Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-19
HELD COURT UNDER A TREE
now Justice IL Adlninistered in II
Rural Districts of Missouri.

From the Kansas City Journal
Ihat justice Is freely dispensed tn al,
corners In the petty tribunals of jackson
county known as the justice courts no ons
viii deny, but In the particular case of
George Miller. who now views the o,,tar
world from the other side of the steel bar
OF the jackson county jail. there seems to
nave been too much Justice, too speedily az
well as too unequally applied.
Arrested, tried, convicted and lande6 IN
the county jail all within the space of about
three hours. and for q crime of which II IN
yet doubtful II he was guilty; such ia MIL
ler's history. And. to make a bad matter
worse, the complications of the law are
such that 1t is highly improbable that he
can regain his liberty. even should he es-
tablish his innocence Of the charge placed
against him.
The case has its humorous as we'll as its
serious side. and for its unique features and
original legal methods Miller's trial Is prob
ably without an equal In the court history
Oh missouri. 1t seems that Miller who is q
young man Of good character, had been en-
pioyed In Main street restaurant until ILL
ness compelled him to abandon his position.
though he was almost penniless In his d.
lemma he found a friend in the person of
EDWARD j. Froisey. who offered to support
him until his recovery If he would take care
Of Froisey's little farm on the south side of
the Blue river near Troost avenue
This proposition Miller gratefully ac-
cepted. and the next day was installed in
the Froisey household, where also lived
froisey's aged mother.
All went we'll with Miller until last Satur-
day morning, when, as he stepped from the
back door, he observed an Individual, un-
known to him, just leaving the hen house
with tat pullet under each arm. He had
been particularly cautioned by Mr. Froisey
TO Keep lookout for chicken thieves. and
ne thought this an opportunity to display
MS valor and earn his patrons everlasting
gratitude.
Hold on there, young feller." he shouted
where you soin' with them chickens?"
Say. is dat any of your funeral?"
II you don't drop them chickens IN blow
making a dash for the Kitchen, where a
loaded revolver was lying.
But when he reappeared the stranger was
did not fre on him. Half an hour later he
was considerably astonished when a con-
stable hove in sight and arrested him on a
charge Of assault with intent to kill. Hav-
ing no choice in the matter, he went with
Now the thinly settled and purely .gri-
boasts the presence of a duly-elected justice
Of the peace. a well-to-do farmer. by name
p F.; antony, and: as legal Lroeeedings In
plentiful as the bull frogs in his meadow,
that official prepared to make the most Of
He had no court room handy, but the
spreading branches OF a giant apple tree in
the orchard near by served the purpose ad-
lished. with the soft side Of a log for a
bench and seats enough on the grass for
the thousands of specta tors who might or
Bring in the prisoner" Numbered the
Judge. And straightway the constable ap-
peared. dragging his victim unwillingly to a
plant was read in the constable's most
whiskers and meditated. Ana" auoth he.
this, I see. is a serious case. We must
rosative to ask for a jury If he wanted it.
sailed sail a forth and speedily returned With sx
workhouse guard. recruited from the road
work. rss Six
before the judge and the trial % began.
stranger, whom he believed guilty Of steal
. sesns sna sod his story Claimed thas
dered into Froisey's yard. and he was sim
ply recovering his property. That ended the
trial. and the jury thereupon filed INTO the
' adyoinDe APPLE e'eu ree-w Rer they were
speedily Joined by the Judge and constable.
and together they, arranged the verdict.
When they returned to the court room NIL
Ter was informed that he had been con-
victed of threatening to KILL" and that he
had been fined s25 and COSTS amounting in
all to $S540. He could not pay, and so
Judge Antony tore leaf from note book
loaned him by one of the Jurors and made
Stewart to confine Miller in the county jail
until the fine and costs were paid
And then court was adjourned, the farm
ers returning to their wheat fields the
guard to his prisoners and Miller was taken
away by the constable, and within an hour
the doors of the county jail opened to re-
ceiye him.