Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1893 — Serving a Writ. [ARTICLE]

Serving a Writ.

Fifty years ago a bailiff who ventured to serve a writ on an Irish gentleman was pretty suie of a warm reception. Many unfortunates were forced to eat the document, others were beaten almost to a jelly. Mr. W., a “Sunday man” —one who could take his walks abroad only on Sunday, for fear of the too pressing attentions of bailiffs during the week—was “served” by one, of those ingenious individuals in the following manner; One morning, standing at his study window, he beheld two policemen dragging a drunken man up the avenue. Mr. W. was a magistrate, and he supposed the “peelers” were bringing the man to him, so that he should sign the warrant. Accordingly he desiren the prisoner to be brought in, which was done. “Did this man do any harm?” he asked. “JHe broke a publican’s window, sir, and was offering to fight every man into the bargain.” “Bad!’.’ muttered the magistrate, preparing to sign the warrant; “it will go hard with him, I fear.” “Ah, then your honor,” here broke in the prisoner in a whining voice, “I’m a poor man lookin’for a place, an’ I’ve a fine character here from my old master. Read it, sir; it will show I’m an honest man.” And as the innocent J. P. took the paper offered, the bailiff, who, it is almost needless to state was as sober as the Judge, exclaimed in quite a different tone, “Now you’re served, sir. And”—turning to the astonished policeman—“l demand protection from you. ”