Evening journal., 1899-08-31
RECOVERED THE MONEY.
= squire who Was Governed In His
Decisions More by Equity
Than by Law.

"Old Squire Rodgers" as every per-
son called him, was one of those magis-
trates who set aside the law when it
got in the way of justice. The only law
books he had about his Office were
"Smull's Legislative Handbook" and
the "Hagerstown Almanac" He once
broke an records by collecting a debt
from dishonest man who put in plea
that Hhe claim was barred by the stat
ute of limitations.
The defendant owed s27 to a grocer,
an easy-going man who carried the
debt on his books for several years
without making any effort to collect
1t. He dRd and left his family little
but lot of outlawed accounts. His
widow turned the books over to Squire
Rodgers and he came across this S27
debt. He knew that the man who owed
it could pay it if he would, and he is
sued summons for him. Knowing
that the debt was outlawed the fellow
paid no attention to the summons, and
the squire sent his constable AFTER him
with orders to fetch him to the oflige
at all costs. He was brought before
the squire and a hearing was opened.
did you get those goods?" the
squire asked him after proof Of the debt
had been taken.
"Yes, sir, but"
ibid you eat them?"
81 suppose I did, but"
'rhat win do said the squire.
Judgment for the plaintiff for the full
amount Of the claim, with interest"
81 won't pay it." declared the fellow.
"But you ate those goods and you've
got to pay It," retorted the squire.
III take advantage of the statute of
limitations" the defendant asserted.
THE statute of limitations was never
intended for such contemplate scoun-
drels as you, sir" thundered the squire,
"and ! won't allow you TO take advan-
tage of it."
"You can't prevent it," said the de-
fendant, who was showing signs OF
anger"
"see here" he continued, as he pulled
out of his pocket a roll of bills and
waved it over the squire's desk; there's
more than enough there to pay the bill
but you won't get dollar of it,"
In his excitement the roll Slipped
from his fingers and fell upon the desk
The squire grabbed it. He put it in hi.
trousers pocket, ignoring the threat,
and protests Of the other man, and h,
calmly took blank from case bacl
Of him and began TO fiji it out. Then h
gave it to the constable and ordered
him to serve it without delay. It wal
an attachment the squire had issue,
on himself, garnisheeing the money II
his possession belonging to the mal
who was roaring and tearing his hal
in front of him. After the attachmen
was served, he went through the for
mality of paying the money to tn
court" which was himself, to be hel,
for final decree. Then he proceeded l.
consider the matter of distributing tn
3 money in the hands of the court. TIL
first claim he passed upon was tn
/ widows. He paid her in full and sat
ished the judgment he had given
few minutes before. Then he assesse
his own costs and the constable's, In
5 cluding the expenses of the attachment
After these items were paid he handle
the balance to the man who,owned it.
" 81 won't accept it" he shouted; "thi
r is downright robbery"
"You are guilty of contempt {
$ court, sir" said the squire, "and 1 fin
S you five dollars"
He stripped bill off the diminishe
l. roll. Then the enraged man lost a
= control of himself and began TO swea
c The squire picked up pen and lzeI
tally until the outburst Of profanit
ceased.
Nine profane oaths," said the squir
counting the score, 'at 67H cents p'
y oath, makes S6.0s."
He took two more bills OF the re
and changed one of them.
"I'n appeal to court" the worste
a man said as he took the small amour
- !, Of money left in his roll and departe
n Pittsburgh News.
a A RACE OF DWARFS.