The High Price of Ten Cents
A local man sued for damages after he was arrested, fired, and deserted by his wife over a petty accusation of wood theft.
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.
Frank Dupree, a porter at a Pike Street saloon, filed suit against Thomas H. Campbell for $4,125 in damages, alleging unlawful imprisonment. Campbell, residing near 7th and Pike, had been losing stove wood and decided to conduct a stakeout. After witnessing a theft, he accused Dupree, who was later acquitted in municipal court. During the civil trial, Dupree testified that the arrest led to the loss of his job and his wife deserting him. Dupree’s attorney argued that the wood was worth only ten cents and that the arrest occurred without a warrant.
“Dupree's attorney proved by witnesses that the value of the wood was but 10 cents.”
This case highlights the catastrophic impact that a minor, unproven criminal accusation can have on an individual's livelihood and social standing. It serves as a reminder that the 'civic cost' of being targeted by the justice system has always been unfairly distributed.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.