Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1885 — Must be Enforced. [ARTICLE]

Must be Enforced.

Abraham Stockton, who, during many years lived in the southern part of Arkansaw, w as, in honor of his great learning and also to the fact that he had once killed a mad dog, elected justice of the peace. The people were very anxious to see a case taken before the old man, lor every man knew that Stockton’s opinion would be one which the Supreme Court could not reverse. The opportunity came. A man named Eckford sued Mr. Chesley. The litigation grew out of a dispute concerning the ownership of a lot of sheep. A jury was empaneled, the evidence was taken and the lawyers made their speeches. The verdict of the jury declared that the sheep should be equally divided. Before discharging the jury, the magistrate said: “Gentlemen, you’ve did your duty, but you ain’t made no' provisions fur the cost in this thing. The constitution of the United States says that when jurymen make sich a oversight, the judge shall take the matter into his Qwn hands. Gentlemen, I’ll charge you $2 a piece. I have heard a heap o’ people talk about the judge’s charge to the jury, an’ I reckon some o’ you will talk about this one, but if you say anything outen the way, I’ll whale the whole kit an’ bilin’ o’ yer.” • __ “Your honor,” said a lawyer, “you can’t make the jury pay—” “Can’t I? Wall, now it’s funny if we don’t. They dojfit git a bite to eat till the thing is settled. Boys, git your pops an’ keep your eyes on the jury. The laws of this State have got to be enforced.” — Arkansaw Traveler.