The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1907-11-01
THE SPIRIT OF THE COURTS.

THE SPIRIT OF THE COURTS.
1t is too much the tendency of the courts these
days to overlook the justice which is supposed
to be their chief commodity in trade and be
swayed in their decisions by desire to cater to
popular favor An instance of this is found in
a recent suit brought by J. l. Croft, rancher,
against H. S. Emerson, one of the Oldest and best
known produce dealers Western avenue, Sc
attic.
In the first place. anyone who knows Mr.. Elmer
son will vouch for his honesty and tell you that
there is no fairer and squarer or more respected
business man in the city of Seattle.
The plaintiff in this case, some months ago.
brought in some cherries which were packed in
unusually attractive shape. AS Mr.. Emerson is
an admrer of well packed fruit, and deals very
extensively with the Alaska markets, he look
these cherries and paid Mr.. Croft good price,
about $125 a box, knowing that he could resell
them to northern customers at a good profit be-
cause northern customers pay good prices for
fancy fruit. At that time the ordinary run or
cherries as they selling on the Seattle mar
ket were bringing about 60 cents box. Mr.
Emerson, unthinkingly, gave Mr.. Croft state
ment, at his request, showing what he had SOLD
the cherries for although he was under no obllga-
lions to- for he had bought the cherries outright
from Croft Subsequently Croft sold Emerson
many other boxes of cherries, and made no allu-
sion to the first sale. However, when the news
papers commenced to agtate the public market
and to Jump on the commission men generally
and to call them all thieves, Croft, evidently be-
ing susceptible to the effects of yellow journalism
began to look around to where he had been
imposed upon, and came across this statement,
showing that Emerson had been able to sell these
cherries, which he had paid Croft almost twice
the market price for at profit. In fact on this
large consignment, he had made profit OF about
$780, so Croft sued for $780,
He took his alleged troubles to the justice
courts where the defendant usually gets the worst
of it under all circumstances, because the plant
ifs are the ones who bring the justice the bust
ness and the ordinary justice needs the money.
The justice, after hearing the case and having
figures presented to him showing that Emersons
profit was no more than was coming to him.
that Croft, because his cherries were packed
little bit better than other cherries and were avail
able for Alaska shipment, had been paid almost
a hundred per cent more than the market price OF
that day on cherries, gave the plaintiff the decl-
sion.
didn't know much about the merits of the case,
and that in this instance, the produce dealer
might be justified, but that he was certain of one
thing which was that he liked cherries and that
this fruit had been high during the past sum-
mer that he couldn't afford to buy any; that cher
ries sold for twice much pound as they ought
to, and that this was the fault of the commission
men, Therefore, it would be good thing to
make an example of H. S. Emerson
The case has been appealed to higher court
where prominent attorneys state that Croft can
not even make out case according to the testi-
mony of the trial which has already taken place.
And Mr. Emerson is hoping that if the
Justice of the higher court is travesty upon his
title at least he will not prove to be fond of
cherriesi