Willmar tribune., 1899-07-05
RECOVERED THE MONEY


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
"Smulls Legislative Hand Book aud
the "Hagerstown Almanac" He once
broke all records by collecting q debt
from dishonest man who put in plea
that the claim was barred by the stat
ute of limitations. -. .ss,5z eszs ~
The defendant owed s27 to grocer,
an easy-going man who carried the
debt on his books for several years
without making any effort to; collect
it., He died and left his family little
but lot of out1awed accounts. His
widow turned the books over to Squire
Rodgers and he came across this $27
debt. He knew that the man who owed
it could pay it if he would, and he is
sued a 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 Office
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. b,
"Yes, sir, but
did you eat them?''
II suppose did, but
'"That will do,'' said the squire.
Judgment for the plaintiff for the full
amount of the claim, with interest,"
Il won't pay it," declared the fellow.
"But you ate those goods and you've
got to pay it, retorted the squire.
'I'll take advantage of the statute of
limitations" the defendant asserted.
1.-The statute of limitations was never
intended for such contemplate scoun-
drels as you, SIR" thundered the squire, :
land 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 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 a 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 his
trousers pocket, ignoring the threats
and protests of the other man, and he
calmly took blank from a case back
of him and began to fill it out. Then he
gave it to the constable and ordered
him to serve it without delay. It was
an attachment the squire had issued
on himself, garnisheeing the money in
his possession belonging to the man
who was roaring and tearing his hair
in front of him. After the attachment
was served, he went through the for
mality of paying the money to the
court" which was himself, to be held
for final decree. Then he proceeded to
consider the matter of distributing the
money in the hands of the court. The
first claim he passed upon was the
widows. He paid her in full and sat
isfed the judgment he had given
few minutes before. Then he assessed
his own costs and the constable's, in
cluding the expenses of the attachment
After these items were paid he handed
the balance to the man who ownedit.s
II won't'accept,it, :" he shouted; 'tthis
is downright robbery!"
"You are guilty ,of contempt of
court, SIR said the squire, "and fine
you five dollars"
He stripped bill off the diminished
roll. Then the enraged man lost all
control of himself and began to swear
/ =
tally until the outburst of profanity
ceased.
mine profane oaths,' said the squire,
counting the score, "at 671a cents per-
oath, makes $685. TO-,
He took-two more bills off the roll
and changed one of them. a
'I'll appeal to court the worsted
man said as he took the small amount
OF, money left in his roll and departed
1-Pittsburph News