Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-05-29
Lowland Folks.

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cited, and their numbers had been re-
inforced by a dozen or more farmers,
who had come in on mules and in
ox-carts. ] got accommodations at
Jeffers'. and in few minutes Mrs
Jeffers had posted me as to the cause
of the excitement.
"Thar's gwine to be the powerfulest
lawsuit nobody ever hearn tell Of"
she explained. "Thar's gwine to be
as many as ten witnesses, and the law
yers will CAB, and the squar' will boss
everybody, and it will be the excit-
ingist time we ever had. I'm so glad
you got here in time."
The squar', who lived mile out of
the hamlet, took dinner with us; also
the lawyers, both of whom had made
ride of fifteen miles in the interests
of their respective clients. The esquar'
was on his dignity, and the lawyers
were looked up to with all the rever-
ence and respect due the President of
the United States. School was dis
missed that the trial might take place
in the school house, and when we all
found seats the place was packed
When the case was stated, Thomas
Andrews, a squat farmer" was charg-
ed with having stolen, killed and con-
verted to his own use one hog belong
ing to and the lawful property of
William Ainsworth, another squat
farmer" The squar' opened his own
court as follows:
Hear ye and look yere This
court ar now open fur bizness, and it
is agin the law to fuss or trife. Them
niggers and all others is warned to be
powerful quiet, and if any purson be
in contempt he will git the full extent
of the law. Hank Stovin, kick that
ar big dog of your'n outer doors"
The prosecutor then charged the
prisoner with having, between the 9th
and the Goth of the month, stolen,
killed and eaten, in whole or in part,
one hog belonging to the plaintiff,
and described as black and white, 2
years old, weight 115 to 120 pounds,
and in good health and fair condition.
He was followed by the other lawyer,
who denied the charge in toto, and in
timated that he would prove con-
spiracy to down the defendant, to the
injury of his name and fame as an
honest citizen of the commonwealth.
The plaintiff was put on the stand,
and when told to 60 ahead, he said
81 know that he'un stole my hog
and l wanter see him sent to prison.
"Why do you suspect him of steal,
ing the hog
"Hain't he shiftless and ornery ?"
'1s that why you suspected him p
at ar. And / know the hog went
over his way the last seed of him."
The plaintiff hadn't made out much
but he had witness who swore that
he ate fresh pork at Andrews cabin
on the 18th. He also saw hog bristles
and hoofs on the ground near the cab
in.
"You declare that on your oath, dc
you p
"Sartin. I've got to tell it as il
was, though Tom and l have jiggered
(got along) without word"
A second witness swore that he
called at Andrews cabin on the 10Th
and the wife had fresh pork in "a ket-
tie. He asked if Tom had been kill
ing, and she seemed confused and did
not reply. That was the case for the
prosecution. 1t looked slim in on,
sense, and yet everybody knew that
Andrews was shiftless, suspicious
character, not above hog stealing
!, When the opposing council got hold
of the plaintiff he asked.
"Was this hog ranging the coun.
try ?"
"Yes, he was loosely about and
around"
: "Went where he pleased, didn't heI'
"Reckon he did,"
"Well, how do you know that he j:
dead? How far have you hunted for
him ?"
"Three miles,"
"But he may be alive and well four
miles away
"Couldn't be. Tom Andrews kill
ed him."
That's only your suspicion. Can
you swear that that hog isn't home
this very minute ?"
"Mebbe he ar, but l shan't dun
give in"
The witness who had sworn to eat
ing pork at Andrews table was ask
ed:
Can you tell pork from a 2-year
old hog from pig meat?"
"No, sah."
"Dare you swear that the meat you
ate that day wasn't coon or bear
meat?"
"Reckon twas pork"
"Yes. Won reckon but do vou know