Is there anything more dangerous in this world that two bored lawyers? In 1865 there were only two lawyers in Eau Claire: Will “Pit” Bartlett and Alex Meggett. And these two lawyers had no clients in their foreseeable future. Bartlett and Meggett decided to hold a Kangaroo Court. A Kangaroo Court, according to our good friend Noah Webster, is “a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted.” In this case, pun intended, the law was perverted so that Bartlett and Meggett could drum up a little business. Will these lawyers get away with corrupting the law? Or will justice be served?
This story is based in fact, more information can be found at the Chippewa Valley Museum. The drama was written by Jane and Jim Jefferies and produced by Scott Morfitt and Eli Klatt at Blugold Radio. Michael Rambo performed the theme song with additional music by Lauren Jefferies.
Special thanks goes out to the Eau Claire Community Foundation, the Chippewa Valley Writers’ Guild, and the Chippewa Valley Museum.
Photograph provided by the Chippewa Valley Museum