Year: 1859




hit on his head his skull was smashed in, and of
course he died instantly. Deputy Coroner weysham
held an inquest the body, and returned verdict
Of accidental DEATH The fal character of the scaf
folding had been subject Of remark ever since its
erection, and the builder Of it loudly and unspar-
ingly censured yesterday. People, however, didn't
know that the builder Of the scaod, and contractor
for the repairs in progress was brotherinlaw to the
young man killed, and that he had trouble far
greater than any censure could give him.


Few PEOPLE have an idea of the full extent and
scope of the law, how far can be made to sub.
serve and perpetuate antagonisms arising out of
little or nothing. The convenience of law, as a
Of offensive and defensive warfare has lately
been beautifully illustrated in the case of two amiabe
Celtic families the McGees and the Fannerys, re-
siding Bertrand street, in the rural confines of the
First District


The two families form rare and rather admirable
exception to the generality Of their GLASS; for though
they be nextdoor neighbors and entertain for each
other all that neighborly amenity which resulted in
the destruction of the Kilkenny cats they have never
yet come to blows. With a praiseworthy refinement
of taste, they resorted to the law and the Eight
which is not yet finished has so far been beautiful
The case is briefly this:


Some three weeks since, q very'common and unpre.
tending specimen Of duck, rated at the high valua-
ton of one dollar, was quietly gobbng in the yard
Of the McGees, when Mrs. Flannery, who claimed
the duck hers, invaded the yard in company wi th
apoiceman, Duncan, formerly of jewel celebrity
seized the duck, and carried it home in trump b;
Mrs. McGee who also claimed the duck, looked upon
this as a great outrage, made great noise,
and spread the duck excitement throughout the
neighborhood. Some Of her neighbors told her to
go to law about it, and she did She had Mrs. Fl an
merry and the policeman arrested for trespass and
robbery. The case being now fairly on war foot
ing the husbands of the ladies came gaantly to their
rescue. They opened their purses and there was
great drawing up of witnesses and hiring of lawyers,
on all sides.


The case was examined before Recorder Summers
on the 2Sd of july Some twenty or thirty witnesses
were on hand to to the identity of the duck the
duck itself was in Court with its ugly head sticking out
of basket the Court was crowded with spectators
the examination occupied great part of the day /;
and an innocent visitor to the Court might have
fancied, from the forensic displays of the opposing
counsel, and the breathless attention of the Court
and spectators that another Gaines case was on the
carpet. The Recorder disposed of the case by dis
missing the policeman, fning the ladies' for breach
of the peace and refusing to decide as to the
ship Of the duck, that being as he considered mat
ter for civil adjudication. So Mrs. Flannery carried
home the duck, she had brought it, in high tri.
umph.


The following week, the McGees instituted suit for
the recovery of the duck, before Justice Bradford
The Flannerys, in their answer, declared the duck
to be THEIRS and gave out that they would stand any
amount of law upon it. The McGees then prayed for
writ Of sequestration the duck, to prevent the
Flannerys from cooking it or sending it out of the
State during the pendency of the suit The writ was
issued, and Constable Simpson went to execute it
Visiting the mansion of the Flannerys and politel,
inquring for the Duck the ladies informed him the
was no duck about there. The Constable doubted
and begging pardon for his intrusion, walked through
the house on search. He investigated every nool
and Granny, Mrs. Flannery and lady friend follow
ing him, and crticising his conduct in no very ami
able manner.


| The Constable was about to abandon the search
when he heard duck quacking. Searching anew, he
| discovered duck, the duck locked up in kitchen


He asked the ladies to let him in at the duck. They
openly defed him, and began abusing him horribly
He lifted the door by vigorous application of his foot
and rushed in but he did so, the ladies rushed in
| with him. Ore grappled him, and hugged him with
1 all the fervor of an anaconda whilst the other
grabbed up the duck, put it under her arm, and
started to run off with it. Getting loose finally from