This morning’s first case involves an unpaid store bill of about thirty dollars.  Two men come forward to take their places at a library table butted against the school-desk bench.  It’s a direct, man-to-man sort of business.

A man in a tie and shirtsleeves presents his side: he’s been trying to collect the bill for months, he says, and he’s gotten nowhere.  Judge May listens intently.  Then he turns to the defendant—a young man in a T shirt and dusty dungarees.

"Now what’s your story on this?"

The young man doesn’t quite know how to speak in court.

"Well, I plead guilty..."

"You mean you owe him the money."

The young man’s face eases a bit.

He goes on to explain the situation in comfortable words.  He says he’s an unemployed body-and-fender man.  He and his wife, they try to pay their bills on time...but work’s hard to get, and all...

The judge listens sympathetically.  He asks a few questions about job prospects.  Then he studies the claim again.

"Well, now, the judgment is in favor of the plaintiff.  Now, you (the young man) ought to try and get that taken care of.  Mr. Young needs his money, too.  If he gets a lot of unpaid bills, he’s got a lot of money tied up.  You get over and see Mr. Young.  Work will be coming eventually, so you make some kind of arrangement with him."