Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-27
ONE SLAP COSTS
POSTMASTER S..
BAlRDSTOWN WRANGLE AIRED
IN JUSTICE COURT
IRATE MOTHER INSISTS ON HAv-
ING LAST WORD
Youth Defied His Elder, but Now He
Must Be Good, for Store
keeper Is Deputy
Sheriff

The village of Bairdstown, an irate
mother, the postmaster, a lemon and
a boy bearing the name Earl Rog-
ers" yesterday figured in one of those
justice court tragedies for which the
township tribunals are noted.
The boy, Earl, was slapped by the
postmaster. The mother took the case
to court and the postmaster was fined.
Here is the story:
The complaining witness testified
that he and Leslie Toby were playing
about Baird's store, when the Toby
boy threw a lemon at the witness,
striking him in the face.
1T picked up a large rock" said
Rogers, land started after Leslie, tell
ing him 1 would hit him unless he
stopped throwing things at me. 1t was
all in fun and I had no intention OF
hitting him. We ran around to the
rear of the store and Mr.. Baird came
out and told us to stop the rough
housing and to get off of his prop
erty. We obeyed MIN and / went In
front of his store and he then ordered
me away from there. I stepped off the
sidewalk and told him I would go no
further. He then grabbed men by the
back of the neck and showed me into
the middle of the street and told me
to go and sell my papers. I told him
I would not and he slapped me in the
face and 1 went home"
Leslie Toby followed the Rogers boy
on the stand and told the same story,
almost word for word.
Boy Feared Jail
The third witness for the prosecu-
ton, James Watson, 12-year-old lad,
after having taken the oath, was asked
by Justice Selph If he, the witness.
knew what would happen to him If he
did not tell the truth. The boy hes
itated and then said:
II guess you will send me to jail II
1 don't tell the truth
The court decided the boy was not
a competent witness and he was ex-
cused.
Justice Selph also questioned one of
the boys regarding the similarity OF
their statements and asked him II
they had not rehearsed their story be-
fore coming to court, and made sure
their stories would agree. The witness
admitted they had talked it over, but
said they had not rehearsed.
The first witness called by the de-
PENDANT, who was without an attorney,
was Mrs. Rogers, mother of the COM
planning witness, his object being to
prove that the boy had been eau
toned to stay away from the store.
: did you not tell your son to stay
away from my store?" asked Baird.
Eyes, I did. l knew what a mean
man you were and what a temper you
have and 1 told him to stay away
from there" she replied, with some
| heat.
How many times did you tell him
to keep away?"
Scores Baird
'I don't know-about two or three
| times-and 1 am not the only one who
| has told their children to keep away
| from your place. Other people know
what a mean temper you have and how
| you treat children, and"
Here the justice told the woman al
| talk of that character was uncalled
for and she was excused. but not until
after she had said few more words
AS she left the witness chair she NUT
tered: IT am not the only one who
knows about him."
Baird testified that for four years
he has contended with the boys and al
times has been greatly aggravated by
their conduct. He told how they an
noyed him by their boisterous actions
He admitted having slapped the boy
but said he did not hit hard and had
no intention of hurting Rogers, who
he said, defied him and stuck out his
face and dared him to touch him.
Baird stated that since the trouble
he has been sworn in as deputy sher-
| iff and will exercise his authority as
a peace officer in the future when the
boys misbehave themselves. He de-
clared that there has not been a peace
officer in Bairdstown and the boys at
that place do about as they please.
Justice Selph imposed the minimum
| fine of S. which Baird maid