The daily comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1850-1856, 1854-06-10
The Power Of EloQ sacce..
A SCENE IN A JUSTICES COURT.

since, was to be seen a dense and
eager crown, composed of both sexes,
evincing by their whisperings and un-
der-toned enquiries that some great
and important affair, deeply affecting
the peace and honor of the commu-
nifty, or involving private reputation
and character, was to be tried on that
occasion.
Attracted by the crowd that thron-
ged the street in front of the Justi-
ce's court, curiosity led us to the spot,
to learn the "Casus BelIi' and to
witness the progress Of the exciting
trial.
Elbowing our way through the
dense masses which lined the street
and filled the doors and windows, we
approached sufficiently near, by stan
ding tip-toe, TO gaze upon the crowd
within.
The Justice, remarkable for age and
intelligence, and the impartial manner
in which he had SO long dispensed
justice, sat erect and grave, and show
ed by his appearance, that not only
his thoughts, but that the deep sym
pathies of his heart were enlisted in
the case before him.
The prisoner, female of some 25
years Of age, dressed in purple and
fine linnen," Of strong intellectual ex-
preston, sat buried and lost in the
deep labarynth Of her own reflections
but with an eye, ever and anon emit
ting flashing and darling expressions
upon the audience, that plainly showed
the nature Of the raging elements
within. 1t is perhaps unnecessary to
state the nature of the novel case,
which had SO unusually filed a Justi-
ce's court with curious spectators.
The witnesses being through, we
all cleared our Threats, drew a long
breath, adjusted our cravats and shirt
collars, and prepared for the intellec-
tual contest which was now to begin.
The character Of our young lawyers for
powerful eloquence chained us to the
spot. They had studied together in
The same Office, had recently obtained
licenses from the same court, and now,
for the first time, had been regularly
pitched against each other, to display
their powers Of oratory and legal sa-
gacity before their mutual friends
and admirers.
The occasion, the nature ofthe case
the character Of the prisoner a lovely
female) the large auditory composed
of males and females, all conspired to
heighten the excitement, and deepen
the interest manifested in the legal
contest; and to raise the energies,
quicken the perceptions and fire the
ambition Of the young contestants
The prosecutor, a tall slender person
age, rather stopped from habit-long
arms aud taperiog fingers, black hair
in ringlets carelessly flung about his
forehead and temples, with an eye
blue and soft, but penetrating and
quick, slowly rose, and in deep and
solemn tone, commenced the prosecu-
ton. He dwelt upon the nature of
the crime; his mannerwas solemn, his
argument plain, and his appeal power
full. Having closed, his opponent rose
in the defence.
He is a young man of rather under ,
size, sallow complexion, light hair, ;
lquiline nose and roman features.
With an excitablc temperament and an
indicative of habits of pro- {
ouEd reflection. He met the prose- ,
'ution manfully, struck la,,ces with ,
lis antagonist fearlessl y, walked into
lis witnesses without mercy and closed
With evident feelings of triumph and I
uccess thong with too much agita- l
ion and excitement. He had how {;
yer no sooner seated himself and the !.
udience time to breathe, than the y
prosecution again rose, bearing upon
is countenance the fixed expression of Il
determined resolution to qOim or die i,
q this contest.
Strengthening himself to his full
tatue, brushing his loose ringlets from P
is white forhead and swinging his Il
ing arms in the air about him he n
pened with a perfect thumdergust of t,
loquence. Peal after peal in rapid :;