Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-06-11
Nothing to speak Of.

~A-@AS . w - $OI~A "a
1t was at the Essex bar tllat
Rufus Choate first appeared. Ills
business confined him there but a
few years, his reputation and snc-
cess as IN advocate sending him
to all the courts in the State, and,
giving him a name wherever elo-
quence had power. We never
knew him to have a case which.
before it was concluded, he did
not give the peculiar cast-of= his
genius, and for which, however
apparently insignificant, by Lis
management lie did not secure a.
place among those reckoned "the
great cases." In one instance, in
our courthouse In the Mall, Wit
ness was put upon the stand by
the Government, from whom, as
ur. Choate evidently concluded,
evidence had been drawn fatal to
the interest of his client, unless
In some way it could be invalida-
ted. In his questions he scarcely
leferred to the point that so muciI
troubled him, but brought out ev-
cry other, putting the county at
torney to bis tTumps. At last be
touched upon the personal habits
of the witness, asking him if he
drank any liquor, to which he re-
piled, Nothing to speak Of
NO" said Mr.. Choate, "of coufse
not ; we all take a little, and it's
all very well. But, inquired he,
when do you first drink during
the day 2 "When | first 90 out"
was the answer. "You need it."
said Mr.. c., ''to give you an ap-
petite for your breakfast. Then
| suppose you need a glass to set
tie your breakfast ?" was the next
question, to which was smiiingly
Yes" "An1 wheK
do you next drink" "Not til
eleven, unless some of The boys
come along. and some one of US
has to treat" "1'hen there musI
be a treat in return before yoI
2? eyes, again was the
answer. "And how often would
such treats occur before eleven 2
at might be once, and it might be
three or four times, said the wit
MSS "You would need some
thing to sharpen your appetite for
dinner; and then, suppose the
afternoon would pass off much as
the forenoon p Yes, again was
The answer, and as Dir. G.. put the
4uestion-how about supper p
-he court interposed and sAid,
why, Mr.. Choate, you have nn
right thus to question the witness"
lie answered, with smile, II
know it, your honor, but if the
witness does not object certainly
ID not"
Witness took his seat, and Mr..
Choate arose to address the Jury.
At last he reached the point on
Which the county attorney relied.
Said he, the last witness told you
70, giving The substance OF his tes-
.imony. This" he went on to
'ay ''would be fatal to bis client,
{ the witness could be believed.
But, said he, gentlemen, | saw
n your very expression that you
lid not believe him, and [ saw
90 that the court did not credit
/ word be said. And how cOuld
you after hearing that he drank
'ut, nothing to speak Of" Mr..
). then went on to show the sig
lihcance of the term, He made
'ut fifteen times before tea, "and
heD,". said he, IF the court had
lot interposed, | would have ad-
led fifteen times more from his
'wn statements, as his practice
,efore he went to bed I; and all
,o5bing to speak Of, in the esti-
nation Of the witness /; and this
) the man by whom the govern
nent proposes to send my client
o State Prison" Mr.. Choate
ook his seat, looked defiance at
he county attorney, who made
,ut a feeble argument. 1t ncel
lot be added that Mr.. Choate's
lient was rescued from a sentence
o the State Prison, which all, be-
ore Mr.. C.'s review of the evil
Ience, thought awaited him
NeagburgpOrt Herald.
A young man in one of the