Page 214 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

210 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

body, for want of goods and chattels, out of which to make
the money. In the case I now allude to, the gentleman, who
related to me the story, applied to a country Justice for a
warrant, he acting as the agent of a firm in St. Louis that had
sold a bill of goods to the defendant. The warrant was issued
and placed in the hands of the constable. The plaintiff's
agent returned to his place of abode, distant several miles
from the office of the Justice. The constable, prompt in the
discharge of his duty, went in search of the defendant, and in
the course of a day or two arreated him and brought him before
the Justice. The question now arose, how should the attend-
ance of the agent be accomplished? This was soon settled by
the Justice, who immediately issued a warrant against his
body, and directed the constable to bring him forthwith before
the court. "But," said the constable, "what shall I do with
the defendant, in the meantime?-I cannot carry him with
me." "Oh, I will fix that," said the Justice, who at the
moment observed a man on horseback passing by. The Jus-
tice hailed him, and commanded the stranger to alight from his
horse and take charge of the defendant. The traveler at first
refused, alleging that he was a stranger, residing in Illinois,
and going on business to a distant point. But the Justice
would receive no such excuse. He informed the stranger that
he was o, Justice of the Peace, and, in the name of the United
States and by authority of the laws of the Territory, ordered
him again to take charge of the prisoner. He reluctantly '
obeyed the mandate, and "mounted guard" over the defendant.
The constable then went in search of the plaintiff's agent-
found him at his residence-arrested him on the warrant-
brought him before the Court, and reported that he had the
"body" there present. The trial proceeded, and judgment
was duly rendered against the defendant. It was now nearly
d~k, and, ae in those days houses were few and distan2 from
each other, the traveler said to the Justice, that, as he had
detained him nearly all day, it was then too late to proceed on
his journey-and he supposed he could give him supper and