Morris tribune., 1915-07-16
A HAPPY
MEETING
By EvERETTsP. CLARKE =

Severance. or Edward Todd, or num-
Der of other names which might be
applied to the prisoner. was called.
The prosecuting attorney expected to
prove that he was the notorious Jake
Severance who had committed any
number of confidence games and was
the slickest operator in that line in
America. The trial was to come off in
the county seat, where he had been
captured working as a farmland to
escape those who were after him. It
was at the height of the haying sea-
son, and the farmers were all endeav
oring to get in their crops before the
next rain. Consequently there was
difficulty in making up a jury, for
whenever a man had a valid excuse
for not serving he availed himself of
it. Finally the panel stuck at the
twelfth juryman.
A farmer entered the courtroom and
looked about him with that wild glance
common among countrymen who find
themselves in all unfamiliar position.
lis this yere a reel estate offis?" he
asked
mo. it's a courtroom" replied the
sheriff
''Oh! l thort it was a reel estate
offs. want to buy a farm
"Do you belong about here?"
No. l come from Canada. l got
tired Twin under the British flag, and
| want to git property yere."
Il say, my friend. how would you
like to help us out as juryman? You
will get dollar day for sitting still
and doing nothing"
II don't know nothin' about juries;
never sot on one $500.
The farmer was persuaded. and the
jury was complete. When the prison
er was brought forth for trial he cast
a sweeping glance over the twelve anx-
iously.
The man from Canada seemed IN
easy in finding himself in a jury box
and kept looking about him here and
there as if he feared something awful
was about to be sprung upon him
Jacob Severance, you are accused
off,
81 amt Jacob Severance; I'm Tom
Barker
The farmer juryman at this was seen
to start.
Where do you hail fromT'
'OntariO, Canada"
The farmer arose from his seat, look
ed fxedly at the prisoner and said:
"Is you the Tom Barker that run
away with my darter?"
II run away With a gal named Bar
ker, but never seen her dad"
"Mathidy Barker?"
Yes, my wife's names Mathildy."
"Whar's my darter"' asked the Old
man rathet1cally.
She's to hum with the kids, while
am tryin' to make enough as farm help
to keep 'em alive"
Tell me Whar kin find her. I done
her big wrong when / told her she
shouldn't marry man I had never
seen. Her mother has been most heart
broken since she went away and pinin'
for her all the time"
The court business stood still while
this dialogue was in progress. When
it had come to this point the ITosecut-
ing attorney said:
Your honor. l have no objection to
| this man taking the witness stand to
clear up what has evidently been a
mistake. But since he is juryman he
must be excused as SUCH
A new juryman was found, and the
| stranger took the witness stand. He
told a pathetic story Of how his only
| daughter, who was a schOolteache1
across the international line, had writ.
ten that she was going to marry one
| Tom Barker, young farmer who was
trying to pay for farm he had bought
J mostly on credit. Her father object
ed to the match on the ground of pow
erty and tried to stop her by telling
her that if she persisted in the matter
| she would never again be welcomed
! home. From that day he had never
seen or heard from her. Then he broke
down and wept
Handkerchiefs appeared all over the
courtroom.
"Your honor" said the lawyer VIII
had the prisoners case in charge. ''this
is evidently case Of mistaken identi
ty. The man the police is looking fol-
is very different person from the
prisoner. l move that the case be dis
missed"
The judge, who noticed that thu
sympathies Of all were with the poo
farmer and his son-in-law. consented
and the case was taken off the docket
Then the farmer went up to his son
in-law. put out his hand and told hin
how sorry he was that he had takel
such harsh measures with his daugh
ter. But" he added. 1--WE sold thu
farm for a good price. and I've come
down yere to buy another. Well set
tie among these good people. work tn
farm together. and when I'm gon'
MahuIdy shall have it Meanwhile