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Show Mr. Alexander, of Glencoe, Missouri, who wrote an essay to prove that Homer never existed had an ox converted into hash by a train on the Kansas Pacific. Unable to get any compensation, he set himself to watching and soon had a record of thirty-seven violations of the rule requiring locomotives to whistle on crossing a road. Thirty seven injunctions were entered against the company and as many judgments of $20 cash obtained. Half of the penalty going to the informer, Mr. Alexander was naturally well pleased at the price he had got for his ox. The Judge decided that the suits could have all been embraced in a single suit, and that the gentleman was liable for the costs in all but one of them. These amounted to $360, leaving him $10 profit. The ox was worth $50; his time watching the trains, $10; his services in the court, $100; leaving him out of pocket, $150. |