The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-09-13
A NEW TRIAL GRANTED.
.sr JUDGE CLARK.

4
to serve, o. encounter "Old Gin," as
We called him, in the trial Of case.
There wasn't quibble he wasn't up
TO, nor trick he wouldn't stoop to.
Then his manner of treating youth
full opponent-supercilious is no name
for, tit was like administering
spanking in open court. It was no
use appealing to the judge. Old Gin
bullied him as much ,as he did the
rest Of us. 1t was only the jury he
took pains to be polite to, and how he
did bamboozle them!
Old Gin rode the circuit; and the
depce.pf it wss, you could never tell
Wkek he would be wrung in on you.
Your case might be called for trial;
You might rise to open, counting on a
square tight with one for whom you
felt yonxsslf fully match, when, at
the last moment, Old Gin, just re-
tanned on the other side, would haul
up his chair, and begin to stare you
out Of countenance.
| had pet case-it was a suit for
slander-and Pope Fallowbrain, not a
legal giant, but the youthful author of
much unpublished poetry, was EN-
ployed to conduct the defence. [ was
confident of brilliant victory-if
only Old Gin kept his finger out Of
the pie. I thought once of securing
him on my side; but l knew he would
take all the credit to himself, and l
had no wish to be shorn Of my laurels.
When my case was reached, much
to my relief, Old Gin was not on hand.
1t was early in the term, aud residing
in another county, he had not made
his appearance yet
l announced myself ready; but much
to my disgust, Mr.. Fallowbrain asked
for a day 8 pOstponement. His client,
he said, had lately employed Mr..
Ginguxxle, who was expected that
evening, and. the defence would be
ready to go on tomorrow.
l protested against the delay, and
insisted that the unexplained absence
of one counsel, when another was
present-especially one as competent
| as my learned friend-was no ground
for adjourning trial.
The judge knew l was right, but he
was too much afraid of Old Gin to say
so. He knew what rumpus the old
| fellow would raise when he came, if
| the case was forced on in his absence.
The trial, accordingly, was set down
for the following day, then to 60 on
peremptorily.
1 left the court house much cha
grined. l think | could have heard
with composure of an accident on the
train Old Gin was coming on, if no.
| thing worse had happened than break
1 ing the old sinners neck.
It was in this frame of mind that
met my friend, Sam Pokefun, the best
fellow at the bar, only little toe
much inclined to practically joke.
explained the situation to Sam.
.If Old Gin could be put out Of the
way for day, it would be all right
\ would it4' he asked.
| "Of course it would" ] answered
The Judge knows the case shoulG
have gone on to-day, and has ordered
II have an idea, !" said Sam; and h
proceeded to unfold it. What it wa
the reader will see in the sequel.
Old Gin had failing-not an onl.
one-he drank like fish, only hi
beverage was different. His natura
inclination was for Bourbon whisky
and, for moistening purposes, he sci
dom used anything else. For no,
much Of it he could furnish inwar
storage was disputed point whic
nobody cared to go to the expense @
settling by actual experiment.
On Old Gins arrival on that even
ing, Sam and 1 invited him to lii
tie entertainment to be given at Sam
room after supper. 1t was to be
strictly private affair-none but tn
three Of us to be present, and the sur
ply of Bourbon to be unlimited.
Old Gin highly appreciated such al
tentions from his juniors, and it ws
wonderful how agreeably convivial h
could make himself at their expens
On this occasion he outshone hin
self.
He holds as much as bonde
warehouse" said Sam, aside, tf
fourth time the demUohn was sent OF
to be filed.
By drinking sparingly ourselve
and keeping Old Gins glass constan
" replenished, we managed to put hi
to bed booker than he had ever bee
known to be before. It was well '
ali stopped at the same house, or Il
question of transportation might ha'
presented difficulties.
J Next morning Sam and were ,
betimes; and taking a live water snak
which boy had caught for US Il
evening before, and which had BET
kept over night in box, we slippt
it into one of Old Gins boots left b
: fore his door, bending down the leg
as to prevent the escape of the reptil
! which, it is needless to add, was qui
harmless. We then entered Sam
room. near by, and waited.
At length we heard Old GINS do
open, and moment after there can
an uproar that afforded ample excu
| for our rushing into his room, and,
J affected terror, demanding what "
: Natter roared Old Gin, rushir
. after the snake with the poker, al
knocking over everything in his wa
3 "Just see what / have found in i
: boOt!'-making q furious blow, ,whi
+ the snake lodged.
r ':Sec what?" asked Sam.
:. "Why, that confounded snake!'
making another Intellectual stroke.
: "Snake?-I see no SNAKE repli
Z Sam, looking directly at it.
: Old Gin turned pale. q
Q "You-you don't mean to tell !
o there's no snake there?' he sta
|. mered.
. None that l can see,'' return
Sam.
Then, boys, I've got 'em!'' screa
= ed Old Gin. Run for q doctor
: quick!-quick!'
/ You don't mean you've got del
o ium tremens!" said Sam, look
!. frightened.
! "Genuine jimjams!' gasped {
= Gin-"for Heavens sake run fol-
} docter!"
y Meantime the snake had dis,
q reared under the bed c;rcumsta,