The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-16

"Joe Barnes does not deny that he
assaulted the plaintiff. In fact, he
brags about it. He does not claim
that he paid the wash bill, or that it
was out of reason. He depends upon
the fact that he is a white man to see
him through. While this yere court
has mighty little use for a heather,
he can't git around the fact that the
constitution is a bigger piece of parch-
ment than he is, and that the supreme
court of this territory weighs ton
and can't be trified with.
This court, therefore, announces
that Joe Barnes is fined SIS under the
law, and at the same time he must
return the shirt until paid for. 1 I'M
derstand that Joe threatens to appeal
the case over my decision. While he
has the right, l hope he won't take
it. If he does 1 shall interview him
as an individual later on in the day,
and if he is able to crawl out of town
after I git through with him it will as
tonish me
I'VE now come to the case of Berg
vs. Hopkins. 1t is Jim Berg again
Tom Hopkins, and two more with
less cusses it would be hard to find
to town the other day and finds Jim
Berg asleep in the shade of a saloon.
He sits down beside him to keep off
the lies, and when Jim wakes up he
claims to have been robbed of a ten
dollar bill. Nobody ever knew of his
havin' above 81 to once, but well let
that go. Tom is none too honest to
steal the beads off a blind suuaw. but
Wen also let that go.
Jim didn't say a word to Tom. He
makes no demand. He throws out no
hint He simply sneaks over to the
Red Dog saloon where am engaged
In game of poker and holdin' a full
house, and hollers for jestice. He
wants a warrant and all that and
have to lay down hand wuth $40
and attend TO this case. It's yere in
court, but what does it amount to.
he can't say where he got a ten
dollar bill. He can't prove that he
had one He can't prove that Tom
robbed him. Tom would have done it
quick enough if he thought he could
rake out even half dollar. but he's
TOO blamed lazy to work on an I'M
THE case falls fiat for want Of
proof. but in the fall Jim Berg has
got 10 pay 50 costs and go around
lookln mighty humble for the next
month, while this we're court advises
rom Hopkins to seek for a change
OF climate before twelve O'Clock noon
Inc third case amt any more SEN
sauonal than the other two. Hank
Williams and Bill Johnson set out to
prospect as partners. on their wav
over Green Hill they find an old. raw
Doned cayuse which somebody has
turned out to die. They don't go part
ners on the find, but each one claims
the critter and they have a fight over
It Hank gifts the worst of it. and
mat night at midnight he rouses me
up and pfnts to his black eve and
hleedln, ear and wants me to believe
that BllI tried to assassinate him.
issues a warrant and Bill is ar
rested, but when he tells his side of
the story things look different. This
yere Court amt goin' to bring on a
headache gropin' around for legal hints
IN TINS case 1t a case showin' the hog
an human natur'. Both Hank and Bill
wanted to git ahead of eacn other.
My decision is that the costs be di-
vided between EN-. and that the old
moss be placed in my custody If an
owner appears he will be given up for
50, IL not, shall keep the critter for
my own If the parties to the suit be
not satisfied they kin meet outside and
hammer each other. and the Court will
cheerfully act as referee It must be a
genooine scrap. however, or both will be
arrested for disturbin' the peace
we now come to our last case which
IS that of Day VS.. Thompson. Jack Dav
goes over to Bitter Creek and falls in
love with a sQuaw and asks her to