The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-26
A SENSE OF JUSTICE.

All the people Of Yoakum and Of tbs
country district round about were going
TO court. 1t was the day on which the case
of Hoblev VS.. Dutton was to be tried.
The plaintiff, Deacon Silas Hobley, and
his wife were on their way to town in an
old farm wagon. They did not lack bet
ter vehicle, but the deacon was anxious to
impress upon his neighbors the fact that
the cart in which they had for years seen
him jogging about the country was no
more. 1t was on account of the smashing
of this cart that the suit had been brought
The plaintiff and his wife were laboring
under too much excitement TO feel inclined
TO talk. Mrs Eobley had asked Silas sew
eral times whether he thought the case
would be decided in his favor At last he
answered:
"Well, I dunno. Sometimes l kinder
visht | had took the fifty dollars compro-
mise that they offered. Course we know
the cart wasn't with no two and a half
which Pm asking for damages. And l al
low Abner-Jedge Peck-he knows it well
enough; but then he has sense Of justice,
and knows Col Dutton he can better afford
TO give two fifty than can to take Jest
fifty for that cart. So it REILLY all rests
with the jedge-'n' we can't tell what
he'll do"
"Well, Jest don't b'lieve," said the dea-
cons wife, that Abner would go n de-
eide against us"
The defendant. Col Miles Dutton. his
daughter Ethel and Mr.. Ralph Elliott,
ESQ, his attorney, came TO town in very
swell turnout, the horses whereof wore
tan colored harness and large, clanking
nickel chains. On the box sat Peter Mar
tin, the coaehman, who had been RESPONSE
bic for the breaking up Of Deacon Hobley's
cart. Miss Ethel, who would come in spite
of the fact that the colonel had declared
she should not, wore taking light green
frock and smart hat, aud over her Shout
der iauntily swung a checkered parasoll
The country people whom they passed
from time to time along the road could not
but admire her, although they made vari.
Gus unpleasant remarks about 1.-The way
them buttons was always putin on dog"
"Confound It'll they are coming" growl-
ed the colonel, as the high steppers dis
tanced one bob tailed caravan, consisting
Of a farm sulky and gig. 1.-The people OF
this internal place seem TO have veritable
passion for litigation"
"They must be interested in something,
papa" said Miss Ethel; "of course they
don't have any of the tfings TO go to that
we have in the city; so why shouldn't they
make the most of these court things-de-
Cisions and cases and all that, you knowW
These last few words we're delivered in a
confidential fashion to Mr.. Ralph Elliott,
at whom she darted from time to time,
when the colonel was not looking, an arch
side glance. There was an understanding
between the two-a little ambiguous as
vet, owing to the fact that the colonel did
not much approve of the young lawyer.
"To be sure assented Elliott; "and it is
plain that Hobley We. DuttOn is destined
to be one Of the greatest events of the
Yoakum season"
''Fudge" exclaimed the colonel, who
was in a very bad humor indeed; lit all
comes from their insane admiration of that
ancient alcalde, Judge Peck. He has been
justice of the peace in the YOakum town
ship for the last twenty years, and the
people hereabouts regard him with the
same awe that you might whole bench
full of lord chancellors ard chief justices"
Docs he know much law" inquired FL
hott, passing his hand over the pile of calf
bound volumes on the seat beside him.
About as much as a lizard" answered
the colonel
"He reminds me of Sancho Panzo," said
| Ethel "They say he has a sense Of justice
and tries 10 be fair; and you ought TO see
what funny round sink head he has,
with fuzzy hair on the back OF it,"
/ "a sense of justice" roared the colonel,
while Elliott began to laugh; Il have
never seen any manifestation OF it. No
/ sooner had ! bought this place, Elliott,
/ than these people began to take advantage
/ of every excuse to drag me into court.
/ And have been worsted every time. OF
/ course l can appeep'-
But it isn't worth whilee" said Elliott.
ayes, partly that However. as no one
/ ever appeals from Judge Peck's decisions,
4 / don't wish TO run the risk of being mob
bed for what they would consider an out
rageous insult to their judiciary"
From what hear, said Elliott, faint
! trace of anxiety showing through his care
! less good humor this honorable court is
not likely TO look with much favor on the
efforts Of a stranger in the bsiliwick-such
as am"
"Oh, no." replied the colonel, grimly;
"he will size you up at the outset As a city
| dude lawyer, and you won't be in it at all. "
"You are so encouraging, papa" cried
Ethel Then, when the colonel turned 70
speak for a moment with the driver, she
put her hand in Elliott's and whispered,
81 know you will win. and just think, il
you do''-
Il hope so" whispered the other; but
| just think, if don't'-
The room where the famous Judge Alb
ner Peck held court, in and for the town
! ship Of Yoakum. was over ''the Store'-s
small hall. lighted by several cu-tainless
windows which stared through the srimy
white walls. The floor WIS bare: there
were plenty of benches fer spectators. and
few chairs. The lawyers had a long pine
table, the edges Of its Top serrated with
| many ancient WRITINGS by lac&knives
The court occupied an exalted position on
a broad platform at one end OF Cne room.
| Above the judges chair and desk there
hung canopy Of thick red dausSk. vio-
lently suggestive in shape and general ap
pearsnce Of n psir of elG fashioned window
curtains. 4 part of this oISpsry, weighted
with dust ard eohw-ebs. had pulled loose
from its lnoorings above, and hung dow Q
over the JUdge'e seat so that, s. b moved
about, tie frayed edge net infre4uently
t!ckled his BALD crown
AT few minutes before 10 O'Clock the
| eyes OF the hundred spectators that crowd
ed the courtroom ,ur-ed toward this Plat
form 10 behold the eminent jurist Abner
| Peck formally take his piace upoa the