Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-16
THE OLD-TIME SQUIRE.
His Profession a Very Peculiar One
a Century or So Ago.
A TERROR TO PR9FANE PEOPLE.
Some Quaint Entries Found in an Ancient
Docket Of One of EN-.
NOT MUCH MONEY IN THE BUSINESS

The typical Justice of the Peace is not so
common as he once was, though few speci-
mems of the old-time magistrate remain
those who regard the Office as one of trust
and dignity, and who had rather be right
than Justice of the Peace. One of them
died few years ago in Indiana county,
Majo James Stewart, who filed the office
for half a century. 1t was his boast that
during his entire incumbency but two aD-
peals had been taken to court, and IN these
he was sustained. He was a Justice of the
Peace-a peacemaker-but he didn't make
as much money as some magistrates do now
adays.
A noted Squire of the oIden time was
Allen Drum, great-grandfather of Mr.. John
M. Drum, of 96 Diamond street. Mr..
Drums first commission was issued several
years before the end of the last century, and
he held the Office until 1886. His son was
also Justice of the Peace and Sheriff of
Mercer county. When Allen Drum was
first commissioned he lived in Westmore-
land, but the division of counties subse-
quently put him into Mercer, where he dis
pensed law and justice until the year
named.
SOME VERY FUNNY THINGS.
There are some intensely humorous incl
dents recorded in his docket, as we look at
such things nowadays, but the record is
made up in blunt way, SO that much of it
would offend the fastidious taste of the pres
ent day, and in consequence cannot be pub
lished. The record in each of many hun
dreds is so complete that it would put to
shame most of those made at present As a
specimen of conscientiousness the following
extract is given:
Commonwealth versus David Jones'
Warrant issued December 81, 1911, against
the defendant for breach of the peace
against said evidence, which was an as
sault and battery committed on the Both day of
December, 1911, on the body of James Jones,
Justice appeared this 24th day of March, 1872,
and, being brothers, full reconciliation took
place and promised friendship to each other,
and so was dismissed, as it appeared to me the
Commonwealth would not be injured.
The style of composition might be i'm
proved, but not the sentiment.
Our great-grandfathers in this section
were much opposed to profane swearing,
mariners on the Ohio and Mississippi keel
boats, for ''to swear like boatman" is an
adage that grew up about 1900 to 1910 in
Western Pennsylvania, when the profanity
of some revolutionary soldiers began to be
less noticeable than it had previously been.
Magistrates were very liable to notice in
fractions of this kind, and Squire Dunn
would not allow profanity in his presence.
In the following case he subscribes himself
as witness:
Commonwealth versus Robert Fowler,
Be it remembered that on the 18th day of
September, 1909, Robert Fowler, of Sandy Lake
township Mercer county farmer. is convicted
before me, being one of the Justices of the
Peace, of swearing profane oaths, by the name
of God, and IA damns And adjudge him to
forfeit for the first the sum of 81 cents each
and for the IA damns L do adjldge him to for
felt for the same the sum of DO cents each.
Given under my hand and seal this Both day Of
September, 1909. ALLEN DUNN.
COSTLY SWEARING.
Mr.. Fowler's profanity cost him 50 60.
Modern Justices of the Peace might fill the
were to enforce the law against profanity, or |
effect great reformation of morals in this |
respect.
The docket covering Squire Dunn's term,
from 1905 to 1918, contains a record Of about |
800 cases, in which the Justices fee ranges |
from 10 to 40 cents, generally 20 cents The |
judgments run from 81 to 81 30, and the |
bulk OF them being under S1O Many are on |
notes and due bills given under seal and
payable one year from date, amounts being
mainly in the neighborhood of S5, showing |
that people were either very litigious
or that money is scarce commodity In those
days. Robert Fowler, the swearer, figures
as defendant in great many small suits
Much the greater part of all the actions
throughout the docket are tabled ''Ami-
cable suit In many evidences of indebt-
edness it is stipulated that the amount to be
paid was to be in corn or rye, delivered
usually at Caldwelps grist mill, at ruling
cash prices at the time of maturity of the
note.
The time-stained docket is filled with
quaint evidences of old-time customs, traces
of which can only be found at present in
legal phraseologY. This shows also that our
were fully as iond of law, if
no more SO, than at present