The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-08-20
When Justice and Whis-
ky Were Cheap.
AN ANCIENT DOCKET ll||:'!|
Kept BY Baltzer koontx Whom
He Was Justice Of Pike
Township In Stark 9a
County.

Democrat has had access to the civil
docket kept by Baltzer Koontz, his
grandfather, when justice Of the
peace in Pike township, eighty-six
years ago. In the letter announcing
the shipment Of the book, DIR. Koontz
says:
II have still other relics, one an old
handmade waffle iron, made by a
blacksmith by the name Of John Gill,
who was sent to the Ohio penitentiary
think in the '30's for killing a man
named Henry Fisher. My father
bought the iron at public sale after the
prisoner was sent away. Mr.. Gill liv-
ed long time and in the early seven
ties saw statement in a Holmes
county paper that he was the Oldest
convict in the United States. My
father, Baltzer Koontz, left Stark coun-
ty in September, 1881"
The old docket is neatly kept and in
a splendid state Of preservation. 1t is
YELLOW WITH AGE,
ioned and still intact, which is more
than can be said of many books in the
present day after a few weeks of rand
ling.
The first entry was made on Septem-
ber 20, 1915, and is case in which
Thomas Taylor & Co., recover judg-
ment against Jacob Mellar for $65.S0
and costs. The amount with the costs
is entered as paid in full. The record
shows that Mr.. Koontz remained JUS
tice at least until 1927, when the last
entry was made on the last page of the
docket 1t is possible that he contin-
ued in the position longer, and had
new docket. White paper in those days
was valuable, and every little corner
of page was utilized the writing run
ming diagonally, vertically and hori-
zontally, in order to use up the space.
In these days of excessive court costs,
study of the cost bills in the early
days Of the century is
QUITE REFRESHING.
A constable got ten cents for serving
legal document, an acknowledgment
was a shilling, Judgment cost 25
cents, and ordinarily the entire costs
in case for collection amounted to
less than 81.
1t was an age of arbitration All sorts
of differences were arbitrated in the
Justices court The first case entered
in which arbitrators were called was
that of George Helm against Jacob
Rider. The plaintiff chose Jacob Ans
paugh, the defendant Henry Houtz, and
they selected John Sherman. When
Sherman was senator, there was con-
siderable said about his age. but 1t was
not supposed he dated back that far.)
This suit was brought in December,
1916. The entry says they examined
the evidences and entered into busi-.
ness" The dispute was over the build
ing of barn. The amount claimed
was $40. The allowance by the august
board was @2059. The amount was
paid.
While those pioneer days had their
advantages, for the book shows that
whisky was selling at rs cents gallon,
there were also some
UNPLEASANT CUSTOMS
that would at the present time necessi-
tate a widening Of Jail walls. When a
constable was sent to levy on a mans
goods for Indebtedness, the writ that
authorized him to 60 had this instruc-
ti0n:
you are commanded that OF the
goods and chatte1s Of said defendant
you levy and make the said judgment
and cost and the costs that may ac-.
crue, but II for want of such property
whereon to levy, then take the said
defendant to the county Jail, there 10
be detained till said judgment and costs
shall be paid, or be otherwise dis
charged"
This was the time of Imprisonment
for debt, against which such howl
went up in after years, resulting In
the abolition OF the practice. Ii was
customary In those times for men TO
go on each others bonds In order TO
keep them
OUT OF JAIL
for small amounts. and the old docket
has many such entries.
The following was on a loose slim
OF paper in the book: II stove, SIS:
/ 18-gallon kettle, weight IS ID at Sc.
$4.25; / 14-gallon kettle. weight so lbs
50. The above is about the prices am
selling castings for at this time. James
Haslett, Canton, October 26, 1896"
There were bridge troubles In those
days as well as at the present. Herman
Vandorstan, trustee Of the Bethlehem
bridge, sued William Donger, under
taker OF the stonewollk. Arbitrators
settled the dispute, and instead Of the
stonework costing more than the con-
tract price, SOL was deducted from
what the undertaken for tho stonewoyk
was to receive.
Here is cost bill that would make
litigant smile in the present day: "Is-
suing attachment 26c., subpoena 10c.,