Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-11-25
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL.
MY Debut at the Bar.

flaT- NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
entertainment of our readers II IS one OF series
called "Sketches of the Flush Times Of Alabama" in
that ever welcome periodical, the Southern Literary
Messenger II is only necessary 10 premise that the
heros client had been falsely accused Of stealing pigs
that the action laid damages for libel
and that the young lawyer had been unexpectedly call
ed to conduct the case, owing to an elder member OF
the bar being taken suddenly drunk "1-Home Jour,
MY client respectable butcher his opponent
well.to-do farmer. On getting to the Court House
found the Court in session. The clerk just
ding the minutes. My case-I well speak IN the
singularwas the first the docket Tor that morn
ing looked around and old Kasm, who some
how had found out in the case with his green
bag and half library of old books the bar before
him The old fellow gave me a look Of malicious
peasureke that Of a hungry tiger from his lar, cast
upon Unsuspccting calf browsing near him. had
tried to put on a bold face felt that It would be
very unprolesssna To let on TO my client that was al
all scared though my heart was running down like a
lack-screw under heavy wagon. My conscience
had not practiced it away hen-was not quite easy
couldn't help feeling that IL was hardly honest TO be
leading my client like Falstah his men, where he
sure 10 be pepered But then il my only chance
nv bread depended ON il; and reflected that the
same thing has happen in every lawyers practice.
I tried 10 strain nv ideas in form and excogitate
speech; they fitted through my brain IN odds and ends
| could neither think quit thinking l would lose
myself in the hrst twenty words Of the sentence and
stop at a particle tho trail clean out. would
start il again with better luck then thought
Of disgrace of dead break down; and then
would commence again with Gentleman Of the jury"
&c., and 20 on before.
AT length the Judge signed the minutes ard took up
the docket % Special case-H gginbotlam SwInk
SANDER Mr. Glendyc for plaintiff; Mr. Kasm for deien-
dant Is Mr. G.. 10 courtl Call him Sheriff called three
times. He might as we'll have called the dead. No
answer, Of course, came. MIR kasm rose and told the
that he sorry his brother too much (sro
king his chin and looking down and pausng) ndsposed
or otherwise engaged to attend the case but he
insist on IT'S being disposed OIL &c; The conrt said II
should be. then spoke up, (though my voice seemed
to rery low down and hard 70 Ct up, )that had
inst been spoken in the cause; believed We were
ready, if the must be then tried; but should
much prefer il to be laid II the court would
sent, until the day, that evening. kasm
protested vehemeny against this reminded the court
OF its perempory order referred the former proceed
ngs aud going To discuss the whole merits OF
the case, when he interrupted by the Judge, who
turning himself To me, remarked that he should be hap
nv TO oblige me, but that he pTeclGded by what
had happened he hoped however, that the counsel on
the other side would extend the desired lndugerce TO
which Kasm Immediately reoined that this was n case
which he neither asked lavors meant TO give them
So the case had 90 Several members Of the bar
had their hats hand ready 10 leave the room, when
the case called up; but seem. that | IN II
alone. suffered their curiosity oct the better oil
other engagements, and staid it ont-a circum-
stance which did not diminish my lrePdation IN the
least.
+ had my witness called up posted my client behind
in the bar, and put the TO the jury. The de-
PENDANT had pleaded Justification and gully. got
along pretty well, / thot the proofs. The
examination Of old Ka N didn't To hurt anything
though he qupped misconsr ued and bullied nightly
objected all my questions leading, aud all the
Witnesses irrelevant but the Judge, who
was a very clever sort o! man. aud who didn't like
kasm much helped me along aud over the bad places
occasionally taking the examination himself when old
Kasm had got the Statements of the witness in fog
had strong case; the plaintiff showed good
character that tho lodge Masons had refused admit
him fellowship until he could clear up these charges
that the Methodist Church, Of which he class
leader had required Of him have these charges Judi
cally settled; that he had offered satisfy the defend
ant af hoy IA ID d.
dinterested and to he satisfed-i( they decided
for hm-to receive written retracfion, which the
defendant should only declare he was mistaken that
the defendant refused his proler and reiterated the
charges with increased bitterness and aggravated insult
that the plaintiff had suffered in reputation and credit
that the defendant had declared he meant To him of
and buy his land his defendant price and that
defendant rich ana often repeated his ISLANDERS at
public meetings. and once at the church door, and, final
ly. justJfedr.
The defendants testimony was weak il did con-
trovert the proof the eakng Of the words the
matters OF aggravation. Many witnesses examn-
ed the character Of the plant but those against
only referred what they heard since the ISLANDERS
except one, who was unlrendIy. Same witness spoke
Of butchering hogs night aud hearing them squeal
late hour at the plaintiffs slaughter house, and Of the
dead hogs they had with various marks, and
thing of hogs having been stolen in the Heighbarhool
This about all the proof
The plaintiff laid bis damages at $4,000.
rose TO address the jury By this time good deal
Of the excitement had oil The tremOr left, only
gave that Of feeling which is rather favorable
than otherwise TO a public speaker.
might have made pretty good out OF IT, II had
thrown myself upon the merits of my case acsnowledg
ed mOdestly my nexperience, plainly stated the
evidence and the law, and let, the gO-reservng
myself in the conclusion for spurge, if choose to
make But the evil genius that presides the
first bantings Of old lawyerings would have it other
wise The citizens of the town, and those of the
try then in the village, had gathered in great numbers
into the court house hear the speeches; and could
not miss such opportunity for display.
Looking over the jury, lonnd them plain matter
Of fact looking set Of fellows but did not note, or
probably know fact or about them, which found
out afterwards.
started, as thought, in pretty good style As
went on, however, my fancy began to get the better of
my Judgement Arguments and common sense grew
tame Poetry and defamation, and, at last, pathos
and fiery nvective took their place grew as quota.
fiOUs Richard Swiveler Shakespeare suffered
quoted, among other things Of less value and aptness
He who steals my purse steals trash, &c. spoke of
the woiu suerings of my poor client, almost heart
broken beneath the weight of the terrible prosecutions
Of his enemy and growing bolder turned to old Kasm
and congratulated the jury that tie genius of SANDER
had found appropriate defender in tbegenus Of chi
cane and mallgny. compmented the jury their pa
tience their estimate of the value of character
spoke Of the public expectations-oi that feeling outside
ri thc box which would welcome with laundering
piauds the righteous verdict the Jury would render
and wound up by declaring that had never known a
of SANDER aggravated in the of my prac
tice the bar and ecated myself that its grossncss
and barbarity justified my client in relying upon even
the youth and nexperlence Of unpractsed advocate
whose poverty Of resources unaided by opportu-
mites OF previous preparation Much said that
happily has escaped me.
When concluded, Sam Hicks ard one two other
friends gave faint sigh Of aPpause-bnt not enough TO
make any impression.
observed that old Kasm held his head down when /
was speaking entertained the hope that had cowed
him. His usual port that Of cynical composure, or
bold and brazen defiance, 1t special Kindness IL
he only smiled in covert scorn that his most ami
Bile expression in a trial. ...-.I. -. |
But when he raised up his head the very devil
In IL