The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-08-10


elbowed me as he passed. Immediately
knocked him down, and kicked him into
the street. Ineeded no better recommen-
dation. In moment had half dozen
rough shakes Of the hand and invitations
to drink. and found myself quite person
age in this rough assemblage.
The next morning the court opened--I
took my seat among the lawyers, but felt
as mere spectator, not having any idea
where business was to come from. In the
course OF the morning man was put to
the bar, charged with passing counterfeit
money and was asked if he was ready for
trial. He answered in the negative. He
had been confined in place where there
were no lawyers, and had not an oppor-
tunity of consulting any. He was told to
choose from the lawyers present, and be
ready for trial on the following day. He
looked around the court and selected me-
| could not tell why he should make such
choice. l, a beardless youngster. un.
practiced at the bar-perfeotly unknown
felt difident, yet delighted, and could
have hugged the rascal.
Before leaving the court he gave ME one
hundred dollars in bag, as retainer fee.
| could scarcely believe nay senses-i,
seemed like dream. The heaviness OF
his fee spoke but lightly in favor Of his in.
nocence-but this was no affair of mine
| was to be advocate, notjudge or jury.
followed him TO the Jail, and learned from
him all the particulars of the case, from
thence | went to the clerks office, and
took sminutes OF the indictment. then
examined the law on the subject, and pre-.
pared my brief in my room. All this oc-
cupied me until midnight, when went to
bed and tried 10 sleep Ii was all in vain.
Never in my life was more wide awake.
A hos: ofthoughts and fancies keptrushing
through my mind. The shower of gold
that had SO unexpectedly fallen into my
lap, the idea OF my poor little vile at
home, tha, | was to astonish her with my
good fortune, but the awful responsibility
| had undertaken, to speak for the first
time in strange court, the expectations
the culprit had formed of my talen,s,-ali
these and q crowd Of similar notions. kept
whirling through my mind. tossed a.
bout all night, fearing the morning would
find me exhausted and incompetent. In a
word, the day dawne6 on me miserable
fellow.
got up faverish and nervous. walk.
ed out before breakfast, striving 10 collect
my thoughts and tranquiiize my feelings.
It was bright morning. bathed my
forehead and my hands in beautiful run
ming stream. but could not allay the fever
heat that ragged within. l returned to
breakfast, but could not eat. single cup
Of coffee formed my repast II ii had no,
been for the thought of my little wife, IN
her lonely house, Il should have given back
to the man his hundred dollars and relin-
quished the cause. took my seat, look.
ing, am convinced, more like culpril
than the rogue was TO defend.
When the time came for me to speak,
my heart died within me. | rose embar-
rassed and dismayed, and s,ammered in
opening my cause. | went on from bad
TO worse. and felt as If | was going down
hill. Just then the public prosecutor, a
man OF talents, but somewhat rough in his
practice, made sarcastic remark on
something had said. II was like an cleo
trio spark. and ran tingling through every
vein in my body In an instant my diff
dence was gone. My whole spirit was in
arms. answered with promptness, for |
felt the cruelty of such an attack on nov
ice in my situation. The public prosecu-
tor made kind of apology. That for a
man of his redoubtable powers, was vas,
concession. / renewed my argument with
a fearful glow, carried the cause trium.
phan,ly, and the man was acquitted.
This was the making of mo. Every
4 Nd a.
lawyer was that had so suddenly risen a.
mong them, and bearded the Attorney
General at the very onset. The story ol
my debut at the inn on the proceeding
evening, when had knocked down bull
ly and kicked him out Of doors for striking
an old mar, was circulated with favorable
exaggeration. Even my beardless chin
and Juvenile countenance was in my IA
vor, for the people gave me far more cred.
it than deserved. The great amount o.
chance business which occurs in our courts
came ihrongingsupon me. was repeat.
edly employed in other causes. and by
Saturday night, when the court had closed
and had paid my bills at the inn, found
myself with hundred and fifty dollars in
silver, three hundred dollars in notes, and
horse that afterwards sold for two hun.
dred dollars more.
Never did miser gloat more on his pei
and with more delight. ! locked the dool
of my loom, piled the money in a heap
upon the table, and walked around it-sa
with my elbows on the table, and my CHR
upon my hands, and gazed upon it. Was
thinking of the money? Mo- was
thinking ofmy little wife at home.
Another sleepless night ensued, but wha
a night Of golden iancles and splendid ali
castles! As soon as morning dawned
was up. mounted the borrowed horse witt
which / had come to court, and led the
other which | had received as fee. Al
the way was delighting myself with tht
Thoughts of surprise | had in store for my
little wife; for both of US had expectee
nothing but that | should spend all tht
money had borrowed, and should return
in debt. @
n Our meeting was joyous, as you may
suppose; but played the part of the lndi
an hunter, who. when he returns from tht
} chase, never for a time speaks Of his sue
cess. She had prepared q snug little rus
u =