The Placer herald., 1872-12-28
TIE BEST BOOK TO READ FIRST.

"The best book to read first p said Judge
T., repeating the question put ON entering
his office as "A law student.
That's the best book to read first, and
last, too" he added laying his hand on "A
we'll thumbcd king James Bible" on
which less dust had been suffered to accu-
mulate than have often seen on the same
volume on professors paror table.
" But didn't come here to learn to preach"
answered, little perly.
- f" Yes you did ,Prcplied the Judge. "And
the better you pre- ch every time you get be-
fore jury, the better you'll succeed.
III prove it, said he, quickly, noticing
my look of incredulty.
And wheeling around in his chair bringing
his lee to n cross, and using his ear for pen
rack, he proceeded
"The first year of my admission was
elected States Attorney. My maiden case
was one of petit larceny. Bill Dawkes, one
of those trihmg, good sort of fellows-so
called because good for nothing-had been
found in recent possession of carcass of
mutton, which the owner had left hanging
out over night, aud which was non est, that
is to say turned up missing, in the morn
ing.
q ! drafted the Indictment with great care,
charging with painful particularly, that one
William Dawkes, not having the fear, etc
but moved and seduced by Il certain person
age whom it was common 70 include in every
indictment an accessory before the fact,
on etc, at ETC., one carcass of mutton Of the
value, etc, of the goods, chattes and per
sonal property Of one PeAtiah Potts, out of
the possession, and against the will of sid
Peatiah, ieoniously and with the force OF
arms, did steal take and carry away.
"' What's the NATTER | asked, sharply,
when my friend Bob c., burst out laughing
on hearing me read over this, my first pro-
fcssional production.
* It's the best joke of the season" said
Bob, with another gutlaw.
''' What is !?
"' Why that pun-calling sheep thief a
yoemau.
" My Office was a scene Of confusion at the
end of five minutes. Bob's head had gone
through the glass door of my book case, two
of my three chairs lay wi h broken legs, and
Bob and had pair of black eyes between
us. 1t was more than month before either
spoke to the other.
"But I'm wandering from the point. In
due time the prisoner was brought up for
trial, Old polifoX appearing for the defense.
Old L. WAS Il character. The only law
book he had ever read was Swans Treatise
for Justices OF the Peace but in that and
the Scriptures he was powerful. lie had
way Of quoting and applying The latter which
in Il religious community, made it difficult to
oppose him without incurring a suspicion Of
orthodoxy. His forte lay in carrying the
jury, whom he generally succeeded in con
vincing that he and they were on one side,
and his adversary on the other. His style
and grammar were original.
had set my heart on winning that case
If could only beat Old Pollok before jury
my cap would be feathered
81 had carefully written out my opening,
and wien had read it over to Nellie Wyune,
to whom was paying my attentions, at thar
time, she said it was real nice which
knew was feminine for bplly!--an cnco-
MUM felt not a little proud Of.
:" v hen the case came off spoke my piece
without bIunder. cited many authorities
to prove that be in whose possession stolen
property is found soon after the theft, is in law
psesumeded to be the thief. | was prepared
to prove, | said, that the property III ques
tion had disappeared at the dead hour OF
night, when all honest people were in their
beds, and had been found at early dawn in
the smoke house Of Dawkes, the defendant
81 put my witness on the stand and
proved ownership, value and identity of the
property, its mysterious disappearance and
subsequent temperance in the constructive
possession of the prisoner, and rested.
8" Old POLLOK sat in solemn silence, his
eyes closed and bis red bandana over his head
He asked no questions and called no wit
nesses. was disappointed at the old fellow
giving in so lsily. 1t would take away half
the glory Of the triumph.
9 But was reckoning without my host.
cod POLLOK slowly got upon his legs and
slowly removed his bandana, and taking up
the Bible on which the clerk had sworn the
witnesses, began:
"'l am greved my breethering g-he al
ways called the jury his breeherng-.l |
am grieyed and sore amazed to hear such
heathenish doctrines in a Christian Court
House as we've jest been lstenin to. What
seq the sakred volume hold in my hand
Why it sez, AT the mouth of two witnesses
let every matter be established Now, my
breethering, let me ask what two Witnesses
what one witness-seed my client hook
this sheep? Echo answers, nary one? My
dclooded young brother has read proflne au-
lhors to show that fndin' of goods on the
young mans premises is proof Of his stealth
EN-. lis a presumption Of law, he says,
and great piece of presumption it is, my
bsaethering. Now in this same sakred vol
ume we have narrated case in pint--that Of
one Benjamin that yon have all hearn about.
A silver cup, wurih hundred times as much
as this trumpery sheep, was dskivered, moi
way off in Benjamin's smoke house, whar
Benjamin moughn't a been for week, bu
chucked into the mouth Of the very sack he