Year: 1868

lUNoRs OF THE Law IN MIssIssIPP1.-The
Memphis Post is responsible for the follow
ing:


Our Lagrange contributor happened to be
down in Tippan county, Mississippi, few
weeks ago In just the right time to attend a
bull trial, and sends US an account of the
same. A freedman had shot the bull for con-
tinually breaking into his fields. The court
was opened by the bailiff, wrinkled corn.
cracker, who never kept still long enough to
have his clothes ftted-a nervous, Jerking
sort of mortal, who spoke faster than two
men could think. The Squire took his seat
among the lawyers, who were busily engaged
coloring cob pipes and splitting with eonsid.
erable alacrity. The court room was a school
house, entirely devoted to courts, school meet
ings, &c.


The plaintiff was a squire of the neighbor-
hood, who entered and pleaded his own case.
The defendant was freedman, who had en-
gagged the services of the smartest lawyer in
Tippan.


When everything was ready, the Squire
was sworn 8 to tell the truth and nothing but
the truth" after which he commeced his case.
lie said she could prove by Jeemes Hunt the
bull war not breechy oxen; that he didn It
tar down the fences nur break rails Nick s



high whar' the oxen got into the pea patch
what the bull got in, and it only came up to
his waistband; it war not q lawful fence, and
nobody could prove that it war. lie had read
the law. and he found no place in it what
justified the shooting of an oxen; it war a
crime to shoot 1t war as plain as open and
shut. and no court could decide otherwise if
it had any sense, and if Nick did not tell the
truth when he swore, he would cut his liver
out, court or no court, the rascally black vii
lain.'


After this excitable peroration the bully
Squire sat down to hear the defense. The
bailiff took drink of Damon's diamond
whisky. The court and lawyers reflled their
corn-cob pipes and settled back to hear the
orher side.


Jeemes, as black as marking ink. with his
wool tied up in long spikes, testified that the
bull was shot in the near eye, which put it
clean out, but he didn't know ferzactly wheth-
er he could pull as much as ever. lie didn't
know that he war a breechy beast until Nick
told him SO.


Counsel-How much does it damage the
bull?


Witness-Couldn't say ferzactly, but he
might get the oder eye put out because he
cau't see when youse gwine to cut him ober
be head.


Counsel-Was the pea patch damaged
much?


Witness-'Peared like right smart oh peas
was gone.


Counsel-Was the fodder-stack torn away
any?


Witness-Right smart of the fodder was
torn loose.


Counsel-How much fodder do you think
was missing?


Witness-Right smart


Court-Did you see any tracks around the
stack


Witness-Rigbt smart of tracks.
Court-What kind of tracks, Jeemes?
Witness-Horse tracks, sab.


Court-Mr. Grizzle will call the other
witness.


The other witness was the daughter Of
Nick. She certified that the son of the Squire
said it was his bull, and his father had moth
ing to doiwith it, Here the court interrupted
with the remark that the Squire told him
that his running the place, conse-
quently the Squire had no right to sue
because the property was not his, but his
sons, by right Of possession.
Before our correspondent left it was agreed
to leave the case to two men, on the recon-
mendation of the court. Thus go law
matters in Tippah.