The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22

a man of strict integrity and sound
judgment who can give sensible advice
TO all those poor who have, or fancy
they have, been wrOnged, and who fear
the legal complications of the higher
courts. Not knowing the law he is not
apt to have a high opinion of legal
clubbing nor does he always consider
himself bound by the rules he lays
down for others.
Old residents here in ST. Paul re-
member a justice of the peace who
was fond of going around with a gun
In his pocket. In winter, of course, his
coat concealed the weapon, but in the
summer time he Travelled back and
forth between the Office and his home
In his shirt sleeves and the gun was
then in plain sight. Not unfrequently
men were brought before him charged
with carrying dangerous weapons, and
the justice would gravely ponder over
the case, the gun all the while bullying
out Of his pocket.
But this was in the days when a
justice of the peace in St. Paul had
criminal jurisdiction.
Today stories of petty trials and
trfbulauons rather than stories of
criminal deeds are poured into the ear
of justice of the peace. If Bridget
ODonaVan is peremptorily dismissed
by Mrs. st. Anthony Hill, who refuses
to pay her the amount that the girl
thinks due her, Miss Bridget HES her
self to the office of the justice of the
peace and lays her case before him.
Sometimes the amount is collected
without the aid of an attorney which
means without trial, for Mrs st. An
thony Hill fears above all things no.
torlety, and unless she has firm con-
Victions, she is not apt to allow the
matter to come to trial. Unfortunate
ly, Miss O'Donavan's claims are not
always just claims, and therefore the
court is often unconsciously made the
instrument for petty blackmail.
Trials of ConstabIes.
Every justice court has at least one
constable in attendance, whose duty it
is to serve legal papers. This is not
always pleasant duty. For instance
man connected with one of the courts
here in st. Paul was sent out the 9TH
er. day to serve summons on a COL
ored woman who lives in the neigh
borhood Of University avenue, Evil
uently the woman had been expecting
some such service and recognized the
constable. At any rate, while he was
awaiting an answer to his knock, a
pitcher Of ice water descended on his
head, and, looking up, he saw the irate
lace OF the colored woman in the open
window above. She proceeded to fol-
low up the cold water demonstration
with an -punctured opinion of
constables in general and that consta-
bic in particular.
Because of Its very nature a Justice
court is an airing place for all manner
or funny grievances, and sometimes
the results are unexpected. Such a
case was settled in one of the Justice
courts of the city within the last
month. A young man came to st. Paul
from some country town and rented a
room for himself and brother in a
mouse on Daytons bluff He explained
TO the owner of the house that he was
not able to pay for the room in adj
vance, but would settle for it at the
END of the week. He moved In his
furniture-the room was rented nm
furnished - and he slept there one
night. The next afternoon he inform
ed the owner that his brother had met
with an accident and therefore the
room could not be retained.
He sent van to remove his things.
but the owner refused to allow the
furniture to be taken away. claiming
that since the man had contracted to
take the room for a month, a months
rent was due him. The man who
rented the room brought suit against
the owner, alleging that some of his
furniture had been injured in the re-
noVal scflmmage and that he had lost
money by engaging the van and that
ne had also been injured financially bv
having his furniture forcibly detained
on the owners premises. The owner
brought counter claim for rent.
Second Daniel Came to Judonent"
Contrary to all precedent the two
cases were tried the same morning he
fore the same Justice. Both sides won.
PUT when the settlement was made ii