Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-01-30
\ NOVEL law SUIT.


The followidg is copy of a petition
filed in the Common Pleas Court on the
18th inst. by MesSrs J. W. Shannon and
W. V. Campbell. attorneys for the PLAIN
tiff in the case:
Geo. Wilson. plaintiff, vs.: John Shep-
herd, defendant; petition Inc plaintlfl
George Wilson says that more imam SIX
months prior to the commencement OF
the action. to-Nit, OH or about the 18th day
OF November, AID. 1883, at SAID county OF
Belmont, one W. y. COffland and one
James Taggart lost and paid to the said
defendant. John Shepherd, upon an I'M
lawful bet and wager between them the
sum IF nine hundred and sixty dollars
fS960,). and said W. n COffland and James
Taggart have wholly failed for the period
of six months without cOllusiOn or deceit
to sue for the recovery of said money
wherefore the plaintiff sues to recover
the same for his own use. The plaintiff
therefore asks judgment against said
defendant for the sum of nine hundred
and sixty dollars, for his costs and for all
proper relief.
The circumstances from which this
case arose are about as follows:
During the campaign of 1888 William
Cotfiand tried TO buy the wool of John
Shepherd of Morristown. Wool then was
worth about y cents and Shepherd re-
fused to take that price, saying that in
case Harrison should be elected he would
get 33 cents. After some bantering COff-
land agreed to give him 81 cents per
pound if Harrison was elected and in case
of Cleyeland's election % cents was to be
the price. 4 contract was drawn up, and,
after the election, was carried out in ac-
cordance with the result.
During the late fall campaign George
Wilson, Republican of MOrristOwn, but
who was sour on Foraker, in Shepherds
presence offered to bet that Foraker
would not be elected. Shepherd replied
that he was willing to wager 800 to $40,
Oh Foraker Wilson at once drew out
his money but Shepherd refused to put
up the money saying he did not want to
bet with fellow Republican. The mat
ter was dropped then for IA time but VIII
son afterwards asked Shepherd to give
him something in compensation as he
did not bet and asked for quart of
whisky This Shepherd refused to give
but finally agreed to set the oysters, to
himself and friends.
After the election when Wilson became
aware of how narrowly he had failed to
win (S1OO) he claimed from Shepherd the
full amount but of course did not get it.
Wilson then brought suit against Shep-
herd for $3.50, the amount which he
claims Shepherd gained i'll the wool trans
action with Cofliand. The laws of Ohio
provide that the loser of bet may within
six months bring suit and recover the
amount lost, but should no action be
brought within that time third party
may recover the full amount of the wager.
The question to be determined is whether
the deal between COffiand and Shepherd
was properly bet and can be so constru
ed. A large amount of interest hinges
on the trial.
The following named persons received
teachers certificate at the last examina-
ton, held at Bellaire, January IL:
For one Yedr-Rome +. Patterson and
o. ii. Neptune.
Tico Years-T. J. Russell and Winfield
Moore.
Three Years :(Continued examinatiOm
Laura Close.
Ffce YeaFs-T. ". Williams.
Whole number taking full examina-
ton i6.
Mr.. HARRY ROBERTS, of Martins
Ferry, died on Sunday morning, from
consumption. He was highly respect
ed young man, and leaves wife and
child
ATTEND the ColOred Concert on Thurs
day evening of next week.