Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-11-06
A SENSE OF JUSTICE.
Thus fobbled by the rusty curb of old Father
Antc the law.

country district round about were goins
to court. 1t was the day on which the
case of Hobley VS.. Dutton was to bt
tried.
The plaintiff, Deacon Silas Hobley
and his wife were on their way to town
in an old farm wagon. They did not
lack better 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 ac-
count of the smashing of this cart that
the suit had been brought.
The plaintiff and his wife were labor
ing under too much excitement to feel
inclined to talk. Mrs. HObley had ask
ed Silas several times whether he tho't
the case would be decided in his favor.
At last he answered:
We'll, l dunno. Sometimes kinder
wish l had took the fifty dollars COM
promise that they offered. Course we
know the cart wasn't wuth no two and
half which I'm asking for damages.
And | allow Abner--Jedge Peck-he
knows it well enough; but then he has
sense of justice, and knows Col. Dut-
ton he can better afford to give two fifty
than can to to take Jest fifty for that
cart. So it reelly all rests with the
! jedge-and we can't tell what he'll do
"Well, jest don't believe" said the
deacon'S wife, ''that Abner would go n
decide against u.s."
The defendant, Colonel Miles Dutton,
his daughte Ethel, and Mr.. Ralph Eli
oft, Esq, his attorney, came to town in
very swell turnOut-the horses where
of were tan-colored harness and large,
clanking nickel chains. On the box sat
Peter Martin, the coachman, who had
been responsible for the breaking up OF
Deacon HObley's cart. Miss Ethel, who
would come in spite of the fact that the
Colonel declared that she should not,
wore a taking light-green frock and
smart hat, and over her shoulder jauntily
swung checkered parasol. The coun-
try people whom they passed from time
to time along the road could not but ad-
mire her, although they made very un-
pleasant remarks about 1.-The way them
buttons was always putin on dog"
"Confound it! they are all coming"
growled the Colonel, as the high step
pers distanced one bob tailed caravan,
consisting of farm sulky and gig;
1.-The people of this internal place seem
to have veritable passion for Htlga-
ton"
"They must be interested in some
thing, papa," said Miss Ethel; "Of course
they don't have any of the things to go to
that we have in the city; so why should
they not make the most of these court
things-decisions and cases and all that,
yea know"
These last few words were delivered
in confidential fashion to Mr. Ralph
Elliott, at whom she darted, from time
to time, when the Colonel was not look
ing, an arch side glance. There was an
understanding between the twO-a little
ambiguous yet, owing to the fact that
the Colonel did not much approve of the
young lawyer.
ITO be sure" assented Elliott; ''and
it is plain that Hobley VS.. Dutton is des-
tined to be one of the greatest events of
the Yoakum season."
"Fudge!' exclaimed the Colonel, who
was in very bad humor indeed; sit all
comes from their insane admiration of
that ancient alcalde, Judge Peck. He has
been justice of the peace in the Yoakum
township for the last twenty years, and
the people hereabouts regard him with
the same awe that you might whole
benchful of Lord Chancellors and Chief
Justices"
"Does he know much law?" inquired
Elliott, passing his hand over the pile
of calf bound volumes on the seat be-
side him.
about as much as lizard" answer
ed the Colonel.
'He reminds me of Sancho Panza,"
said Ethel; "they say he has a sense of
justice and tries to be fair-and you
ought to see what funny round pink
head he has, with fuzzy hair on the back
of it."
"a sense of justice" roared the Colo
mel, while Elliott began to laugh; Il
have never seen any manifestations of
it. No sooner had l bought this place,
Elliott, than these people began to take
advantage of every excuse to drag me
into court. And L have been worsted
every time. OF course l can appeal
"But it isn't worth while?" said Eli
oft.
"Yes, partly that. However, as no
one ever appeals from Judge Peck's de
cision, l don't wish to run the risk of
being mobbed for what they would con-
slider an outrageous insult to their judi
ciary."
From what l hear" said Elliott,
faint trace of anxiety showing through
his careless good humor, "this honorable
court is not likely to look with much ia
vor on the efforts of a stranger in the
bailiwick-such as l 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, papaP' cried
Ethel. Then, when the Colonel turned
to speak for moment with the driver,
she put her hand in Elliott's and whis-
pered: Il know you will win; and just
think, if you do"
81 hope so," whispered the other; "but
Just think, if l don't"
The room where the famous Judge
Abner Peck held court, in and for the
Township of Yoakum, was over "The
Store"-a small hall, lighted by several
curtainleSs windows which stared
through the grimy white walls. The
floor was bare; there were plenty of
benches for spectators, and few chairs.
The lawyers had long pine table, the
edges of its top serrated with many an
cient whittlings from jack-knives. The
Court occupied an exalted position on
broad platform at one end of the room.
Above the Judges chair and desk there
hing canopy of thick, red damask,
violently suggestive in shape and gener-
al appearance of pair of old-fashioned
e 70 Irnna