The next day the party returned to Pittsburg, for the purpose, as Ben explained, of explaining to the directors that the route of the road would have to be changed. The farmer, of course, discovered that he had been swindled, and threatened several times to bring a suit against Hogan for damages; but none of these were ever carried through.
Soon after this adventure, Ben left for Pittsburg, and struck out for Petrolia. This was his first advent into Petrolia. Kitty remained in the Pittsburg house.
Ben’s first venture in Petrolia was the purchase of a small wooden house from one Lauterbach, for which he was to pay three hundred and fifty dollars. The house stood on Fairview street. Ben at once laid in a large stock of liquors, having fitted up an ice chest capable of holding two tons of ice. While he was making his preparations to open this house, the good citizens of Petrolia took alarm at the idea of having Ben Hogan for a fellow townsman, and at once called a meeting at which it was voted to arrest all whiskey dealers in the place. Messrs. Campbell, Jamison and others were among the leaders in this crusade. The liquor dealers were arrested, according to the programme, and Ben appeared in the justice’s court as their counsel. Bail was fixed in the sum of five hundred dollars each. Ben at once offered to become surety for the indicted dealers. The Squire, as the police justice was called, eyed Hogan a little suspiciously.
“What is your name?” he inquired.
“Ben Hogan,” was the prompt reply.
This caused an immediate sensation in the court-room.
The Squire was paralyzed, so to speak, at the announcement. He was afraid to accept the offered bail, and still more afraid to refuse it.
“Where is your real estate?” he asked.
“In Pittsburg,” answered Ben. “It is first-class unincumbered property, and you’re bound to accept me as bail!”
Here followed an argument on the part of the prosecuting lawyers, as to whether the prisoners should be admitted to bail at all. They referred the Squire to statutes which they claimed showed that the men must be held. Meantime Ben took one of the lawyers aside, and offered him thirty-six dollars if he would settle the case without further trouble. This offer had a curious effect upon the legal gentleman’s opinion. He straightway stood up and argued that what he had before said was all a mistake; that the statutes plainly showed that the case could be settled there and then; and that any man who said it couldn’t was a liar.