Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-07-30
A
| respasser
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD

over her grounds. They appeared to
man. Indignant at this entry into her
domain without permission. she simple
down the driveway to meet them.
Pardon me. sir. but did you not sec
the noticeT
IL saw that trespassers would be
prosecuted under penalty of the law"
We'll. then. why did you bring these
children In here?"
Because ! knew they would be de-
lighted to be here"
And you were willing to subject
them to prosecution
mo; they are minors. II any one Is
TO be prosecuted II is L.
And you were willing to be prose
cuted yourselfT
Certainly. so long as l thereby give
pleasure to these children"
'If you had asked permission I might
have granted It"
THAT would have been more polite
admit but politeness begins at home.
You have not put up a notice that any
one wishing to enjoy your grounds may
apply to you for permission and you
will consider the application. You
have given warning that any one tres
passing on your grounds will be pros
ecuted under the law. | accept the
terms OF this notice. | bring these
children on to your premises, and It Is
your privilege to prosecute me-"
He handed her his card. turned away
and Joined the little ones, who were
racing about. laughing and shouting
Miss Miller was astonished, outraged
There seemed nothing for her to do
but net upon the notice she had put up
The young man had brought 1t all on
himself As for the children. she felt
quite relieved that they were minors
and the man was responsible for them
Returning to the house, she ordered
out her pony cart and drove into the
village to see her attorney. He was
out Of town. but would return late that
night. She stated the case to q stu
dent In his office. who told her that
she might swear out warrant for the
arrest Of the trespasser. Mr.. Gilbert
Chase, who was principal Of school
Miss Miller was loath to act without the
advice OF competent person. but she
was very angry, partly because her
notice had been set at defiance and
partly because the young man had sue
nded In placing himself in very ia
vornble position and her In a very IN
favorable one. Acting on impulse. she
swore out the warrant, and Mr.. Chase
was arrested as he was leaving her
grounds. He furnished bail to appear
the next day for trial and was per
mtted to go where he liked in the
meantime.
The next morning Miss Miller ap,
peared against the accused, stating that
n notice was nailed to a tree near the
entrance of her grounds giving warn
ing to trespassers. The justice asked
the prisoner If he was represented by
counsel. to which he replied that be
would conduct his own case. Then be
added:
II refuse to answer TO this charge
on the ground that there Is no law OF
the land to compel me to answer"
Miss Miller had left word for her at
torney to come to court in time to
conduct the case, and at this juncture
he entered Az soon as he was In.
formed concerning the matter, address,
ing the justice. he said:
MY client. your honor, enters a
nolle proseQui."
What's that?" asked Miss Miller
You drop the case"
Il drop the case! Indeed, do no
such thing
The prisoner has stated the fact cor.
rectly; there is no law to punish him
for trespassing on your premises"
NO law. Well. what are all such
signs for them
probably to brighten trespasserS
They don't mean anything
The lawyer was mistaken. but Miss
Miller did not learn that until later
Miss Miller after paying the costs
left the court In company with her NJ
torncy At the door they parted the
lady going to her home The first thing
she did after getting there was to carry
small ladder and Il Ratchet with her
own hands to the tree supporting the
notice and mounting the ladder
smash the board with the Ratchet
Then throwing the Ratchet ON the
ground she Stalked to the house, ieav.
ing her keeper to take away the trag
ments and the means OF their destruc
ton
The person who stood for Miss Mil
Ter In place OF parents was II white
headed old lady with q benevolent face
Her @randchild having neglected to ask
her advice in the first place. now thar
the damage was done. went TO her, con
tided to her how she had hcen treated
and asked her how she might punish
the SChoOlmaSter,
III YOU ask me. my dear. what II Is
incumbent on you to do to set your,
self right will reply that Won should
write him an apology. first for object
Ing as YOU did 10 his bringing the chill,
dren 10 enjoy the grounds and. second
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