The Justice Who Served a Black Eye
A Vancouver resident files a $1,000 damage suit against a Justice of the Peace who allegedly assaulted him after a dispute over a fine.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
For getting a black eye from the husky fist of K. E. Cresap, a justice of the peace of Clarke county, Ezra Bearhydt has started suit for $1,000. It seems that the trouble started some time ago when Cresap, in his official capacity, fined Bearhydt for alleged cruelty to animals. Bearhydt refused to pay the fine and alleges that over a dispute, Cresap assaulted him. A few days ago, Cresap was tried before Justice K. M. Scanlon and fined $1 for assault—the time that he caused Bearhydt's optic to be wreathed in mourning. Now comes Bearhydt into court and begins civil action to collect $1,000 damages.
“A few days ago Cresap was tried before Justice K. M. Scanlon and fined $1 for assault, the time that he caused Bearhydt's optic to be wreathed in mourning.”
Conflicts between citizens and local magistrates are rare, but this case turns the tables by highlighting the behavior of a judicial official outside of the courtroom. It is a striking example of the period's rough-and-tumble frontier justice being challenged through the civil court system.
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