The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-02-24
PesOnaI RecOIIectiOns.
BY THE EDITOR.

...l 1915 3. NJ lIh hDlAOh' Eul. sitJ
In the winter. of 1884, | became
acquainted with a Welshman named
Thomas Morris. Hewas perhaps sixty
years of age. HeIhad no family, and
L think be had never been marrieds
He had some money and think some
property. Between that time and the
year 1850, he bad difficulty with some
ofhis neighbors, and became involved
in lawsuits He resided in Gallia
county, no. yrvshal q" ir l.g
II did not see Mr. Morris often during
this period, but when he came to con,
suit me about his lawsuits, l found that
he had become monomaniac upon the
subject. Early in the winter Of 1850
| was teaching school near LeOnard's,
i'll Jefferson township, some four miles
west of Oak Hill Morris came there
to see me. He had walked all the way
from beyond Centreyille, distance of
ten or twelve miles. He informed me
that lie had had lawsuit with one of
his antagonists before a justice of the
peace at Patriot, some fourteeen. miles
southeast of0ak Hill. He was beaten,
as usual, and be wanted me to go and
examine the case, and see if anything
could be done with it if he appealed to
the Court of Common Pleas. He said
he was sure his lawyer had sold him to
his enemy. In vain assured him that
his attorney was an honorable man, as
| was well acquainted with him. Moth
ing would satisfy him until | agreed to
meet him at Patriot on the ensuing
Saturday. l went 1t poured down
the rain all day, aud the mud was as
deep as l ever saw it, and the twenty
eight miles ride TO Patriot and back
was a hard days work. Morris was
promptly on hand, and paid me, agree
ably to promise. l fully examined bis
case, and found that it was hopeless.
He took my advice and did nothing
further with it, aa. .a uHaalIs at
AS Morris was gettihgIold, he made
a bargain with a man named John A.
Edwards, to take what property he pos
sessed, and in return to keep him dur
ing his life. Morris soon became dis
contented and left the house of Ed
wards, and then wanted to sue Edwards
for damage. As Edwards all the time
held himself ready to perform his part
of the contract, Morris had no right of
action against him. He told me his
story, and Uniformed him that the only
thing he could do was to go to the
house of Edwards and make it his home,
as he had contracted, and whenever
Edwards refused to maintain him, he
could recover damages, but not until
then. He had become so childish, and
had SO fully given himselfup to conten-
ton and lawsuits, that he refused to be
satisfied, He went to an attorney in
Gallipolis and told his story. This at
torney gave him the same advice that
| had done, but Morris told him that
he knew better, and instructed him to
bring the suit, and he (Morris) would
take the responsibility, and risk the
consequences, So thesuit was brought,
and Morris lost Hb
BY this time the old man had become
an object of pity, Old, poor, his mind
almost gone, he went over the country
talking continually about his wrongs,
and especially about Edwards His
couptenance was shriveled and sad, bis
old black suit threadbare aud glazed,
his bat battered and dilapidated He
composed doggerel about his woes,
and John A. Edwards came in for a full
consideration. 1t was most silly and
childish production, without sense,
rhyme or reason. In his attempt to
make itrhyme, he had to change the
name Of Edwards to Eddy, and every
verse ended "John A. Eddy" He got
lot of them printed, ] think at the
Standard Office. l do mot remember
whether he ever offered to sell his bal
lads, but he went around with them,
and whenever he met any one with
whom he was acquainted, be would