The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-07-30
THE MAGISTRATES MULE.
He Thought He Had a Bargain, But It
Didn't Pan Out Well.


Wilma rough frontiersman of the
genus cowboy-is the perpetrator of
joke upon certain erudite justice of
the peace and the tale viii bear repeat
ing. His home is in the quiet town of
Riehfield and when he visits the settle
ment he celebrates by painting the
town flaming cardinal. On one of
these occasions he took hand at some
simple game played with five cards, of
which the first is buried / think they
call it ''stud." Something about the
game was forbidden in the city ordi-
nance ''for the suppression of gam
bling and under the kind supervision
of the marshal, Winn, with five COM
panions, found himself before the bar
of justice. Denials and defense were
useless. Justice Orrick solemnly pc
rused the statutes and fined each of
fender twelve dollars and half Winn
found that he had but ten dollars and
this he offered to the magistrate, but
no compromise could be effected with
the city treasury. It was twelve dol
lars and half or twelve and one-half
days in durance vile. Finally a happy
thought struck the young man.
Say, judge, I'll give you bill of sale
of my mule and if don't bring you the
money within five days I'll bring the
critter and it's yourn.
Now an average mule was worth
forty dollars and the justice thought he
had good bargain; SO did Winn, al
though he never cracked a smile until
the bill was drawn up, signed and de-
livered; then something in his counten-
ance warned the grave Orrick of inn
pending trouble.
''Winn, how old is that ar mewl?"
''Old enough to vote, judge, old enough
to vote, and the door was closed from
the outside.
Now Richfeld justice can not be
lightly treated. Straightway the justice
hied him to the constable and together
they visited Winn's home.
"Well, Winn, have a warrant for
you"
''What fer?'
''The Judge says as you amt settled
that fine"
'Ain't settled that fine? You try and
make me settle it agin and it'll cost you
three or four mules"
''How's that?n
''Well, l give the judge a bill of sale
for my mule and he let me 60"
SIS that so, Brother Orriclz?"
The judge, after much hesitation,
confessed that such was the case.
''Well, then you can't do nothing
more with Winn."
But, Winn, you'll let me see the
mewl?"
''Cert. Come along"
Out to the old corral they went and
there upon the ground lay the ungainly
hybrid, patriarch of all the mules ir
Utah. Winn kicked it and it slowly
rose and tottered to its feet.
"Look out, gentlemen, it may fall or
you and l can't be responsible for acci
dents''
Now, Winn," whined the baff1ed Or
rick II meant to do the right thing BY
you, but guess I stretched the law {
leetle. The law won't let me take any
thing that will eat or run away"
You're all right, judge. You're al
right. That mule can't do neither one.
Five days later there was procession
through the main street of Richfeld
Winn drove a cart and behind was tieC
Brother Orriclk's mule. Two of his bool
companions marched on either side Il
steady it's feeble steps, and the fiftl
brought up the rear and gave the beas
push whenever it seemed that it mus
surely fall. The next morning ther
was funeral in Justice Orrick's corral
and the worthy magistrate, having jus
deposited twelve dollars and half o
his own hard earned cash in the cit
treasury, was the sole mourner.-Fores
and Stream.