The Strange Case of the Seized Horse

Happening to be at the famous town of Port Townsend a few days since, I witnessed an occurrence in the way of extra judicial proceedings, worth relating. It seems that one E. S. Dyer, J. P., about the 1st of June, knowing that Victor Smith was temporarily absent from the Territory, issued his summons to said Smith, commanding him to appear before his Honor on the 14th June to answer to a complaint of one Billy Armstrong, to recover the value of certain items sold and delivered, amounting to some $40. The High Sheriff, J. G. Clinger, forthwith executed the process by serving a copy on the Deputy Collector of Customs at the Custom House. No notice whatever was given the family of Mr. Smith. The 14th day of June arrived, and his Honor rendered judgment by default for the amount claimed and costs. The next step in the farce was to advertise the horse for sale under execution. By this time Mrs. Smith had learned what was going on, and claimed the horse on behalf of herself and husband as exempt from execution, it being the only domestic animal owned by Smith or his wife in this Territory. The exemption law allows a householder to retain animals not to exceed $150 in value. A board of three householders was summoned; two decided the horse was exempt, but the third was perplexed. The High Sheriff, unsatisfied with the decision, summoned another three men, but they were unable to reach a verdict. I withdrew from the farcical scene of operations, and the result will be the horse will be sold, and three cheers given for Clinger and Dyer.