University of Michigan Law School - Quad Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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. i l l jusnce judicially Hamiquisrerea. BY LULA -I. DICKINSON YN f QUIRE DESCUM has been justice of the Peace' in I his township for the last twenty years, and in all Q r if likelihood will be for the ,next twenty, if the constitu- ? tion of the Squire and of the United States can 552' 'Ll endure the strain. . He has a lank figure, a hungry looking face predominated by a nose which would be classiiied in the treatises on physiognomy under the heading ffborn to command , his hands, protruding from his coatsleeves, thus giving him the appearance of wearing soinebody's outgrown clothes, are large and horny, for the Squire earns his living, not by goacling his neighbors into lawsuits in order to lawfully iletain theirihard earnings, but by honest toil. There are fewer lawsuits in his township than in any other in his county, for, when two come to him to settle their difficulty, he will run his fingers through- his scanty locks, stretch 'his ungainly arms still farther through his short coatsleeves, as if to get a good holil of the subject, and then, having mentally grasped it. will rub his hands industriously and say: ff Well! Well! Can't you settle it? Hate to have neighbors go to law. Not much made by it. Let's just talk it over. Sometimes great things come from talking mat- ters over. just a little misunderstanding! No serious matter. Well! Well ! Then the would-be plaintiff and defendant begin to think it can be settled. The Squire will continue: You was both a little mean. just El little! Call things even, most we can expect in this world's to get even . They feel their.grievances pretty nearly balance each other, and 30 awai' feeling a triiie more the necessity of bearing and for-

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ALEXIS C. ANGELL I3 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I . I I I I I I I 'I I, .I II I I If I IE QI II I I: In II :FII II I I I I II W? 'I II I ii VI I I I I I I I .3

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bearing. The Sqnireis majority will be larger by two more vofq-33 the next time his terin of office expires. A poor, hardworking woman, a certain Mrs. Brown living near the Squire, had been boarding a worthless fellow named Hig- gins. l-Ie had failed to pay her. That was no wonder, on the contrary it would have been a wonder had it been otherwise. She had stated her case to the Squire: a He owes me 33.00. It's been nigh onto .two year since he boarded with us. You see 'twas while he was workin' in the stave mill, and I onlylkept him as an accommodation, so he could be nigh his work a couple of week 'fore his sister got moved in. I'd never a-taken him in only he said Mr. johnson was a-owin' him at the time. When he left he made the excuse that he hadnit got to see johnson yet, but would, and pay me just as soon as he could . Did you ever ask him for it ? asked the Squire, brushing back the stray locks. V Yes, and he'd always promise to pay it in at day or so. I hain't seen him lately . f'Oh! I 'spose he's dropped you from his list of acquaint- ances ,', said the Squire dryly. f'Well yes. I-Ie don't seem to know me no more. I begun to think he didn't intend to pay it, so I decided to put it in your hands. I can't well afford to lose it . ' ff I'll get it. 33.00 you said P The woman went out. The Squire bent forward and rubbed his hands vigorously, meanwhile talking to himself. V Poor Mis Brown! Takes in washing-Plague him! Got a houseful of helpless children, one a cripple-Plague him!! Brown'll never set the North river aiireg Z3.oo! two years! Plague him!!! I-Iis feelings were getting control of him, and seizing his pen, he scrawled the following in a plain, bold hand: H BILL HIGGINS, ' Dear Sir, You got Mis Brown to bord you by telin her you had money a-comin' from Johnson. You never ment to pay her. I Thatuwas a getting goods and chattels under false pretenses which is a crimrnel Ofense. I suppose prehaps you don't know jumpin bord bills' is a criminel ofense to. Come and setle immeditly or suffer the con- sequences. N. I. DESCUM, justice of the Peace .