The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-10-09
A WILD RIDE.
The Adventure OF Worthy Citizen
Of Adams County With Highland
County Onicials.

Some days ago Mr.. George Gall, a re-
spectacle farmer of Adams countv, was
unloading his wagon at the Ellifritz mill
when his team took fright and ran off
up the alley. The wagon collided with
a blackboard belonging to Mr.. Jas. Clark,
completely demolishing it. Mr.. Clark
Immediately brought suit for $35 dam
ages under the city ordinance, and sum-
mons was served on Mr.. Gall before he
left town. Mr.. Calls unassuming dispo.
sition is not indicated by his name. He
is over sixty years of age, and had never
figured in a police court before, aud he
did not fancy the idea of beginning at
his time of life. In his extremity he
sought counsel of H. D. Davis. When
the legal eye of Davis ran over the writ
which was causing his client so much
distress, he soon detected fatal omis.
sion in the document. The Constable
in his haste to serve the summons on
Mr.. Gall before he should leave town,
had left out the name of the defendant.
The plan OF defense was soon mapped
out. Mr.. Gall was instructed to be on
hand Monday morning with his fleetest
horse and his riding habit. The honest
farmer strenuously objected to assuming
the role of fugitive from justice, but
when the legal aspect of the case was ex.
planned to him his scruples were quieted,
and he agreed to follow implicitly the
advice of counsel. According to agree.
ment, Gall appeared in town Monday
morning mounted on the identical run.
away mare that had been the cause of
the trouble. He tied his horse at Haynes
corner, and when Squire Maddox open.
ed court at 8 o'clock Mr.. Gall took his
seat near the door, accoutred with whip
and spur. When the case was called
Mr.. Davis made motion to dismiss on
account of the failure in the summons
to specify the defendant. "If that's the
case" said Squire Maddox, another
summons must be issued" Pen and
paper were Immediately called into req.
uisition to prepare a new summons.
Meanwhile Davis turned toward his wait
ing client and deliberately drew out
his handkerchief and wiped his throb-
bing dome of thought. Upon seeing this
prearranged signal the old man sudden
Fly became transformed into another crea-
ture. He rose, glanced about the room,
then leaped out of the door with the
agility of an athlete and darted down
the street to where his faithful horse was
hitched. Before the astonished court
and attorneys could get to the door the
feet-footed patriarch was in the saddle
and galloping down the hill at break
neck speed. The new paper was hastily
filled out and Constable Young was dis
patched to overtake the flying farmer in
order to serve the summons before he
should cross the township line. Both
pursued and pursuer seemed to have
thought that the summons would hold
good anywhere in the county. Mr.. Gall
piled whip and spur with right good
will, and the mare that had got him into
trouble did her level best to get him out.
The Constable followed hard after, and
the steeple.chase was kept up long after
the line of Liberty township was crossed.
At last the hills of Adams county came
in sight, and the minion of the law gave
up the chase. Mr.. Gall never stopped
till he had shaken the dust of Highland
county from off his feet. He will prob
ably not be visitor in Hillsboro again
for twelve months, or until the Limitation
expires, preferring if he has to stand
suit to do it at home among his friends
and acquaintances.