The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-05-18
OUT
In the Spring Time Country
Was the Democrat
Man.
Fierce Blizzard Encountered.

On Friday of last week IL was the
pleasure of the DEMOCRAT man to ac-
company Lawyer T.. o. Petit into
the folds of Benton Township, where
the latter gentleman was called to
defend the Board of Education of
that township in a suit for money for
for services rendered by one Hoy in
carrying his children across Salt
Creek to school, all winter. The case
was a peculiar one and attracted
much attention, as was manifest by
the great throng that had assembled
at the court of good Squire Devore
to hear the contest.
The case was called at about 10
o'clock, jury empaneled and the
grind began. The fight was watched
by the efficient counsel, e. 0. Petit
and Elmer Dawson, with untiring
attention.. Admission of testimony
was stung and resting by opposite
counsel, and in each case the Old
Squire weighed the difference in the
balance of Justice and declared the
right. A recess was had atnoon and
the good wife of Squire Devore had
prepared good, substantial dinner
for those unaccommodated other
wise. After the repast the old JUS
tees mill ground away again for
near two hours, when the jury re-
tired to prepare their verdict. But a
verdict was not so easily prepared as
some thought. There arose, in the
midst of this little corps of honest ju-
rists, two giant forces: law and eq-
uity. The law bespoke that there
was nothing in the case, as no record
revealed any contract to the effect
that the board was to pay Hoy for
transferring his children that year.
Equity revealed the fact that the
board had verbally promised to build
him bridge across the creek, and
failing to do so he was compelled to
transfer his children on horseback,
when the fording was often rendered
very dangerous by floating ice. For
this. service he asked $27.OO. In a
court of equity it would seem that
Hoy, being compelled by the truant
officer to send his children to school,
and yet no passageway for their go
ing without much service rendered
and danger encountered, he should
be paid for taking the place of the
promised bridge. But after deliber-
alton of two and one-half hours the
jury agreed to give the law the best
of it. and dismissed the case.
Although the case was long and te-
dious it was Il great pleasure for us
to meet and mingle with old and new
acquaintances the representative
men of Benton. There was Father
Wright, parent of our bright young
attorney, G. V. Wright, of Logan,
the Buchanans, the Shaws, Huff
mans Burgoons, MattoX, Hoy, and
many other good men, with good old
Johnny Oldfield and Squire Devore
to tell the stories while waiting for
the jury.
There are none so happy as the
good countrymen. While we must
strive to please and labor to win for
others, the farmer has only himself
to please, and his gain is all his own.
Before the shades of night theat-
ened to o'ershadow us, our bright
"law-full'' colleague and Ourself were
being chased by threatening storm
toward the county seat. Our nimble
steed outclassed the rolling niDtbus
for near six miles of the way, but the
first ''lap" was scarcely covered
when we were hedged in on all sides
by the most furious storm it has beer
our lot to encounter. With the frs
blast we were actually lifted through
the big gate of IL barn yard, scram,
bled our steed from the vehicle anG
lodged him safely in the barn, rushed
for the farm house, welcome
orr no. But when the dool
was opened, and the familiar voice
of the original Andrew Jackson Col
lison yelled out, "Come in, boys, Ou
of the wet. Let her rain, we neeC
it," then it was that we felt we hat
walked up out of Il recent rushing
dream, and found ourselves at home
And rain it did in sheets; and blow
it did in blasts, till the huge trees il
the forests were twisted off and hurl
ed like straws into neighborins
fields. But we let her rain-no body
out.
In short time the good hous,
wife, and daughter, Mrs. Joe Scovil
frightened our always keen appetit,
by the smell of frying ham, to which
we We're ushered in few moments
and which was soon sout of sight. !"
We spent the evening pleasantly
indeed, listening to quaint stores %
the old gentleman and the prattlinl
play and recitations of the grand
daughter, little Edna Scovil.
Our intention babe us leave at min
O'Clock in the evening, but our Lane
lords wish that 1T would rain al
night had it's relative merit and w
remained with him; at the break o
day fastened to our homes and bust
ness cares.
This was an eventful day. Out il
the placid summer morn, on through
; calm and storms Of courts of law an
equity, back through storm that Dor
no hidden or double meaning; not @
words before the good squire, but i
deluge of hail stones on the dea
square. But pardon US dear reade
if we mention the fact that we in
cidently secured 30 good subscriber
on this eventful day. We shall g
again. Storms are soon forgotten
names stay on the list.