Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-08-11
Gge Storp Gtlltr,
SOP FOR THE PINEAPPLE.


of the Flush Times in Alabama The only
one we have come across is the following
Iaughable story, which will be duly appreci-
ated by all our readers who desire to ''grow
fat"
The fall assizes for the year l9- came on
in the East Riding, and my friend, Paul
Beechim, found himself duly indicted before
Judge c., for an assault and battery committed
on the body of one Philip Cousins, in the
peace of the State then and there being.
felt more than ordinary interest in the case;
the aforesaid Paul being particular friend of
mine, and, moreover the case presented some
singular and mysterious features. The de-
fendant was one of the best natured and most
Gently, before this er parte fighting, had been
on terms Of intimacy and friendship with the
gentleman upon whom the assault was made.
The assault was of a ferocious character; no
one knew the cause of it; though every one
knew, from the character of Beechim, that
some extraordinary provocation had been CIV
en- him. ] was no better informed than the
rest When Beechim came to employ me in
the case, / tried to possess myself of the facts.
To all inquiries he only replied that he had
done as he had for good and sufficient reasons
but that he did not choose to say any more.
told him that it was impossible for me to de-
fend him unless he would place me in possess
sion of the facts, and assured him that what
ever he communicated should be held in strict
professional confidence. But nothing | could
say produced any change in his determination.
was about abandoning his case, remarking
TO him that if he felt no confidence in his coun-
sci, or not enough to induce him to tell him
the facts, he might be assured that it was no
less his interest than my wish that he should
60 where he would be better suited. But he
persisted that it was from no want of conf
dence in me that he refused, and that he re-
garded me with the same feelings of friend
ship he had always felt for me, and concluded
by telling me that if | refused to take his case,
he should employ no other lawyer, but would
let the matter proceed without defence. |
fold him ! did not see any hope of his escap-
ing severe punishment, as the case stood, to
which be replied that he expected it, but he
Hoped l would, if possible, prevent his being
sent to Jail. The case came up in the regular
course, and was tried. The facts were
brought out plainly enough. The assault was
rpadc in public, and the weapon, a large cane,
with which the defendant had given Cousins
an awful beating, gashing his head, and caus-
ing the blood TO flow. The only words spok-
en- by Beechim In the course of the affair,
were, "Now, d you, how do you like
that pineapple sopt' OF course, on such tes-
timony, the jury found the defendant guilty;
and the court retained Beechim in custody un
til some leisure was given it to fix the punish
soent, which, by the statute, the court was
bound to impose
Judge c. was pretty good disciplinarian
and kept the police business of the court in
good order There had been of late many
violations of law, and growing disposition
was felt by the people and the court to pat
down these excesses; but Beechim was so
popular, and withal so kind-hearted and gen
tlemanly follow, that great deal Of sympa-
thy was felt for him, and general wish that
he might in some way get out of the scrape.
Among the pecuiiarites of Judge c., was
an itching curiosity. He was always peeping
under the curtain of case to see if he could
not find something behind; and felt not little
disappointed and vexed when the examination
stopped short of bringing out all the facts and
incidents, the relations of the parties and the
like
He had been struck with the expression used
by Beechim, pineapple sop" and was evil
IDENTIFY uneasy in mind in his present state of
inability TO nravel it. The first pause in the
case ne was next trying gave him an opportu-
nifty of calling me to him. Said he
B., what did. he mean by pineapple
sopp"
told him there was mystery about it
which could not explain
g mystery, ha! Well, now, here, b.,
In confidence, just tell me; it shan't go any
further, of course, you know"
told him was ignorant of it, as was ev-
cry one else. The Judge then assured me
had better see my client, and get him to state
at to the court, that he would give all proper
weight to it in fixing the punishment but that,
as the case stood, he should have to make an
example of him. took Paul aside and told
him what the Judge had said, and added nv
own counsel to his Honor's, but with no eff
feet. Revolving the thing in my mind, got
more and more bothered the more | thought
about it. began to look at the circumstanc-
es more narrowly; that it was no sham or
trick was evident. No one would have taken
such beating for fun; that the provocation
did not touch any domestic relations which
the defendant might have desired to keep from
being exposed, was apparent from the fact
that my client had no relatives in the country,
and the only girl he ever went to see was
Cousins sister. There were two facts made
sure of; the first, that this meeting was i'm
medlately after Cousins return from New Or
leans, which occurred few days after Beech
i'm himself had arrived from that city; the sec
ond, that Cousins had kept out of the way.
and had received note shortly bebre court
from Becchim.
II l. Al, Al