Dillon obtained a judgment against Rutherford for damages for killing a milk cow. Rutherford claims magistrate was swayed by testimony that Rutherford threatened to kill the cow if Dillon did not keep the cow out of Rutherford's field. Rutherford tried to appeal the judgment but failed to sign the bond, claiming his illiteracy kept him from realizing he needed to do so, so he is asking for a new trial.