A Queer way of Recovering a debt.
--A stumpy little specimen of the
genus , named
Robert S. Brown, made his appearance before the
Mayor yesterday to answer the charge of practicing an unlawful and cruel mode of obtaining a debt.
It appears that
Brown met in the market a negro who owed him some money, and asked him for pay. Failing of success, B. conceived the idea of avenging himself upon some chickens owned by this negro, and, seizing hold of them, cut the legs off two or three of them.
When this evidence was given the accused repeatedly interrupted the witness with "that's so;" "certainly;" "of course;" "I did it," &c., seeming to regard his conduct as a very gallant exploit, instead of an act for which he should be punished.
The
Mayor announced his determination to continue the trial till Wednesday, and asked him if he could give security in the sum of $100 to appear.
Brown, although manifesting great surprise at the injustice, as he thought, of His Honor's decision, suddenly exclaimed, "Of course I can give ball — anybody will go it for me," and thereupon made a rash for the little gate leading from the
Court-room.
This avenue of escape being guarded by one of the
Mayor's officers,
Brown was immediately grabbed and forced back, which convinced him that his popularity among the "limbs of the law" was not very great, and then he commenced appealing from one to another for security, till nearly every one present had been applied to, without success.
He then asserted that the
Mayor's acquaintance with him would not certainly allow him to insist on his giving bail; that he had known him for years, &c., to all of which His Honor lent a deaf ear, and called for the enforcement of his decision.
After the adjournment of the
Court, however,
Brown not having succeeded in getting bail, he was permitted to go free by the payment of a fine of $10, which, after marching an officer some distance with him to procure, was paid him.
