Some of the driest humor to be found anywhere appears
in law records. The following return made by a deputy in a sheriff's office is
an example:
Received the within process at Arizona City, Jan.
1873 and served same by arresting defendant at Ehrenberg A. T., Jan. 31, 1873,
but as defendant had no money and I was broke myself and the county don't pay
cash in advance, and no steamboat around and no calaboose here and defendant
wouldn't walk down to Yuma all alone by himself and I wouldn't walk down with
him as he wouldn't stay arrested unless I boarded him which I had no money for
to do, and as he gave up the coat (value 45 cents currency estimated) and said
he never stole it but Bryson was a damned liar anyhow, and not knowing what to
do with him, I did nothing more to him to date beyond giving him excellent
moral advice which he assured me was entirely unnecessary in his case, his
life having been blameless and his reputation spotless as he could prove by the
best men in Nevada and Idaho but have allowed him to run at large until a more
favorable season when a steamboat happens to be here, and will take script for
his passage to Yuma and present the bill to Supervisors themselves, which is
nearly all I have done toward serving within process, though I could make
return of the balance were this process bigger on the back.
Fees.- Balance of what coat
sells for after paying Justice fees.
(signed) George Tyng,
Sheriff
of Yuma County, ARIZONA.
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