The tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1900-1902, 1902-11-13

10 20 to law. For every
disagreement the courts are
sought when the matter might have
been cheaply aud readily settled by
the payment Of a small sun Of
money, OF by compromise, OF by
the matter over IN a rational
way with the other party so as to
a clearer understanding OF
what is really the issue-what the
actual thing they are dispating
about is when 1t is stripped OF all
its unnecessary surroundings. In
the majority Of cases those who in
sist upon going to law about uiAes
do so not 50 much for pecuniary
gain as for what they call upholding
their rights or to bring the other
fellow "to time" The lawyers
fees at the outset may be many
times greater than the amount IN
dispute. Thea there are the costs
Of court, witness fees, the time
expended in attendance at the trial
and the bitterness e~ngendered over
the contest. Besides there are those
who will not abide by the decision
of a lower court, whether the dc
cision is by a jury or by the corr
itself, but must carry their dispute
step by step, from one tribunal to
another until the court OF last re-
sort is reached, when it will be
found that an enormous bill OF
costs has been incurred by both
sides, and that even the winner
will find himself vastly the loser.
II he has been the aggressive party
be may say that he has been vim
dictated in his course and that his
rights have been sustained, but
he would be puzzled to tell where
in he had prohted. Had the mat
ter involved been Of sufficient inn
portance as to resort to the Law
there would be ample justification
in appealing to the courts, but
where the matter is trivial there i.
no justification whatever.
This morsel of philosophy has
been induced by noting a lawsuit
which was tried in Kansas City
recently. The trouble arose oyel
the possession Of three steers
aud one OF the steers was taken tC
court as a silent witness, being ex
amined at the court house doc.
instead Of at the bar Of Justice
Twelve jurymen felt Of the ami
mails tail, because the condition
of the tan was in dispute, and ther
resumed their deliberations.
The contestants were two veal
thy and respected farmers Of Nor,l
Missouri. The case began abou
three years ago and, as has beei
said, the cause OF the trouble wa
about three steers. These steer
were worth about Sroo. but th.
costs in the case amounted &
. $4,000 and the lawyers fees 70
each Of the parties probabl.
amounted to $1,000 more. No
only we're the dispu,ants them
, selves made bitter enemies, bu
the community in which they live.
took sides as usual and a host c
enemies sprang into existence.
George d. Mclean and A. !
+ Hume are the farmers in question
They live at PoweFsvlle, Putnam
| county, close to the Iowa line. /
! the fail OF 1900 Hume shippe.
, several car loads Of steers 10 Kau
: sls City, and among them wer
9 the three steers mentioned. Nc
Lean claimed these steers an.
went TO Kansas City and replevin
ed them. The replevin case cam
: before a justice Of the peace, VIII
decided that the steers belonge
10 Mclean. Hume appealed I
the circuit court and upon tri'
there a jury sustained the judl
ment in the Justices court. j
new trial was granted and Il wer
before another judge. Each sid
bad about thirty Witnesses lror
Powersyille and Mclean brougL
one Of the steers TO the court hous
as stated, in order that it migl
be examined to sustain or reiul
the testimony, as during the couTs
Of the trial there had been a dit
pute as 10 whether the steer ha
or had not a broken tail. Upo
that point rested the ownership