The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-25
AMUSING LEGAL FREAKS.
SINGULAR CASES STRANGELY HAN
DIED m LAW COURTS.
A Woman Considered rs Personal Prop
erty and yaiues: at S3.oo-A Horse
brought Before tho Bar-Tho Wrong
ifan Told why ue Was There.

ertv and Values: at ss.5o--A Horse
brought Before tho Bar-Tho Wrong
iian Told why Bo Was There.
10 n Hooking county court belongs the
remarkable distinction Of passing upon
woman as personal property. The unique
precedent was laid some twenty-five Or
thirty years ago, and before womens
rights bad progressed as far as they nave
since. A citizen Of old Hooking lnarrleo
a young lady against the energetic pro
test Of her father, and set up housekeep-
ing on his own account. IL was q cass
of Glove in a cottage as a matter Oh
fact During the temporary absence, OF
the unsuspecting bridegroom the wiies
father and brothers invaded loves doni-
Gle and carried her Oft.
The dcspoiled husband repaired 10
neighoring justice of the peace IN search
of law suited TO the exigoncies oil the
case. After n thorough Investigation OF
Swans Treaties and Cradlebaugh's Con
stable. it was unanimously decided by
the squire. the constable and the desolato
husband that the proper thing to 90 was
10 proceed by an action in replevm'
WOMAN As PERSONAL PROPERTY.
The papers were accordingly made out
and the writ lodged in the hands of the
constable. who proceeded at once 20 exc
cute it. and replevined the woman from
tho custody Of her father, who though
exceedingly irate. didn't feel like resist
inc the edictof the court. When il came
to appraising the property and liking the
sworn value Of a woman, the constable
was rather perplexed, but the three free
holders whom he called in TO act as APP
praisers solved the problem in manner
at once oil hand and business like.
They sent for her husband, the plain
tiff. and asceriained for him that he had
expended the following sums OF money
upon his property" License, 20 cents,
Justices marriage fee, $3.50; one new
dress. S7s cents. ono new bonnet, 3l5
cents. They furthermore decided that
the woman was "perishable property
and her value was only TO be estimated
theoretically. Whereupon they liked
the value OF her labor and services for
the month at 81. which they added to
the other items. making $3.50.
In due course of tmc the trial came
OF and the plaintiff duly and satisfacto-
rily proved his ownership by producing
his marriage certificate. The defendant
could not upset this evidence, and the
plaintiff got Judgment of restitution and
> cents damages. His property was
then restored to him in due apd-rrc.5iiiilsar
t.2gm G6f > tRe.&.isHant was solemnly
notified that a repetition of his otfonse
would be regarded as petty LARCENY ana
punished accordingly. The man and his
wife are still living happily and con
tcntedly together.
But Hooking county cannot lay claim
10 excnsivoncss in "precedents,' Over
in her next door neighbor, Perry. a
horse was once restored otis rightful
neighbor under a writ of habcas corpus
issued 10y justice of the peace.
As horse broke into BIS pasture,
whereupon put it into bis stable,
locked the door and refused 10 give 1t
up. 4 secured the services Of the cele-
brated Shop Tinker as his legel adviser
Shep knew that his client could not give
the necessary hail in an action by reple-
vim. 80 he decided TO bring a different
sort of an action.
With this intent lac went before 4 JUS
tice of the peace in old Straitsville, and
took out a writ Of habeas corpus and
literally brought the horse into court
LAWYER Saunders. a most brilliant prac-
titioner at the Logan bar and long the
prosecuting attorney Of Hooking county
was called on the other side.
He didn't know the nature Of the case
until the constable made his return upon
the writ.
why" exclaimed Mr.. Saunders, with
a look Of blank establishment, this court
can't issue such a writ and no court could
issue one for o horse" Shop was more
than equal TO the emergency.
Your honor" he said, "a wise and
lust court can do anything that is laid
down in the books. The writ of habeas
corpus has been recognized as sacred for
centuries. 10 say that this court can't
issue il is TO say that 1t IS ignorant OF
Magma Charta."
but this court kin issue it" inter-
posed the justice, land it has issued 1t
already"
llr. Saunders saw his mistake and
apologized to the court for having doubt
ed its ability TO do anything it chose. II
is needless TO say that the horse was re-
stored to its owner.
WHAT HIS BUSINESS WAS.
As funny thing as ever occurred in
a court happened at Napoleon, O., in
1899. before Judge Potter and a jury. \
case was on trial, and an outsider seated
himself on one Of the puncheOns at the
far end Of the panel Of jurors. there be-
ing no other available seat. When the
defendants counsel arose to address the
| Jury he scanned the face Of each very
closely, and naturally his gaze was
directed 10 the furthest man from him,
who didn't happen to be juror at all.
Glaring at him, ne began:
Gentlemen of the jury, | want to
know what this man referring to the
plaintiff in the case) has come into court
I for. What is his business! What right
has he here? What is he seeking for.
Again | repeat, gentlemen Of the jury,
why is he hereE
The countryman imagined that the
question had direct reference 10 himself,
and when the lawyer paused 70 give due
weight and emphasis TO the question, he
l Jumped 10 his feet and howled;
! "What am | here for, you cross eyed
/ cock of the walk What am | seeking
/ for in this here COURT I'll tell you Ia
/ shortQrder, you weazen faced old son OF
a g1R. I've been here three days
a-waitin' fer my fees, and nary red Lin
git. Pay me my witness fees, sir, and
/ I'll git out Of here immegiately."
This unexpected Grafton brought DOWN
the house, and tlp lawyer never finished
his able argument
John II. Morrison practiced law many
years ago ut Findlsy and all through
that section of Ohio. He had some
striking peculiarities. which were in tho
habit Of cropping out IN court. He was
once trying a case before Judge Patrick
Henry Goode and jury, and opened his
side Of the case as follows;
MAY it please the court, by the per-
jury of witnesses, the ignorance Of the
Jury and the connivance of the court, 4
expect to lose this case"
what is that you say, Mr.. MorrisonP
"That is all have to say on that point,
and the court will feel happier if DO
not repeat what | have already said.
From the looks Of the jury / infer that
they would rather not have heard il
/ nnra ~ inrinnati EnGnirav
J