Willmar tribune., 1909-07-28
WHAT A LAWSUIT
BROUGHT ABOUT.
BY N. QUAD.

Copyright 1903. by T. C.. McClure.1
Farmer Jepson, widower. lived four
miles from Akron on the country road,
and Jane Schofield, widow and farmer,
lived three miles west of him on the
Red Bridge road. They had lived thus
for five years and only knew each
other by name. The five years might
have become twenty had not an old
lop horned COW stepped In to give the
parties an Introduction.
The COW was owned by the widow.
Besides being lop horned she was bob
tailed, wild eyed and had various bad
habits, one of which was jumping six
rail fences and wandering about
nights. These promenades sometimes
led her miles away and into strange
pastures. The first time Farmer Jep-
son saw her she was in the midst of
his cornfleld and had cleared about
half an acre Of the Juicy stalks. He
was good man. but he swore at her
and called her names. He also tried
his best to kill her on the spot. A
week later the COW called again to see
how the corn was coming on, and
after half killing her the farmer sent
word that If she was not kept at home
he would sue her owner for damages.
"And who is Farmer Jepson that
talks so big, I'd like to knowv' ex-
claimed the widow as she got the mes
sage by hired man. IF he thinks
he's the biggest toad in the puddle let
him 60 right ahead and sue. Two can
play at that game I'm not allowing
my live stock to bother my neighbors,
but I'm not going to sit up every
night In the week to see that that old
COW don't get out. You go back and
tell him that I'm not afraid of any ten
men like him."
"Oh, she amt, heyv' exclaimed the
farmer when the hired man had re-
turned with the word. "Waal, We'll
see about that. I'm no hand to COM
plain Of my neighbors, but I'm not
going to have their cows in my corn
and then take sass to boot. If that old
critter Of COW steps hoof on my land
again there'l be a lawsuit to make
things rumble"
The COW didn't hurry matters any.
She waited until Mr.. Jepson had trans
| planted his cabbage plants and they
had got fairly growing, and then she
called one night and helped herself to
25O Of them, and two days later the
| widow learned that suit had been COM
| menced by Farmer Jepson to recover
$3.50 damages.
$50 he's sued me, has he?" observed
the widow. as she doubled up her fists
and fire came to her eyes, "Well,
| We'll see who comes out ahead!'
Plaintiff and defendant each secured
lawyer, and of course each attorney
assured his client that he had the best
kind Of a case and was sure to
win. After two or three adjourn
was In the courtroom that plaintiff
and defendant first saw each other.
Both were surprised, and both said
something to themselves What the
farmer said was:
"Waal, by thunder! expected to see
! fat and homely old two fisted Wild
der, and l find her good looking lit
tie bit Of a female who ought to be
sitting on husbands knee Wish
I'd seen her before begun this suit
LANDS O. massy. but he hain't no
mean looking manv' exclaimed the
widow after look at the farmer.
"Why, they said he was a big boss
and buffer and wanted to bulldoze
me cause I'm all alone In the world.
Say. now. but they are all wrong He
hain't the kind to bluff and pitch in.
Wish he'd have come to see me about
the old COW. If he had I'd have
chained her up. Wonder how hard
he'll swear agin mev'
She was soon to know. The plain
tif's lawyer in opening the case said
1t was an aggravated case Of trespass
and damage and that the sum men,
toned wasn't really half what they
should have sued for. Then he went
on to tell Of what n defiant woman the
defendant was and wound up by stat
ing his hopes that the jury would rem
der verdict without leaving the box.
Then the plaintiff was called to the
witness chair. and, to the surprise of
the widow and the disgust of his law
yer, he said he had forgotten the mes
sage the woman returned to him. He
31n1 kH>ok -