East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-08-07

Was the law Of the Biblical days.
But tell me, forsooth, II l now lose
tooth,
Oh, what Of the price that 1t pays?
The foregoing querry, perhaps ex-
pressed in other words and in a diff
ferent meter. was propounded yester-
day to one OF Pendleton's foremost
disciples OF Blackstone. The pro-
pounder not only wished to know the
price which modern law puts on the
destruction Of a mOlar he wished to
know more also. He would have the
barrster make an estimate Of the
damages permissible for bruises,
bumps and abrasions. He had suf-
fered previously from the clenched
digits Of a neighbor. an inventory
showing a gap where once was
cleaning tooth and three angry marks
upon his cheeks and brow His in
iuried cried out. not for the balm Of
blood revenge. but for the save of le-
gal tender.
Back of his search for solace is a
story. story Of devious turnngs and
twistings, windings and ramifications,
and one that brings in many good citi-
zens as dramatis personae before it
reaches its aggressive climax. It is
built about a horse and its wander
ings from Cabbage Hill to Pendleto1
and back to Cabbage Hin again.
Said horse belonged at the begin
ming Of this ctory to Frank Reeh.
well know German whose habitat is
just above the city. 1t also belongs
to him at the end Of the story. But
IN between--well We shall see.
Mr.. Rech some short time ago dis
patched his horse to Cabbage Hill to
fatten up on the juicy grass in the
pastures Of one Jim Morrow. ran
cher Of that locality who may be
Identified as a brother Of the eX-Pen-
dleton fire chief As time went on,
the horse waxed sleek and tempted
the eye of some unknown man of the
type who used to furnish the piece de
resistance at western lynching bees.
He took the horse from the pasture
and disposed OF him to profit.
Eventually the animal fell into the
hands Of Tracy Layne, prominent
young horse tanner and horse trader
Of this village. Mr.. Layne sold it to
advantage TO /. Wilkes local team
ster Mr.. Wilkes turned It over to
blacksmith in payment Of a bill for
horse -shoeing. The blacksmith sold
it to an individual yclept. Cochran
who, having no barn or pasture OF his
own and unable to make a profitable
trade, cast about for some suitable
fields in which his steed might eco
nomically Craze
His inquiries led him to send the
horse back to Cabbage Hill, to become
an inmate Of the pastures Of a man
bearing the uncommon name of
Smith. initials unknown, but who
formerly cast his ballot in Pendleton.
Now this man Smiths pastures adj
Joined the pasture lands Of PIN Nor
row from where the horse was stolen.
In due time Mr.. Rech learned that
his horse was in the Smith pastures.
In company with Ed Morgan. respect
ed farmer of this locality, he treeked
up the hillside where cabbage is king
and reinforced by Mr. Morrow, went
into the Smith pastures and boldly
took the horse which was his own
Now MIR Smith, from a point of van
tage observed these proceedings, and,
being man given TO defending his
own property and that put in his care,
he suddenly appeared before the other
three and demanded to Know where
fore they entered his pastures and
took therefrom a horse.
The story as told from this point
differs somewhat. according to the
teller, Smith declares he threatened to
have the trio arrested for taking the
animal without permission and Nor
row claims Smith made comments re-
fecting upon his ancestry Howso-
ever that may be. Morrow smote
Smith, not once but several times.
There seems no question about that.
h' iiaA No hihl 1iillAll ; ldtf anu Nltt
tooth bear silent testimony
% that effect. Just how far the pun {
melting proceeded without interfer- !
ance is not known but certain il is {
hat a new actor appeared upon the ,
'cene in the person Of one man Balte-
lore, a denizen Of those same parts
8altezore adopted the roie of rescuer
o Smith He accepted few blows ,
rom Morrow but finally threw his :
rms about the belligerent Jim. hurl- +
d him TO earth with a crash and was (
holding him securely pinioned when
he wife Of Morrow appeared and
With primitive feminine instinct
wined her fingers in the locks of the
of her lord. l
The situation was obviously one de- u
handing of compromise. and COM ;
'romise was affected. Baltezore
greed to release the male Of the Nor v
ow family II his helpmeet would un- !
asten her fingers and agree to take :
harge Of her spouse, The agree u
nent was made and the combatants o
dispersed
And now Smith, having suffered 4
'ainful injuries and having lost the Q
lorse and pasturage. would enter the c
ourts to get what compensation he
r 4.