Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-12-17

1t was decided to appeal to the
people At large. and meeting wss
at once called that this might be
done. After consider< bic debate
q committee was appointed to wait
upon. the digniied justice and re-
quest him TO adjourn his court sise
die.
The members Of the committee,
which consisted of J. II. Whitlock,
chairman, DIR. Vaughan, John Bass.
DR.. Lewis and Hiram Walker,
walked into the court and the chair
man TINS addressed the worthy
magistrate
MAY it please your Honor. !
have been instructed by the people
Of this camp to say to you that we
can find no precedent in Law by
which the defendant in q civil suit
can be compelled to give security
either for costs or damages in ad-
vance Of Judgment"
"Have you finished, sir ?" de-
msnded Bonner. adding. in q tow
ering rage, "This court would like
to know whom you represent in this
case, sir 20
al represent the people" coolly
responded the spokesman of the mi
ners.
"The people have nothing to do
with the case" shouted Bonner.
"My ruling must be complied with
or the parties will be bound over in
contempt of conrt"
"If this court chooses to place
itself in contempt of the people, #"
answered the miners champion, lit
must take the consequences In
the name of the people now com
mand you TO adjourn this court ana
not 70 convene II again"
The uproar which followed vas
terrific and long continued In
fact, il was nearly supper time be-
fore something like order was re-
stored. Then the Justices voice
was heard above the roar Of the
crowd ordering an al inurnmentun
I'll 10 o'clock the following morn
ing.
During the night, howevea, Bon
ner evidently came to the couclu-
sion that discretion was the better
part of valor, for long before the
hour fixed for the resumption Of
the trial the careful judge was seen
ascending the mountain. bis legs
dangling on either side of u patient
pack mule.
He had seat of justice in Onion
Valley, many feet higher in the air
than the river, and this he called
his "higher COURT" where he sat to
hear appeals from his own decisions
IN the lower tribunals.
Here he continued the case with
out the presence of the defendant,
and gave judgment, but was una
BILE to enforce it or to collect the
desired costs.
At another time Bonner under
took to hold court at Rock Bar, but
he there so Infatuated the miners
that he was obliged to even more
hastily adjourn proceedings to mis-
higher court in Onion Valley.
Bonner sent his constable. Tom
Schooley, to Rich Bar in 1852. to
serve a summons ard attachment
on q miner living there. After con.
siderable difficulty Schooley found
his man, and, having made known
his business, proceeded to read bis
papers.
The defendant was surrounded
at the time by q number of fellow
miners, who. one and all, laid doan
their implements and listened to
the reading. When it was finished
they told the constable, in the ex.
pressive language OF the miners, to
git"
After some hesitation he accepted
the advice. but, as he started away.
was foolish enough TO drop some
offensive remark. Instantly the
miners started for him with sticks
aud stones. aud. it is asserted, even
to the present day, that the very
best record Of trip up Rich Bar
hill was that there and then made
by Tom Schooley.
The trials AID tribulations at
tendant upon his services in Squire
Bonner's behalf proved too great
for theyvaliant constable and he
soon resigned. Soon after he made
his NAV RI Viofor;. ,-ke-, L. l.