The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-02-21

Just at this moment A. C.. Ford. ESQ.
a prominent member Of the bar at that
time, and one of the most genial of Iowa's
many genial practitioners. touched me
upon the shoulder, at the same time in
forming me that it was my client whom
ne was addressing. Acting upon the i'm
pulse OF the moment, and still utterly un-
able to distinguish either court or client,
| said, turning in the direction in which /
supposed the court to be sitting:
! = In few moments, your Honor.''.
The only answer vouchsafed to this re-
mark was the Question, again repeated in
an angry manner:
7. Pris'ner, are yeZ riddy for thriaI?"
] then briefly Informed the court that
! had but just arrived, was chilled through
with the cold, was quite snow-blind, and
had had no opportunity to converse with
my client as to his defense, but would try
and be ready to proceed with the ease in a
! very few moments.
/ My eyes having by this time become ac-
| customed to the room, / discovered the
court sitting behind an old-fashioned four
| legged lamp-stand upon little platform
at the farther end of the room-a little
wiZened old man, between 90 and 60 years
of age. with an unInistakable Hibernian
cast of features !; a huge pair of iron n-bowed
1 spectacles sat asTlde his nose, which was
gracefully receiving the incense that was
! ascending from the bowl of a very short,
bat very old and black clay pipe, that
seemed to have been especially intended
for a nostril-censer, SO admirably did it
seem to fit under the huge protuberance
that ornamented Jiinmy's face.
/ Quite indignant that the court should
have failed to recognize my appearance in
the slightest manner, and noticing at the
| IL
p0sed to be used for the jury was vacant,
| [ asked in rather a peremptory tone of
voice if jury had been impaneled, at the
same time stating that by the time the jury
/ had been impaneled we should be ready to
| proceed with the case; mentally deter
mining that when my time came the court
| should ascertain who it was that he had
been so numerically snuDbing.
| For the first time since had entered the
room the court appeared to recognize the
| fact that [ was present,and turning toward
me with most decided Shoo-f1Y. don't
| bedder me" sort of manner, delivered this
/ sGuelcher
| SIS it jury ye're afther akin for !?
You'll hey no jury in the easel The court
| will inform the ginfilman once't for all,
that this coort knaos itsilf sufficiently will
to thry inny caseIhat may arize before it,
widout the aid oya d Jury. Pris'ner, are yeZ
risldy for thrial IS
! For moment was astounded, utterly
speechless then recovering myself | in
\ dignantly demanded that ajury be at once
ilnpaneled, enforcing nay demand by the
remark that the right of trial by jury was
one of the esfssi5tutienal guarantees To-
every person, and that the statute made it
the imperative duty of the court TO-
I was interrupted by tremendous blow
Il
ing in loud voice:
! Il What the divil's the constitution got to
do wild Jimmy Sloan's coort This1coort
knows how to thry inny case that may arise
! before it widout instructions from inny
little pittifoging lawyer that comes from the
Iirritories into the States and attimptS to
INSTRUCT the coort In its duties, an yer
/ foined tin dollars for yer contimpt ov
the coort. The clark'n jist inter that
/ foine.n
rs But, your Honor
/ Is You're in contempt, an the coort'll
not hear another word from yeZ till the
| foine is paid. Ye understand that noo.a
| In vain did | attempt an explanation, in
vain protest that / had intended no con-
/ tempt; not one word would the court hear
until had paid my fine.
Fortunately my friend Ford had money
enough in his pocket to pay the fine for
me, and when it had been paid once again
intimated most modestly my desire for a
jury.
and veil pay So additional for livery tonne
We spake the word jury Mister Clark,
yell inter that order ov the coort.
/ What was to do? Never before had /
heard of such proceeding; meyer before
was I so completely alta loss for something
to say how could / extricate myself from
| tile unfortunate position in which | SO un-
expectedly found myself? / looked from
QUE member of the bar to another for help,
but the smiles and knowing looks that met
my eyes on every side afforded me no re-
! lief.
| In vain did Track my brain for a report
4 ed case similar to the one presented, but
/ could recall no precedent recorded"
/ Not knowing what to do, and scarcely
aware of what did, realizing only the
lfaet that had not money enough with me
/ to pay the fine, and extremely doubtful if
/ Ishould be able to borrow it, I hurried
/ II started toward the judges stand, as |
did so, attempting to remove my overcoat,
| which / had found by this time to have be
/ come uncomfortably warm. doing this
Twas utterly oblivious to the fact that in
/ r:lv confusion / had also removed my in
side coat, until / heard the judge say, in a
tone of alarm,
/ g Are yees about to whop the coort?''
In a second my way was clear; my
senses had fully returned. and | answered
i iii careless but determined tone of voice,
ais I carefully laid the coats upon bench
Isl am about to have a jury called in this
case. even if resort TO unpleasant means
to procure it.
This remark brought the order that
had anticipated.
g Mister Clark, yell call jury. The
coort wishes no unplisintness here
Imagine if you can the relief with which
| I heard this order given. j felt that had
conquered that | had won victory that
would be worth years of hard labor to me,
and it was with no little feeling of pride
that took seat by the side of my client,
1 eongratulating myself that my difficulties
were at an end, and that had only to
walk over the course to enable me to win