Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-09-08
AsLD oouRT uNpEs a 1RnE.
A Primitive Method Of Administering j us
tice In Rural Missouri.

A'''N.'iNN'Aethuuo OF Administering JUS
tiee In Rural Missouri.
For its unique features and original legal
methods, George Miller's trial is probably
without IN equal in the court history OF
Missouri It seems that Miller, who is a
young man OF good character, had been EN-.
ployed in Main street restaurant until
Illness compelled him to abandon his posi-
ton, though he was almost penniless In
his dilemma he found friend in the per.
son of Edward j. Froisey, who offered to
support him until his recovery II 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 one Sat
nrday morning, when, as he stepped from
the back door, he observed an individual.
unknown to him, just leaving the hen.
house with fat pullet under each arm
He had been particularly cautioned by Mr.
troisey to keep lookout for chicken
thieves, and he thought this an opportu.
NIFTY to display his valor and earn his pa.
irons everlasting gratitude.
Asa Vhs ehefe, young lellerl' he shout
ed, where you goin with them ohickenssn
The stranger looked tough as he replied,
Say, Is dat any Of your funeralin
IF you don't drop them chickens. m
blow the roof Of your head orr yelled
Miller, making dash for the kitchen.
where n loaded revolver was lying.
But when he rcappeared the stranger was
making rapid tracks for the gate, and hc
did not fire 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. Hay.
ing no choice in the matter, he went with
the constable.
Now the thinly settled and purely auri.
cultural region lying south OF the Blue
boasts the presence OF duly elected justice
OF the peace, a well to do farmer, by name
d. p. Antony, and az legal proceedings In
ledge" Antony's court are by no means as
plentiful as the bullfrogs in his meadow
that official prepared to make the most Of
the case.
He had no courtroom handy but tho
spreading branches Of giant apple tree in
the orchard near by served the purpose nd.
mirably, and here the court was established,
with the soft side OF log for bench and
seats enough on the grass for the thousands
Of spectators who might or might not
choose TO attend.
Bring In the prisoneri' thundered the
judge. And stridghtway the constable up.
peared, dragging his victim unwillingly ia
seat at the other end of thelog Thecom.
plant was read in the constable's most
doleful tone, and the judge stroked his
whiskers and meditated. "Ahapi quoth he;
this, sec, is serious case, We must
have jury" II was theprisoner's prerog.
alive to ask for Jury II he wanted IL, but
that made no difference The constable
sailed forth and speedily returned with
six good men and true'-fve farmers and
workhouse guard, recruited from road
near by, where a gang Of county prisoners
were at work. The six solemnly ranged
themselves in a semiclrcle on the grass be
fore tho judge, and the trial % began.
Miller briefly told his story, and then tho
stranger, whom he believed guilty OF steal
ing Froisey's chickens, appeared on the
scene and told his story. lie claimed that
he owned the chickens, they having wan.
dered into Froisey's yard, and he was sim
ply recovering his property. That ended
the trial, and the jury thereupon filed into
the jury room-tbe cleared space beneath
an adjoining apple tree-where they wcra
speedily Joined by the judge and constable,
and together they arranged the verdict.
When they returned to the courtroom, Nil.
Ter was informed that he had been convict.
ed Of Threatening to kill" and that he had
been fined s25 and costs, amounting in all
to $3.50 He could not pay, and 50 Judge
Antony tore u leaf out OF notebook loaned
him by one of the Jurors and made out his
commitment, ordering Marshal Stewart to
confine Miller In the county Jail until the
flne and costs were paid.
And then court was adjourned, the farm
ers returning TO their wheRtilelds, 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 receive
him.-kansas City Journal.