Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-05-25
PIONEER JUSTICE COURT.

IlONbhh UOD DllOb OOO ILL
Elijah Huntington who succeeded
Justice Powell in 1890, had advantages
which were not offered to the lawyer
while in Office. He did not stop to con-
slider technical points of law, but en-
tered Mt once into the equity of case
and decided it quickly, Hezehiak L.
Hosmer tells of one of the first cases
tried by him:
The "Old Squire" Huntington was
logical institution. His knowledge of
politics was encyclopaedia. He read
Niles Register" through regularly,
and knew it by heart. In all matters
of local interest he was always prom
inent-politics and school receiving his
special attention. No man ever dis
charged the duties of magistrate or
legislator more conscientiously or gen.
orally with better judgment; but his
court was often the scene of funny in
cident. On one occasion lawless
character known by the sobriquet of
Catfish Smith" a sort of land pirate
who had shanty below the town, was
arrested and brought before him on
the charge of stealing Doctor Woods
pigs. The evidence disclosed the facts
that the Doctor, on missing his prop
erty and sus pecting Catfish, went to
his premises and found the pigs penned
up. Summoning Catfish he charged
him with the crime:
"And here" said he, pointing to the
pigs, ''are the very pigs themselves"
(Which are yours?" inquired Cat
fish; ~ should like to know"
THAT one, and that one. and that
one," replied the Doctor, pointing to
several.
"rhem's AL mine, every one on 'en.
| raised en-
rs rtat speckled one yours, that yell
iow one, that little hunp-backed one?'
Every one of EN-. raised 'em. They
ain'' Que Of them as belongs to you"
The doctor WIS Il pepper-pod. The
efTroniery of Catfish made him very
angry. 1T is lie and you know it,
he exclaimed.
"rhey're all my pigs" reiterated
Catfish, land you can't have 'em, Doc
tor Wood.'
swell, take EN- roared the doctor,
in temper of anger. Take 'em all
and go the devil with 'em," and turned
and left. Convinced, however, that the
pigs belonged to him, he made com
plaint aud Catfish WAS arrested. Cat
fish was in the last stages OF whisky
disease; bloated, blotched, Il most pitt
able object. He employed Count Cof
5 linberry to defend him. Woods attor-
ney claimed that the case was clear
, and asked that the defendant be pun
= ished. The Count in reply urged ;
/ Justification.
g Admitting, may it please your hon
d or" said he that the pigs were origin
d ally the property of DR.. Wood, the evi
dence shows that Wood gave them t.
the defendant. He told him TO talk
# them and the prisoner did so, and c
course for this he is not liable to pun
It ishmeut. He told him furthermore I
r stake them and go to the devil wit
7 them;" and any one, the most commo
,e observer, may it please your honor
ID can readily perceive from the appear
y ancc of the man, that he had done n
more than comply with this reques
He had taken the pigs, that was unde
niable, and, may it please you hono
= he is going to the devil rs fast as an
% man in the country"
e Pig cases were not confined to tht
+. of Catfish and DR.. Wood. Wild hog
nf offered spor: for hunters in early da,
he and men armed with rifles and POI
'e sessed with elastic consciences, did M
~ always stop TO learn whether the
La killed tame or wild swine. This has
ie led some of the sportsmen into I'll
e. criminal court on charges OF theft
= robbery and many men barely escape
ee the penalty attached to such crimes
g From M. S. S. for Bar and Bench cha
ter, history OF Wood county.