The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-12-18
A Recollection OF the Early Seventies.

from Samuel Mellison, a former resi-
dent and pioneer of Hays, to B. G. Ar
mold, will be of interest to many of the
old timers who still live here. The
lawsuit mentioned will especially in
terest several of the legal fraternity
who were here at that time. Pestana,
Gilkeson, Reeder and possibly others:
My recollection of an incident in JUS
tice Court proceedings at Hays City in
the early Seventies This is one case
of which there are many similar:
A man by the name of-was
Justice of Peace; he also was one of the
saloon-keepers of Hays, his place of
business beng located few rods west
of where now stands the Goodall Foun-
derry.
The case in question was the then
notorlons Jack Johnson's, whose ranch
was located on the Saline River, eigh-
teen miles north of Hays. Jack was
defendant in the case, the offense
charged by one Mcdonald with stealing
two steers from him.
Mack had bought the steers from Jim
Richards and broken them to work, so
they were seen and known by many
people.
The evidence showed that Jack had
been seen with two steers in his pos
session answering the description of
the ones stolen from Mack.
One of the steers had peculiarly
shaped horns; they were also branded.
The butcher, Hughie Patton, testified
as to buying the steers from Jack,
Mack testifying that he had seen the
heads and hides in possession of the
butcher and that they were his steers.
The evidence for the prosecution was
all in, when the Judge announced that
the Court and Jury were thirsty and
that Court would take a recess for
short time for refreshments.
Alex Ramsey was Sheriff, and cal
ling Jack, referring to Johnson, said.
''I guess it is up to you to do the act. -
Jack replied: ''I reckon it looks that
way"
The bar-room was in the building
close to the room used for Court, so we
all adjourned to the bar-room for re-
freshments.
Jack Johnson did the buying until all
had been freely served, then all re-
turned to the Court room and were
seated.
The Judge, after few remarks, an
nounced that the case against johnson
would be dismissed for want of evil
dence.
Ramsey remarked TO Jack You're
lucky dog" Jack smiled and replied:
1T was close shave I guess, but it
is hard to down good man.
Sam Mellison.
John Unrein is building an automobile
garage just west of the Armstrong gar
age, on Third Street.
Conrad Kruger, Jr., and wife of
Pfeifer attended the Lutheran banquet
Wednesday, December 9Th, in Hays.
The heirs of J. C. Werth, deceased,
last week received through the Miller
Bros. agency, $244 cash for the de-
struction of several stacks of wheat
shortly after his death.
The Charity Ball at the Essex Hall,
Tuesday night, for the benefit of the
new hospital, was well patronized by
the young people and was decided sue
cess financially and otherwise.
DR.. Scanlan, the north side veterin-
arian, who has been seriously i'll for
several days, was taken to Chapman,
Wednesday night, by his father and
brother who arrived in Hays, Wednes-
day morning.
John H. Wood, agent for the Ryan
property, is having the room occupied
by Joseph Bissing remodeled. Joe, we
are informed, contemplates putting in
stock of young mems clothing and
furnishing goods in connection with his
tailoring and cleaning plant.
Mrs. Hale went down to Ellsworth
on Thursday morning, and that evening
gave a two hours program in the
Methodist church-an evening that had
been set apart for her to fill in the big
week of specialties they have been hav-
ing in the church there in commemora-
ton of the paying off of the church
debt.
There have been several automobile
accidents since our last issue. How
ever, no fatalities have occurred, al
though the automobiles were badly
damaged. People are becoming so ac-
customed to automobiles that they are
becoming careless. A clear head and
steady hand is desirable for an automo-
bile chauffeur.
T. NJ. Peterson of the Victoria Re
view, was in Hays. Tuesday, getting
acquainted with the printers of the city
and sizing up the town. The Review
is neat little sheet, well printed and
fairly well patronized In the way of ad-
xror+iS1T,cr bxr x1,o l41cipeSS man of Vie