Then I battered his head against the floor until I was satisfied that he could do me no more harm.

He went home and took to his bed.
He announced that when he got out he would charge me with assault.

I went before the mayor and offered to plead guilty to such a charge.
The mayor protested against it.

He said I had done the right thing in protecting the honor of the city, and that the citizens would not permit my action to cost me money.

The local banker took up a collection to pay my fine in case a fine should be assessed against me.
My salary as city clerk was forty dollars a month.