The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-07-07
RECOVERED THE MONEY.
A 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 1t
got in the way of justice. The only law
books he had about his office were
"Smulrs Legislative Handbook" and
the "Hagerstown Almanac" He once
broke al records by collecting debt
from dishonest man who put In plea
that the claim was barred by the stat
ute of limitations.
The defendant owed $27 to grocer,
an easy-going man who carried the
debt on his books for several years
without making any effort to collect
1t. He died and left his family little
but lot Of outlawed 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 n 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
the squire and 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?"
II suppose did, but"
"That will do" said the squire.
1,,1r pr>, ! ha 1o;r f|y 1,,11
amount of the claim, with interest"
7 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.
"The statute of limitations was never
intended for such contemplate scoun-
drels as you, sir" thundered the squire,
"and I won't allow you TO take advan-
tage of it"
"You cant 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 1t in his
trousers pocket, ignoring the threats
and protests of the other man, and he
calmly took a blank from a case back
of him and began to fill 1t out. Then he
70 g{o
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 a
few minutes before. Then he assessed
his own costs and the constable's, in
NtoN'h6 thS S-NpChoSS VI lhC
After these items were paid he handed
the balance to the man who owned it.
won't accept it," he shouted; this
is downright robbery"
"You are guilty of contempt of
court, SIR" said the squire, "and I fine
you five dollars"
He stripped bill off the diminished
roll Then the enraged man lost all
control Of himself and began to swear
The squire picked up a pen and kept
tally until the outburst of profanity
ceased.
mine profane oaths," said the squire
counting the score, "at 67h cents pei
oath. makes $685."
He took two more bills off the rol
and changed one of them.
"rn appeal to court" the worstet
man said as he took the small amount
of money left in his roll and departed
Pittsburgh News.