Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-19
stuion and gmfrieau.
aLEARxED JUDGE IN A QUANDA.
RIA FUNNY SCENE.

q LEARNED aEn&at7 IN A lUANDA-
RT-A FUNNY SCENE.
Last Monday Judge LEONARD, Of the
County Court Of Shelby county, oficiated as
chief in the ceremonies Of laying the corner
stone Of new Jail about 20 be erected in
Memphis. He had secured a tin box and
the usual articles to be placed in it, with the
exception Of the daily English papers Of
Memphis, and the German paper This
fact was called to his attention, but il was
too late, the ceremony was ended, the tin
box was deposited, aud the capstOnc fitted
OF ard oemented. The crowd then repaired
TO a collation. prepared for the occasion, and
there followed the usual amount Of eating,
drinking, loasting and speechifying, at the
conclusion Of which the following amusing
scene occurred
When the crowd was about 10 disperse, a
halt was suddenly called by Judge LEON
ARD. who informed those present In most
mellidaous tones that he had procured a
copy Of the AUalonclc and the other papers,
and IL they would all 20 back 10 the corner
stone it would be lifted, and the papers he
had mentioned, would all be deposited be-
side the other rshives in the casket"
The crowd who considered the whole affair
a good Joke, followed the learned Judge "
70 the center Of attraction, where the mortar
was duly scraped of, and the stone lifted and
the "archives," formerly deposited again
disclosed TO view.
Mr.. JOHN PoWERs, brother Of the con
tractor who had, after considerable trouble,
procured copies Of the missing papers, ad
vanced and placed them at the Judges
feet.
Judge LEONARD, smiling benignaHtly on
the by-standers, lifted the Lodgcr, and said,
This, gentlemen, is the Leaga, which ]
viii deposit among the archives" and twas
dropped in the box accordingly. lie next
picked up the Agalanche, and looking round
triumphantly, said Nov, gentlemen, this
IS the ADalanche.
A voice" Bully for you, Judge" Laugh
ter
Judge LEoNARD-(neekly)- Gentlemen,
] want you 10 look at this paper exhibiting
the title) II e. the AUalaHche. I wish TO
tell you ] llad no prejudice, j wanted to
get ali the papers, but could not get them.
a NOiee-"All right, Judge we viii be-
lieve you Laughter
Judge LEONARD dropped the paper, and
taking the Argis, laid il lovingly on the top
Of the other, and then picked mp the German
paper, the Die Hcus Zid Looking Of the
title in a very puzzled manner, the learned
Judge said-"Gentlemen this is the Die
Ne,te.', The next word was a poser; the
Judge evidently was not au fat in Dutch,
and he gazed around for an instant with per
plexity marked on every feature Of his ex-
prcssive countenanoe.
A friendly German, however, came TO his
relief by excaiming, 1T is called the Nclc
Era in English"
Judge LEoNARD (smilingly) Oh, yes!
Rog Era. Ehank you, sir. Gentlemen this
is the German paper which being translated
means The Res Era. (Laughter) The
Judge held the paper in his hand, as he
mnttered, musingly, "Die Nsne. Oh, yes
tie Men Era" and the "Dutchman," as
somebody called the paper, was carefully
folded and deposited among the archives.
Justice CRmGHToN-Judge i have got
something to put in the box.
Judge iEoNARD-All right my dear sir.
What Is IL?
Justice CREIGHToN-It is a 500 bill of
Confederate money. VIII you not put il in?
il viii show the people in hundred years
hence what kind Of money we used to have
in Confederate times. (Laughter.)
Judge LEONARD (smilingly)-I think we
have enough already IN the easket, Mr..
CREIGHTON. Can you give me q 3 bill
Federal money, Mr.. Creighton.
A voioe-Don't 90 back on the Lost
Cause" Judge Put in the 500 bill.
Alderman JoHEsoN-Oh, yesl Put in.
(Laughier).
Jude LEONARD took the lost Cause
pr0misory note in his trembling iDgers,
looking * Il very suspiciously. He pro-
cured a 81 bill and 81 belonging TO one Of
the Tennessee National Banks, and placed
them in the box, and then declared the cask-
81 filed, keeping the other unfortunate IN
his trembling fingers.
A Noice.-Judge, you surely amt going
back on the "Lost Cause" Take vote
about putting in Squire CREGHToN's bill.
(Laughter.)
An enthusiastic individual declared the
vote carried, and amid rOars of laughter the
perplexed Judge put the bill very reluct-
antly into the box. lie then called for the
cover; bat his troubles were not at an end.
Before the cover could be brought, Con,
federaie button from the old gray coat Of
soldier Of the Lost Cause" was put in his
hands. lie looked az the ''thing" very curi-
ously, as II he were afraid il would bite him,
and in a pathetic tone besought the gentle
man who had placed IL in his reluctant
hands, 20 take il back. No one, however,
would receive H. The by-standers were bent
on mischief and one or two more buttons
inside their appearance from "the same old
coatR The Judge had swallowed the bill
but couid not stand the button, and he tear
fully declined 20 make an ''archive" of IL.
The cover was a little time in being brought
forward, and at a hint from a reporter, a
Confederate ''chucked" one Of the buttons
into the box. The announcement Of the
trick was received with loud OUTLAW by the
crowd, The cover was placed in position the
mortar again spread, the perplexed Judge !
in cherry tone declared the exercises land |
his troubles) az an end, without going
through any formality, and the crowd dis
persed, all heartily amused at the comical
manner in which Judge LEONARD had laid
the cornerstone OF the new Jail for the
county Of Shelby.