The prisoner s'chawcdr his tobacco,
but remained silent.
Don't you hear me, sir??"
The prisoner continued to ''chaw.-
Look here. prisoner on the stump,
If you don't pay attention to me,
blamed if l don't call the dogs and set,
EN- on you. Are you guilty or not
guilty?"
81 stole the socks, Jedgc, if that's.
what you're driyin' at" q
That's what we are drivin' at, an
that's what we want to find out, but
you are such a liar. prisoner on the
stump, that l don't know whether or
not to believe you. Well, 1 never saw a
man what couldn't tell the truth some
times, and l belieIe Ill take your word
for it."
Wall, Judge; to tell the truth, I
didn't steal 'em."
prisoner on the stump, now I know
you did. The witness says that inn
medlately after You went through the
yard, the socks was missing Off tho
line.n
''Wall, ledge, you passed along thar
about the same time, an gentlemen of
the jury" continued the prisoner, 81
AAON\ phttp wv So III iIlS iLll
I'm in for that said one of the
jurymen. for although 1 know the
Judge to be honest in p community
where everything is too heavy to lift,
but no longer ago than yesterday 1
heard him say that he would like to
have u pair of old-fashioned, home
knit socks. Suppose we sarch him,
f~ellersp"
The Judge leaped from the fence and
attempted to run away, but u fleet
footed mar who for years had been in
the habit of running from the grand
jury, caught him. The socks wore
found in his coat-tail pocket.
II didn't steal EN-" he declared,
when he had been brought back to the
lot and arraigned against the fence.
''Spareribs put EN- in my pocket"
"Ihen what made You run?" asked
Spareribs.
Because I didn't know that I haG
the socks till You fellers began to tall
about sarchin' me, then. feelin' 'roun(
| found 'em. | knowed then that !
didn't have no time to losc.n
'.Ill be the Jedge,'' said Spareribs.
seating himself on the stump. ..Pu,
'tC IHiGl VII lHC oeulup, NAl. SOlStdDIC'
III show you how l can administer
Justice.
Boys" said the Judge, when he
had been lifted up and jammed down
on the stump, II did steal them socks,
but l didn't mean to. They was
hangin' so low that 1 couldn't help it
Now, let me make a notion"
You made one just now and come
mighty nigh gittin' away said Spare
ribs.
Hold on, Sparcy, let me talk" sale
the Justice. 81 move that we fling the
thing outen court SO fur as 1t relates tc
us, that we fine the owner of the socks
ten dollars for hangin' 'em SO low that
good citizens be tempted, alrter which
we'll all 90 to my house an get a snort
OF fust-class brandy. What do you
say?" The motion was unanimously
carried. Several days afterwards, the
Circuit Judge, hearing of the affair,
attempted to set aside the verdict,
hence the excitement concerning the
attempt to defeat justice.-Arkansa4
Traveller,