The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-08-27
@OTTUMWA, IOWA, THURSDAY, AUGUST q, 1857


Lord EllenbOrOugh's farst Brief.
The following story is communicated to The
Bradford Observer, as narrated by the late
Richard Hodgson, Esq, Of Whetland, form
erly notable of Bradford:
Mr.. Hodgson had become possessed Of adj
dit:onal property; bat a claimant sprung up
tina, disputed his legal title to IL, and instruc-
ted his attorney to demand from him Mr..
Hodgson) an inspection Of the title deeds,
which being done in an insolent, dicta,orial
manner, he reremptorily refused. aThen, sir,o
said the lawyer, 81 will compel you to produce
them at York." "And there,o as promptly
responded Mr.. Modgson, "I will meet on and
thrash you TO your hearts contento Mr..
Hodgson shall now tell the story himself
81 was made defendant, and, Of course. had
to wait my opponents attack, whose first
move was to secure all the leading counsel
travelling the Northern Circuit. sNever mind
says to my lawyer, my title is so indsputa-
BILE, that If cannot meet with counsel to nv
friend after we arrive at York, will be nv
own counsel, and lick them too.'" On arriv-
ing at York, Mr.. Hodgeson and his solicnor
Immediately proceeded TO the Castle, the ASST
zes having opened that day, having formed the
singular determination to select his counsel
from his physiognomy while seated in court
"After carefully surveying the big wigs and
the faces under them, remsrked to my law
yer, q rather like the looks of the young man
on our left; speak to him, and inquire if he has
any objection to consultation with view to
a brief; il | am not mistaken, there is both
sense and law in that head"
The reply to the question was, "I shall be
happy to see you at my lodgings this evening
at six"
On being usbered into his room, the young
counse, whose name did not even know, said,
|" This is the first time have travelled the
circuit, and your brief is the first l have had
offered am but young barris:er, and
think it only fair to give you this warning -
replied, like you no worse at all, but all
the better, for your candor; we will now pro-
coed with the consultation" Although nv
title was intricate, there was no doubt of its
legality. My young counsel made himself
master of every point in an iacredible short
time, "Your titie,' he remarked, is good be-
yond question; if can only make the court
aud jury see it as clearly as Isee it myself,
there viii be no doubt of the result dare you
entrust me with the brief after the warning
have given you" SCI dare,n replied; and
the brief and all the necessary documents
were handed to him. By-the-bye,n re-
marked, "you must give me your name."
Law, is my name," he replied.
. @Then Of course we must be right, re-
sponded, shaving already secured Law on our
side.o H
On the third day of the ass.zrs our cause
was called, and it being one of those where the
ofsus probandi lies with the defendant, we
were called upon to proceed. My young
counsel rose, and all eyes were directed to-
wards him, never having been seen at York
before; and during the whole time of his
speaking, (two hours the attention of the en-
tire court never slackened. At the conclusion
ct his address, a buzz Of appreciation ran
through the bar aud audience. His Lordship,
addressing the leading counsel on the opposite
side, inquired if, after the clear, lucid and able
statement of the law of the case, and il was al
together question Of law, he would think it
his duty to take up the time of the court by a
reply. "Yes, my lord" answered sruff voice,
"we are not in the habit Of falling before we
are knocked down." "Very wei, ,asyou will,
brother Cockin." The trial proceeded, and
at its conclusion the judge told the jury that
the question for decision was entirely one of
law, and there was no doubt the law was with
the defendant, a. his connse. had most conclu-
sively shown, in speech which W w,uli have
done honor to veteran, and augured well FOR
the learned counsel, As regarded the future
The jury, without turning round, gave ver-
dict for the defendant.
81 was 50 excited" continued Mr.. Hodg-
son, "that, forgetting where l was, sung out,
'Young man, young many but, recolIecting
myself, l said, Learned sir,' addressing my
young counsel, 'if you live to die of old age,
you will become either Lord Chief Justice
or Lord Chancellor"
"Thank ysu," responded he; wish you
may live to see it."
And | have lived to see it, as suppose
| need not infJrm you. that my young conn.
sci, Mr.. Law Of that day, is now the cele-
brated Lord Chief Justice Ellie nborough.
Death Of the French Poet,
Beranger.