The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-11-20
Wholesale Agcnst.
HELD COURT UNDER A TREE.
A Primitive Method of Adm lni stering j


tice In Rural Missouri.
For It's unique features and original legal
methods, George Miller's trial is probably
without an equal in the court history Of
Missouri. 1t seems that Miller, who is
young man of good character, had been en-
ployed in a Main street restaurant until
illness compelled him to abandon his posi-
tion, 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 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-
copied and the next day was installed in
the Froisey household, where also lived
Froisey's aged mother.
All went well with Miller until one Sat
urday morning, when, as he stepped from
the back door, he observed an Individual,
unknown to him, just leaving the hen.
house with a fat pullet under each arm
He had been particularly cautioned by Mr.
Froisey to keep lookout for chicken
thieves, and he thought this an opportu
/ nifty TO display his valor and earn his pa
irons everlasting gratitude.
"Rold on, there, young feller!" he shout
ed. "Where you goin with them chickens2'
The stranger looked tough as he replied
"Say, is dat any of your funeralp
"If you don't drop them chickens, III
blow the roof Of your head offr' yelled
Miller making dash for the Kitchen
where loaded revolver was lying
But when he reappeared the stranger was
making rapid tracks for the gate, and he
did not fire on him. Half an hour later he
was considerably astonished when n 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
the constable
Now the thinly settled and purely agri.
cultural region lying south of the Blue
boasts the presence of duly elected justice
of the peace, n well to do farmer, by name
d. p. Antony, and as legal proceedings in
"Jedge" Antony court are by no means as
plentiful as the bullfrogs in his meadow
that official prepared to make the most oi
the case.
He had no courtroom handy, but the
| spreading branches of a giant apple tree il
the orchard near by served the purpose ad
mirably, and here the court was established
with the soft side of log for bench ant
seats enough on the grass for the Thousands
of spectators who might or might moi
| choose to attend.
Bring In the prisoner!' thundered tn,
| judge. And straightway the constable ap
peared, dragging his victim unwillingly t
seat at the other end of the log. Thecom
plant was read in the constable's mos
doleful tone, and the judge stroked hi
whiskers and meditated. "Ahap' quoth he
this, see, is a serious case. We mus
have jury" 1t was the prisoners prerog
ative to ask for a jury if he wanted it, bu
that made no difference. The constabl
sailed forth and speedily returned wit
"six good men and true"-five farmers an,
workhouse guard, recruited from roa
near by, where gang of county prisDner
were at work. The six solemnlyiange
themselves In semicircle ON the grass bt
fore the Judge, and the trial ~ began.
Miller briefly told his story, and then tn
stranger, whom he believed guilty Of stea
ing Froisey's chickens, appeared on tn
scene and told his story. He claimed tina
he owned the chickens, they having wal
dered into Froisey's yard, and he was sin
ply recovering his property. That ende
the trial. and the jury thereupon filed int
the jury room-the cleared space beneat
an adjoining apple tree-where they wen
speedily joined by the judge and constable
and together they arranged the verdic
When they returned to the courtroom, Mi
Ter was informed that he had been convic
ell OF threatening to kill' and that he ha
been fined SIS and costs, amounting in n
To S35.40 He could not pay, and so Judl
Antony tore Leaf out of a notebook loane
him by one of the jurors and made out Ia
commitment, ordering Marshal Stewart I
confne Miller in the county Jail until IL
fine and costs were paid.
And then court was adjourned, the farm
ers returning to their wheatfields, the guar
to his prisoners, and Miller was taken ava
by the constable, and within an hour Il
doors Of the county Jail opened to recei'
him.-Kansas City Journal.