The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-27
A MODERN SOLOMON IS
MAGISTRATE SITTOv
SETTLED FAMILY ROW OVER
SOME TURKEYS IN AN
UNUSUAL WAY.
ALL SATISFIED.
Both Parties To Suit Were Al.
lowed To Share Ia
the Verdict.
ALL Isl

c0s ooNtOl III w EOl
county recently handed down q decis-
ion which reminds the people of his
community Of the wisdom of Soloman
the wisest king Of all ages.
A young man and his aunt were
having one another about the posses
sion of eight turkeys. Both parties are
prominent In their section OF Ander-
son county. owning large farms and
being weli-to-do and thrifty. The old
lady caught the turkeys and penned
them up In the barn. claiming them as
her own. The nephew was Just as
well satisfied that they were his. Both
sides were adamant and would not
yield en- inch.
claim and delivery papers were TAX
en- out by the young man, and two or
snree weeks ago the case came on for
trial In the little temple of ustice
used by the venerable magistrate. Two
we'll known lawyers from Greenville
appeared on the scene and a Jury trial
was called for. After fighting all day
and pretty near into the night, the
jury could not agree, standing three
and three.
SUI the parties were not satisfied,
and again the case was set for trial
last Tuesday. This time the litigants
changed lawyers. thinking this would
bring them good luck, and again two
we'll known young attorneys, also of
Greenville appeared before the magis-
trate. This time, both parties were
satisfied with a trial by the honest old
judge himself. All witnesses were ex-
cluded and brought in one at a time.
HnP 0hnrf fn1rp hntrrc tho A,,~lr x--
described by the witnesses. 1t was
wonderful the different colors those
turkeys had. The plaintiff claimed
that there were six gobblers and two
hens, end his witness described them
as being white. gray. brown and dark.
The defendant claimed that the i'm
prisoned turkeys were of the following
gender: Five gobblers and three hens
and her witness pronounced them,
gray. speckled, bronze and various and
sundray other colors. The young man
claimed that his mother had given the
eggs and that he set them under an
old hawk-faced hep. The old lady
declared that she "sot her old speck-
led hen turkey in the later patch"
She was sure the turkeys belonged to
her because after considerable absence
they returned to that same "tater"
patch and there "roosted' for a con,
siderable time before the fuss arose
as to the ownership. AS a conclusive
proof she said that after she had PEN
ned up the eight turkeys she caught
the old speckled hen turkey and threw
her In the stall and low and behold
they Immediately showed their AFFECT
Ion Tor her. "If she hadn't been their
mother they would have At, but as
they did not at. / knew they were
mine"
At the conclusion OF the testimony,
the lawyers made laundering speech
es. to TIE great delight Of the assem-
bled countryside. Each felt sure that
he had won the turkeys. It is whis-
pered that both lawyers had their eyes
on at least one turkey and much OF
the eloqucnce. was inspired by selfish
motives.
The speeches being owe the old
Judge sat silent for q minute or two.
Not q breath stirred In the old store
building. Breathlessly the crowd
for the decision. ~.
ST must confess he finally said,
tthat I am powerfully perplexed about
these turkeys. ] find that both par
Ities,are equally entitled TO the turkeys
and give them each four apiece, upon
payment OF half the costs"
There is no doubt 1t was a record
breaking decision. The lawyers were
temporarily stynned, and Withdrew
for conferences with their clients, The
decision was absolutely illegal from a
standpoint of. law and either side could
have set Iit aside upon appeal.
However, both lawyers advised their
clients to pay their half OF the costs
and settle the case.
Each side bad spenS 1t least $50
for attorneys tees, and the costs were
Almost $1,000. So that the four tur-
keys secured by each side have cost
the litlgants $40 M cash and many
hours OF worry and StrGfble. Each tur-
key has cost s10.0o-Gfeenyisie Daily
News.