The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-01-20
All This About One Cent.

Justice John B. Mexican, of the York
vile Municipal Court in New York, ex-
pressed surprise according to a paragraph
few days ago, because suit was brought
in his court for the recovery of seventy
five cents. In all my time on the
bench, said the Justice, Il never knew
of a law suit for such small sum of
money and he refused to dismiss the
case until he had seen the person who
brought such an action
Had Justice Mexican been familiar with
the litigating propensites of the community
in and around the village of Wales Centre,
Erie county, in his own state, he would
not have displayed any surprise. Erie
county, back in 1874, had famous law
suit over a single penny. A Buffalo lawyer
in Washington on business, whose memory
was refreshed by the Yorkville incident
tells the story
In 1874 Clark Rich, the village black
smith of Wales Centre, was the collector
of school taxes Norman Hall, prosper
Gus farmer, owed 500 school taxes
When Rich went to collect the money,
neither party could make the even change,
aud Hall paid So, agreeing to hand over
the odd four cents when he went to the
village. A few days later they met in
the village Post Office, and engaging in a
political argument each became excited.
The discussion soon ended in anger
Pay me that four cents school tax
YOU owe, demanded Rich
There You are, gol darn you, any
how, Clark Rich, shouted Hall as he
tossed on the county a five-eent piece.
And I'll just keep the extra cent for
interest, retorted the tax collector, put
ting the coin into his pocket
% If you do, said Hall, 'Ill sue you
before tonight. That cent belongs to me
aud don owe YOU 10 interest uohow
Pay over that cent, Clark Rich
But Clark Rich did not propose to do
anything OF the kind Il won do moth
ins Of the sort, he re,orted and if you
want 70 sue, just sue aud be damned
In les than a quarter Of an hour Hall
bad appeared before Squire Isaac Gale, !
Justice Of the Peace. filed his bill Of com
plant aud had summons issued The
ease vas fought by Rich at every point
and the bes, lawyers the community af-
for,ied were employed. Joseph Shcarer
represented Hall while the interests Of
Rich we're cared for by Josiah Emery,
father Of present Justice Emery, Of Buf-
ial0, who Is now on tue supreme Bench.
When the case was called Rich demand
ed a jury trial Six men were sworn in
after much quibbling and quarreling on
the part Of the liticants and their lawyers
and the taking of eyidence extended over
the grcater par, of week The jury
disagreed \ ncv ycnire was issued,
second trial followed the same tedious pro
eess of drawing cat the testimony was gone
through with. Again the jury failed to
reach a conclusion. The third trial inally
resulted in q verdict for the plaintiff in
the sam Of one cent aud costs, Including
attorney fees, this case involving single
cent and growing out of a quarrel for
which there was never any good reason,
Gust each btigant moro than $50. Hall,
however. Was fighting for principal, aud
sas satisfied Rich was likewise satisfied
to pay for his fun
The case Is without a parallel, 80 far as
Is known TO the relator. in the legal history
Of New York