Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-03-30
For the Herald and Tribune.
REMINISCENT.
The TribulatiOns of an Old Time County
Officer.

1 ou an olu lhsnlOneu drunk, ana nat
gone out to place known at that tim
as Flint Hill, and had in some wa,
trespassed on the rights of one Malind,
Erwin, who resided there.
1t was in the evening when Mr.. Dos
ser arrived at the college. He was ac
quainted with some of the students bu
did not know those for whom he haC
the warrants. He hitched his pony OF
the south side of the college and in
quired of some of the boys for Clobel
Alf Taylor (who was an uncle of oul
Bob and Little Alf, and, by the way
Clober was what might be called q
real trump-big Drained, big hearted
and jovial fellow. Mr.. Dosser was
shown to Clobers room and was greet
ed by Taylor with much kindness. In
great confidence Mr.. Dosser at once
told him his business and asked him
if he would assist him in finding the
culprits and help him arrest them and
take them before some magistrate for
trial. Clober, in very serious tone,
told Mr. Dosser that those two fellows
were very dangerous boys and always
went well armed, and he did not think
they would submit to an arrest very
tamely.
Mr.. Dosser was not a giant in strength
nor did he possess more courage than
| ordinary men, but he was very con-
scientious about performing his duty
as an officer So he told Clober that
he would be compelled by his oath of
office to make the arrest if he could
find the fellows, even if he had to sum-
mon DR.. Doak-who was then presi-
dent-the rest of the faculty and all the
boys on the hill.
Clober told him he knew his oath
and his honor as an officer and man
compelled him to do his whole duty,
and if possible to arrest those two fel-
lows for disturbing poor old Malinda
at her own home. But he added, in a
more emphatic tone:
tom Dosser, these fellows have vi
olated the law and ought to be punish
ed, but they are wild, reckless boys;
their daddies are rich and will spend
any amount of money to pay them out
OF any trouble they may get into, and
besides that they have lots of friends
here'who will help them to resist your
authority. See here, Tom, suppose we
go see DR.. Doak and state the case to
him, and probably he can suggest some
plan by which the matter may be ad-
justed. i don't want to get those fell
lows mad at me for they are danger
our."
Mr.. Dosser agreed to Clobef's propo-
sition, and to DR.. Doak s recitation
room they went. However, on the way
Clober met one of the fellows, took
him aside and told him what was up,
and for him to get some of the boys to
help him take Mr.. Dosser' little horse
where few days previous they had ia.
ken the Widow Hanks butting goat.
That meant the fourth story of the col
lege building.
When Dosser and Clober went into
DR.. Doak's recitation room they found
him hearing class. After he had fin
ished this, Mr.. Dosser told his business.
Doak bit his lip, and in a good humor-
ed way replied that he was sorry any
of his students had disturbed Mrs. Err
win, and that it was his duty to obey
the law as an officer, to make the ar.
rest and have them tried, and then he
(Doak) and the faculty would consult
as to their duty in the premises. Mr..
Dosser, in rather timid way, said:
'Mr. Doak, Mr.. Taylor says he does
not think these fellows will allow me
to arrest them without resistance.
Can t you get them to let me make the
arrestY"
Doak replied that he did not think
it was any part of his duty as president
to do any such thing; and he left the
room.\
After further consultation by Clober
and Dosser it was thought best by them
for Mrs. Erwin and her witnesses to
come over next day, and all parties to
go before ESQ., Green or Mathes and
have the matter fixed.
Dosser went round to the south side
for his horse, but it was gone. He en-
quired of boy who was there chop
ping wood if he knew anything of the
horse. The boy pointed up to the win
dow of the hall in the east end of the
building, and there the head of Dos
ser s horse was visible. He at once
went to his friend Clober's room and
told him the situation and implored
him to get the boys to bring the pony
down to terra firma.
They went out on the south side,
where by this time quite a crowd of
the boys had assembled, and Clober
got up on pile of wood and made
them quite speech, and you bet he
was better talker than Bob or Alf.
1t was finally agreed that the boys
would bring the horse safely down and
deliver him to Mr.. Dosser, and he in
turn was to treat the boys when they
went to town, and to return the war
rant to Mrs. Erwin and use his influ-
ence with her to stop any further pro-
cedings.
The horse was soon on the ground