The Bachelor of South Lake and the One-Dollar Fine

Yesterday, Governor W.C. Squire remitted one-half of the costs in the case of the Territory vs. Gilbert Godemoodsen, who was serving out a fine and costs in the county jail imposed by the court last November. This man Godemoodsen is an old bachelor who resides on the shores of South Lake. He has a neighbor, living some two miles from him, named Dan Hughes. It seems that hard feelings grew up between Godemoodsen and Hughes over a fence, or a row, or some other farming implement, and someone told Hughes that Godemoodsen had called him bad names and accused him of throwing down his fence. Dan, on hearing this, went over to Godemoodsen's house to see him about it, and while there the two neighbors had two or three knock-downs. Finally, after one of these final exercises, Godemoodsen went to his house and dug up an old rusty pistol, and when the row started next time he blazed away at his neighbor, shooting him through the wrist. To be thus harshly treated while visiting a neighbor greatly incensed Mr. Hughes, and he took his host by the back of the neck and threw him into the lake, and left the place in his boat quite disgusted. He went to Newcastle and had his wound dressed, and afterwards swore out a warrant against Godemoodsen for an assault with a deadly weapon with intent to commit murder. In due course of time the case came on for trial. Godemoodsen was ably defended by Judge W.D. Wood, who succeeded in demonstrating to the jury that there was great provocation for the shooting, if it really took place, and the jury returned a verdict of guilty of simple assault against Godemoodsen, and the judge assessed his fine at one dollar. The old man was vastly pleased over the result of the trial, but when the clerk of the court informed him that in addition to the fine of one dollar there was a little bill of costs amounting to $53.70, which must be liquidated before he could return to his pigs and chickens on the ranch, it nearly broke his heart, and in utter despair, he went to jail to serve out fine and costs. His attorney, Judge Wood, made a showing of the facts to Governor Squire, and asked that one-half of the costs be remitted. The Governor saw the justice of the request, and yesterday made an official order granting it, and Mr. Godemoodsen is correspondingly happy.