The record-union., 1892-12-13
Old BLACK HhWK.H
An Eccentric Citizen of Brighton in
the Early Sixties.
Old-Time Scene In a Justices Court
A Case Which T. C. Perkins Has
Under Amusement.

In relating some of the early-day Incl
dents of life in the then bustling burg of
Brighton, Charles Petit told the follow
ing story:
sin the early sixties, and for some years
preceding. there might have been seen on
the streets of Brighton, or around one of
the public houses or places where liquor
was sold, the familiar form of man
named c. 2. Gotf, or-as he was more
generally known in the neighborhoCd-
old Black Hawk who was quite
character in his way. Pettitogging in
JUSTICES court was what he most de-
lighted in, and getting one neighbor pit
ted against another in law suit, with
himself retained as counsel on one side or
the other In this way he managed to
keep the community in constant tur-
moil; and when business of this sort be-
came slack he would take a hand himself
as plaintiff in some petty suit.
AT that time there was an elderly
widow living in the vicinity who owned
small ranch, and Black Hawk being
short of funds (which was his normal
condition), conceived the idea of courting
and marrying the lady, and by that means
getting possession of both the ranch and
its owner, which he did.
sit was not long after this happy event
when the ranch was sold and the money
all squandered, which left Mrs. Coli
without a home. About this time Golf
concluded the proper thing TO do would
be to take walk, without leaving his adj
dress or making known the place OF his
destination, Month followed month, and
still no tidings came to the deserted wife
of her recreant husband. During all this
time Mrs. Golf had comfortable home
with Mr.. and Mrs. Bowles, her old friends
and neighbors, enjoying their hospitality
I1nfil fba nf her lord which han
pened one fine day as unexpectedly as
his departure few months before.
"Gotf removed his wife to the house of
a neighbor and proceeded to bring suit
against Bowles, before Justice i. 9. Per-
kins, for the alleged services of his wife
during his absence. The necessary
papers were made out and placed in the
hands Of Constable Dick Johnson for
service upon the defendant, James
Bowles, and also subpenas for number
of witnesses. The case was set for trial,
and Bowles employed the late James w.
Cotfroth as counsel, While Gotf managed
his own side.
there was a big crowd of witnesses and
spectators present. The case was called
by the court and both sides announced
themselves ready for trial; both also
waived jury, and the case was pro-
ceeded with. The plaintiff introduced
number of witnesses to show that his
wife had been seen at various Zines as
sistiug Mrs. Bowles in her household
duties, and then Golf rested his case.
"Bowles, in order to defend himself,
brought in an itemized bill of articles
which he had furnished Mrs. Golf during
her stay at his house, and upon the bill
were articles of women's apparel,
and also a number of pipes and packages
Of smoking tobacco, and every now and
then there was charged a bottle of
whisky. to all of which the plaintiff most
strenuously objected.
after long arguments by counsel on
both sides it was agreed that the plaintiff
was liable for all the necessaries of life
which the defendant had furnished
plaintiffs wife during his absence.
When Bowles was placed on the witness
stand, and in answer to the question by
the plaintiff why his wife required so
much whisky, he answered that the old
lady had the rheumatism, and the whisky
was used as a remedy for the disease.
"WhenIthe evidence closed counsel pro-
ceeded to make their arguments to the
court, and Golf finished his remarks
with the following eloquent, if not ele-
CANT peroration:
"'And in conclusion, if your honor
please, submit to the court if whisky is
one of the necessaries of life. Suppose,
your honor, that if my wife should go
down to Sacramento and buy barrel Of
whislyaand bring it out here aud invite
your honor, i'm COffroth, Dick Johnson
and the Devil to drink it, do you suppose
[ would pay for it? No-o-o! 1 would see
you all ID frstp
His honor took the much disputed
question under advisement, and. as far
as know, he has not decided it to this
day."