Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-06-05
THE MAGISTRATES MULE.
His Honor Thought He Had a Bargain,
but 1t Did Not Pan Out Well.


but 1t Did Not Pan Out Well.
Wilma rough frontiersman of the
genus cowboy-is the perpetrator of a joke
upon a certain erudite justice of the peace,
and the tale will bear repeating. His home
is in the quiet town of Richfield, and when
he visits the settlement he celebrates by
painting the town a flaming cardinal. On
one of these occasions he took a hand at
some simple game played with five cards,
OF which the first is buried. l think they
call it "stud." Something about the game
was forbidden, and, under the kind super
vision of the marshal, VIM, with five COM
panions, found himself before the bar of
justice.
Denials and defense were useless. JUS.
tice Orrick solemnly perused the statutes
and fined each offender S12. Sc. VIM found
that he had but ten dollars, and this he
offered to the magistrate, but no compro-
mise could be effected with the city treas
ury. 1t was $l2.50 or twelve and one-half
days in durance vile. Finally n happy
thought struck the young man.
"Say, judge, Tll give you a bill of sale of
my mule, and if 1 don't bring you the
money within five days I'll bring the crit.
ter and it's yours"
Now an average mule is worth forty dol.
lars, and the justice thought he had a good
bargain; so did VIM, although he never
cracked a smile until the bill was drawn
up, signed and delivered, then something
in his countennnce warned the grave Or
rick of impending 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, Richfield justice cannot be lightly
treated. Straightway the justice hied him
to the constable and together they visited
Winn's home.
"Well, Vim, l have a warrant for YOU
"What fer?"
The judge says rs YOU amt settled that
fine."
"Ain't settled that finer You try and
make me settle it agin and it'll cost you
three or four mules"
"How's that?"
"Well, l give the judge a bill of sale fol
my mule and he let me CO."
SIS that so, Brother Orrick?"
The judge, after much hesitation, con.
fessed that such was the case.
"Well, then, you can't do nothing more
with Winn."
"But, VIM, you'll let me see the mewl?'
"Cert. Come along"
Out to the old corral they went, and Their
upon the ground lay the ungainly hybrid
patriarch of all the mules in Utah. VIM
kicked it and it slowly rose ana tottered tc
its feet.
Look out, gentlemen. It may fall on you
and l can't be responsible for accident"
"Now, Winn," whined the baffled Or
rick, II meant to do the right thing by you
but l guess l stretched the law a leetle
The law won't let me take anything 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 a procession
through the main street of Richfield. VIM
drove a cart, and behind was tied Brother
Orrick's mule. Two of his boon com
panions marched on either side to steady
its feeble steps, and the fifth brought w
the rear and gave the beast a push when
ever it seemed that it must surely fall
The next morning there was a funeral il
Justice Orrick's corral, and the worth,
magistrate, having just deposited s12.5 so o
his own hard earned cash in the city treas
ury, was the sole mourner.-Forest ant
I Stream.