The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-01-01
A Legal Fact.
AZ vnAxx rrLroS.

nv vRAxK YELroN
.Oh yes. oh yes, oh yes The circuit
court il now met. pursuant to adjournment
cried the sheriff. and Judge Melvin took his
seat upnn the bench. Immediately hats
were off. seats were assumed, and everything
became as still as country school house
upon the entry of the grim old pedagogue.
The record OF the proceedings Of the day
before vas read by the clerk. Judge Melvin
signed his name, and then motion-hour be-
gan, proceeded and ended at the expiration
Of one hour. Judge Melvin then called the
peoples docket, but none Of the defendants
were ready.
.Gentlsmon,' said the judge, the court has
adopted the following rule Upon the calling
Of the docket, each case, as it is called, must
be disposed of or continued, before the call
ing Of the next cause This rule will 60 into
operation tomorrow morning.
The business Of the court then proceeded
in the usual manner, interrupted only by the
adjournment for dinner, until by the sheriff
it was aloud proclaimed: Circuit court is
now adjourned until to omorrow morning,
eight o'clock
We'll, Beauchamb, said James Morris, one
Of the members Of the bar in attendance up
on the court, 4 want you to come over to
the hotel tonight, and We will have an oys-
Ter supper. Beaumont, Joe, and several
other young lawyers will be there, and we
can have good time
well, Morris, I'm obliged to you but l
cannot come tonight, as have two cases to
try tomorrow, and must post up on the law,
or | shall rot be ready for trial when the
cases are called
Now, Beauchamb. that is too bad You
must come. What cases arc they Am I
interested in them?
You arc for the plaintiff in one Of them,
nnl Murray is for the plaintiff in the other.
The first is II 1t Y. Smith, and second is
Horton v. Black
THAT is better than expected. I am in
tcrested in both cases. an junior counsel
for Holt v. Smith but heard old Murray
say this morning that we would have to
continue it, as one ofour witnesses is absent.
And in Horton v. Black, you arc mistaken,
it does not come up till day after tomorrow.
What number i il =
.One hundred and tcn,' said Beauchamb,
turning to his private docket.
Yes. that's right But have it on my
docket the first case for the fourth day, and
you have it the last on the third day. But
one hundred and nine is the last case for the
third day, and one hundred and ten is the
first for the fourth day.
Are you certain of, ,t:'
,Just as certain as am that arm stand
ing here
WELL then, guess ! shall be over to-
night
4 hope so. Be there as carly as you can.
u will.'
So saying, Reaachamb proceeded on to
ward his Office, while Morris went INTO the
hotel. On his way. Beauchamb met Murray
who told him not to be uneasy about Holt v
Smith as he should continue it in the morn
ing. Bsanchamb thus assured Of Morris
honesty in ono case. felt re assured as te
the other, and thought no moro about tho
matter.
Now, boysi We're all right now for .
good time. Here's the oyster soup, the wine
i. on the way. and say emphatically, we're
bound for good time, said Morris to his
assembled cronies prior to Deauchamh's ar
rival. Now, boys, we must get Beauchamt
drunk tonight. intend to drug whatever
he drinks, so IS to keep him out ofthe way
tomorrow, as case in which / intend t
make three hundred dollars il win it, vii
come up tomorrow earlier than he expects
II is set the last case for tomorrow, but /
viii be reached tomorrow morning, as near
lyall the cases before it will he continued
So you see, il Beauchamh is not there, unde,
the rule Of to day, he will lose the case
We'll, we're oil ri .ht,' said one Of them
and few moments afterwards Beauchamt
entered. They soon demolished the edibies
Morris then passed around the wine, hand
Jog Beauchamb glass drugged with NOR
phine.
Excuse me, Norris, as I am opposed t
the use Of wine. rcvcr drink it. Blu
please to hand me cup Of coffee, and II
endeavor to sociable with that'
'Wcll, so be it. never vial. to force
man to do anything against his will sait
Morris, a. he poured out the coffoe. Al
soon as he had poured it out, he affected +
hear some ono at the or. snd walking t
tho door, he opened it and stepped out, cul
In hand. While there, he poured som
morphine from small paper into the coffee
and then returning to the room, handed
to Beauchamb, whe unsuspectingly drainc'
the cup, and ere long his head was upon tn
table fast asleep. They put him to bed il
one ofthc rooms at the hotel, and left him
Holt '. Smith: are the parties ready 70
trial. said Judge Melvin after motion. hou
nsxt morning.
We are ready. your honor, on tho part q
the plaintiff said Morris.
stop, Mr.. Marris, you are entirely 70
fast, a.ia Aarrsy, the senior counsel. !