The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-24
SAMPLES OF JUSTICE.
HOW THE LAW IS ADMINISTERED
IN EGYPT, ILL.

dence-Antics OF a Modern Shallow,
Who Keeps Saloon to Get whisk y
at Wholesale Rates.
From the Chicago Tribune.
MAscoUTAH, ILL, Feb. 5.-Thers was
time good deal less than century ago
that the ilhterate backwoods justice Of the
peace held full sway In Southern Illinois.
That was before the day of railroads, tele-
graph and other modern improvements.
Civilization il Egypt was then in swaddling
clothes. The country trials held In these
days were often amusing, sometimes excit-
ing and not intrequently were followed by
tragedy or two. The trials held at the
country temple Of justice we're the all-ab-
sorbing topic of interest to the country
people for many miles around. When
neighbors had a dispute about the ownership
of stray pig or something else of equal
Importance the people of the community
promptly took sides one way or another,
and the whole affair finally landed in the
country justice of the peace court.
An old attorney. who is now prominent
Illinois politician, once told ths writer that
the most exciting and sensational trials In
which he ever participated were held before
W
that he learned to manipulate wires, which
knowledge he has used to great advantage
since his advent into the political arena.
The attorneys first experience was with an
important case. John Smith gave his near
neighbor. James Sampson, an unmerciful
whipping because the latter's hogs broke
into the formers sweet potato patch.
James was not the physical
equal of his neighbor, and his natural
"a Ia a ar1OiOua1
this attorney and had Smith arrested for
assault and battery. The trial was held be
fore an old-time justice of the peace, whose
learning, to say the least, was not extensive.
After the testimony was all in and before
the attorney had had his say, the court
arose and delivered his decision.
MADE A DECISION.
1.-THE 'onerable court finds the PENDANT not
guilty" ...-
But" protested the young attorney, ST
have not made my speech for the prosecu-
tion, anil"
THAT makes no difference" broke IN the
judge. 'you kin make your speech now. /
reckon we kin listen; blaze away with it."
ut was clearly shown by the testimony,
your honor" began the attorney, that
John Smith did assault James Sampson, and
whereas--"
"Wall," interrupted the court, "I low
that John did lick Jim, but the hogs were tn
blame, an they was Jim's hogs, an who
else should have had the Iickin' but Jimg"
But, your honor, protested the attorney.
''the statutes are very plain upon"
"Confound the statutes and you too, )"
Numbered the judge. 81 reckon / know
my duty without bein' told by young up
start. The case am dismissed for want of
cause an the court am adjourned" The
trial was ended and the young attorney had
lest his first case.
The times have changed in Southern
Illinois during the last half century. The
people are now progressive, intelligent, and
educated. The old time backwoods trials
aud country brawls are things OF the past
They bad their day and are now only re.
miniscences. recalled occasionally by ,some
gray-haired citizen who lived in Egypt
long ago.
There is one locality, however, in the Kali.
kaskia river bottoms, twenty-five miles
from here, where the country trial and the
backwoods justice still flourish in this day
of enlightenment. The doing of the justices
courts interests the whole community.
Things are carried on there to suit the ma
jority of the natives regardless Of the out
side world.
There are two justices Of the peace in that
community-ole German and one English
man. There was an exciting trial held be-
fore the German justice short time ago.
A lumber firm entered suit against the
township officials for bill of 50 80. AS
usual, the whole community took sides one
way or the other. and there was much Bit
ter feeling engendered. After the evidence
was all in and the eloquence Of the attor-
neys employed on the case had subsidized, the
Justice arose and rendered the following re-
markable decision:
A LATTER-DAY SHALLOW.
'Shintlemans, was in a pox. One of you
show your pooks, und brcove IL was dot.
Der other one then bring his pooks, und
broove it was not dot. ! peiieve you was
both right, almost"
After a moments pause the judges face
frightened up and he continues: "Shintle-
mans, dismiss dot case to Squire Logan,s
court, and he knows more English as / do"
The case was accordingly transferred to
Squire Logan's docket
Another case Of great local importauce
recently came up before the German Justice.
Harden Williams killed Mat Murphy's dog,
and the latter promptly brought suit for
heavy damages. The attorney for the de-
PENDANT proved that it was a sheep-killing
dog and asked the court to dismiss the case.
The honorable court arose and said:
Il fines dot der dog did get kilt by der
Williams, but fines dot was dog what kilt
some sheep once. Der court viii therefore
not gife der blaindiff tamages. but DOR de-
PENDANT must pay der costs of der cases.
Der plaintiff looses der dog und der defend
ant lcoses der COSTS"
While the decision was highly satisfactory
to the court it was not to any one else
There was a general howl upon all sides at
the decision, and the accommodating JUS
tice transferred the case to his neighbours
court to be tried over again there.
The crowd accordingly adjourned TO the
saloon. 1t is said that the English Justice
keeps saloon In order to get his liquor at
wholesale prices
Be that as it may, the justice is che best
customer Of his own saloon. He has been
known 60 sell rotgut whisky to the young
bloods OF the community until they were
beastly drunk, and then pitch them into the
street. The next day the saloonkeeper, in
the capacity OF justice of the peace, would
infiict fac of good-sized dimensions for
drunkenness aud distur bing the peace. But
to return TO the dog story.
The crowd reached the saloon i'll due time
and were surprised to find the justice
sober. The court was promptly called to
order, and the dog case came up for hear.
ing.
The German justice rose and gave his
reasons at some length for deciding the case
as he did. The numerous witnesses were
then called, and told again their stories.
After the evidence was all in the English
court handed down the following decision
SOLOMON COME TO JUDGMENT.
"The court finds the plaintiff guilty as