The record-union., 1894-02-19
SETTLING AN OLD SUIT.
How Backwoods Justice in Missouri
Wiped Ont a Boundary Line.


Wiped Out Boundary Line.
Asa Beeson served in the capacity of
Justice OF the Peace in one Of the back
counties Of Missouri in the good old
times preceding the war, says the New
y erk 1iiGlene. His knowledge Of law
was extremely limited, and he wouldn't
have known a mandamus from an alibi,
but he possessed a fine sense OF justice,
and his decisions, though sometimes
| original, were usually in favor OF the
right, and for the promotion of peace and
harmony. On one occasion he had on
trial before him case entitled Hunter VS..
higgins, in which the cause OF dispute
was line fence separating the farms OF
the contestants. The plaintiff was a
young widow and the defendant bache-
lor and good many people, the Squire
among the number, felt that it would
have been better for the happiness and
prosperity of both if they had joined in
Inatrimony rather than legal battle.
When the case was called there was an
army of witnesses and world OF evil
dence, and all SO conflicting that 1t would
have required solomon to have rem
dered a just decision. Squire Beeson
listened, scratched his head and looked
completely puzzled.
This is case" he said, when the last
witness had testified, that StumpS me-
and / acknowledge that Pm beat. Both
sides has proved every pint set up, and
both has disproved everything proved by
each other. The evidence is Jest stand
of all round, an' I'll be hanged if forty
Philadelphia lawyers could make out
whicn Is right and which is wrong. Now,
as l understand this matter, the whole
| question is, which Of you two parties
OWNS a six-foot strip OF land lying be-
tween your two farms. The line between
the two farms has been surveyed and To-
| Gated dozen times, first by one party
and then the other, an no two of them
surveys has put the lline in the same
| place. Now, l believe this matter has
| been in dispute good many years in the
| courts an out, an that it has been de-
! cided dozen times one way an another,
I but that so far nobody has been satisfied
an nothln' like a settlement has been
reached. How am l goin' to decide this
matter when the surveyors can't agree
on the line and the courts amt never
| been able to agree on The ownership OF
the land? AM what good would it do if
| | did decide when the one l decided agin'
would go right to work to git new
hearin' ?'
Neither of the interested parties made
any answer, and after a short pause the
Squire went on:
Its well knsWn to me-" he said, that
neither Of you two amt responsible for
I w
it. 1t was begun by your. fathers way
back, years ago, am Pm of the opinion
that you both, in your hearts, wish you
were done with it. But | can tell you
now you will never git done with it
by lawin' over it. Never IN the world. for
no courts will ever settle on the owner
ship o. that six foot o. ground"
The Squire paused, put on his specta-
cles and looked very hard at the dis
putants. Directly he resumed:
''Yet this matter can be settled" he
said, 'an' this court feels that il is her
duty to do it. She doesn't presume to say
who is right nor who is wrong, nor whar
the division line between the farms ought
to be. That wouldn't settle nothin' if
she did. Thar is better an more sens
IDLE way o. gettin' at this business. My
decision is that thar sham be no Lewiston
liue no more, an that the two farms shall
be consolidated into one."
The contestants looked at the Squire in
amazement, and almost minute passed
in perfect silence Finally higgins
gasped, CONSOLIDATE the two farms into
one! How can that be managed?''
'Jest as easy as fallin' off log. All
you have TO do is to STAN up yere afore
me bout ten seconds an I'll have it
fixed. Pll make you man an wife, am
then there won't need be no line between
the farms. Come, that's my decision"
"That we must marry" Higgins asked.
Exactly" the Squire replied.
"But-Mrs. Hunter-F' higgins stam-
mered.
"Irs all right with both of you," the
Squire interrupted, II know it it you
don't. Come, stan up, or Pll fine you
for contempt"