Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-12-25
ACrOR AID JUDeE.
How Jolly Roland Reed was Compelled
Serve In the Capacity OF Juror.

/ How Jolly Roland Reed was Compelled
Serve IN the Capacity OF Juror.
Rochester n. Z. Post-Ezpress.
When Roland Reed was playing Il
/ Lewiston, Ne, a month or SO ago, h
had a queer adventure. The COMPANY
arrived In town early in the day, anC
MIR. Reed was writing a letter at thl
! desk Of the Dewitt honse, when an official
looking individual approached anC
/ tapped him on the shoulder, with the
query: SIS your name Rsedf They
said it was at the Office"
''Ehen they said what is oorrsct," 10
/ piled Roland.
ar ReedT' queried the man again
''Ah, there &. Reed, +" said Roland
Reuben Reedf' asked the official
! looking man. Either misunderstanding
him or from Indifference, Reed replied
impRtiently: "Yes YES ! what is it p
'WhEt Of it? Weul yOu Just come
along with me an you'll see. pve been
hunting all over this blessed town for
you. Come on nOwT''
Roland smiled and said: 'rm sorry.
Where do you wish to take me2 I don't
drink so early in ths day. III see you
pprOnmateiy."
81 faint a drink. You're wanted down
at the courthouse"
Then Reed was q little alarmed, think
ing maybe some OF his anti Sunday
school escapRdes had been detected.
sob, it must be a mistake he said.
''No, faint; Judge Clipper sent me
after yer, an you'd better not give me
any more trouble"
Thinking the mistake would thus be
most quickly and easily rsctihed, Roland
repaired TO the court with the officer.
On reaching the court room his Honor
remarked:
''Well, sir, we've waited long enough
for you. I've a great mind to fine you
for cOntempt OF court and impeding the
course Of justice"
Thoroughly excited, Reed said: "But
your Honor, there is some mistake here.
ID
'.No. sir. No. sir. No mistake at all.
You should have been here an hour ago.
There, I'll hear nothing from you. Call
the first case. And do you, sir go to
your place and attend to your duties"
When Roland recovered from his sur
prise he found himself in a jury box,
After awhile he regained his wits and
managed to write a note to his manager
while listening to the case-sOme suit
for damages on account OF a defective
county highway. All the morning he
sat there, wondering bow long the case
would last. AT recess he managed TO
get the ear OF the court constable and
explained to him. He was a Jolly old
fellow, and after his hearty laugh, prom
HrL=
Harry Hine. Meanwhile Reed had been
taken with the rest OF the jury TO dinner
and Harry, in great trepidRtiOn, had
sought out the judge and explained
matters to him. He, too, laughed heart
lily, and promised to arrange things
somehow, so that Roland could play that
night. When the court re-asssmbled he
called Roland to the desk and apologiZed
Reed begged him not to mention It, and
said he wanted to thank the county for
a good dinner. He also offered gener-
Ously to let his baggageman, Charley,
take his (Reed's) place on the jury, and
guaranteed that Charley would know
more about the case than he did. His
Honor explained matters to the counsel,
and as there was little doubt as to the
verdict being a Just one, the lawyer
agreed to accept eleven jurors in the
place Of twelve.
Roland returned home, and his Honor
came behind the scenes that night to
say he was q little In doubt Wheths
there was not more fun In the inciden
of the morning than In Hamburg. The
case lasted two days and the jury was
out all night before they reached a YER
dict. Rowland says it was the nauOWest
escape Of his life.