Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-22


more. He told the inn-keeper who he was,
and why ne was in haste. The man made some
objection on account OF the darkness of the
night and the lateness of the hour; but
finally said that he would try to ac-
commOdate him. He went off and soon re-
turned To say thai he had found man who
was willing Ia take him to Baltimore. As the
landlord passed in and out Mr.. Webster
watched the movements and character of the
men in the bar-roOm. He noticed that their
leading speaker was "A tall. muscular man of
rather fierce and truculent aspect. who
seemed 10 take the lead of conversation, and
To be the oracle of the crowd Mr. Webster
asked the maid-servant in attendance at his
supper able who that man was,
why, said she. with great simplicity,
don't YOU know him? That's John Mumma.
the butcher"
Mr.. Webster then recoHected Mumma's
share in the Baltimore riots, but gave himself
no further Thought about the man. As soon as
his hunger was appeased he notified the land
lord that he desired To set out for the city forth
with. The chaise was Immediately driven to
the door, and Mr.. Webster discovered by the
light OF the landlord $ lantern that the identi-
cal leader of the mob, John Mumma, was To be
his driver. Ii occurred to him at that mo-
meut, as he afterward said, that as this man
had butchered Gen. Lingan for being a feder-
alist he might deem il an act of patriotism Ia
dispatch Mr. Webster also. There was no
time for elaboration, however: he had pro
ceeded too far to recede- Said he
Il felt young and strong and thought that
no man could easily put me under the wheel"
The crowd having learned the name OF the
stranger huddled around the chaiSe to get a
look AT his face Mr.. Webster sprang into the
vehicle followed by his companion. The two
drove for three or four miles at rapid pace
without exchanging word. At length, after
entering a dense grove, Mqmma drew III his
horse and came to dead halt. Turning To his
companion, he said
Are YOU Daniel Webster?r
That is my name, replied Mr.. Webster.
DO you know who / ann? said the driver.
Il 10, was the reply. You are John Mum
ma, the butcher"
You knew me, them he resumed. land are
you not afraid To drive over this road alone
with NE i'll the night?'
Not in the least said Mr.. Webster. why
should fear YOUR
think there is not another federaliSt i'm the
Country who would say so much. | am glad to
see You, he added, land to free my mind a bout
those Baltimore riots We who attacked the
jail had no ill-will against Gen. Lingan, Gen.
Lee and the others shut up there. We We're
mlSled by others. We were told out i'm the
betrayed To the enemy by traitors, that a nest
oil them had a press in Baltimore, and were
every week publishing their treason tn the
World, and plotting the ruin of the nation"
MumlnaS story was long and minute and
when ii was finished they had reached Bar
mum 5 hotel in Baltimore. Mr.. Webster alight-
ed in safety: and when he offered the stipula-
led lee TO Mumma he refused to take it, saying
that he was glad of a chance to explain the part
he took IN the Baltimore riots to one of the in
Jured party; and wheeling round his chase, he
home.
METHOD OF EXAMINING WITNESSES.
Mr.. WebsterS method of examining witnes-
ses may be Judged from the following scene
which occurred in disputed will ease. Among
the witnesses was bank cashier, TO whom Mr..
Webster said:
You say. you think this is not Mr.. Tufts
Signature?'
Il was cashier of the bank of which he was
president. and used 10 see his signature in all
forms and very often to obligations and notes
And you think this is not his signature?
Please TO point out, II you Will, where there is
Il do not know as can tell"
But a sensible man can tell why he thinks
one thing is not like another
well examining the motel in the u the top
Gentlemen of the jury, you hear: The top
was closed. Go on"
The at the end of his name was usually
kept above the horizontal line: this is below"
well; any Other?'
Not any other"
MIR. Webster then took one of the 40 genuine
signatures which We're in the court, and stating
to the jurors that it was admitted to be gen
uine, showed them that The very things the
witness had testified Mr.. Tufts never did
were 10 be found in this signature, and in
nearly every Instance.
The witness looked chOp-fallen and took his
seat and nearly all the witnesses We're fOored
in the same way. AT last they came to William
looked at Mr.. Webster with an air that said
:. NOu won't get any such answers out of me-
He took the stand and testified that he did not
think the signature genuine.
Why asked Mr.. Webster.
can't tell was the reply
But, Col. Winchester, an intelligent man
can give reason for his opinion. Pray, don't
give such statement as that without Offering
a reason for it,
Il can't give reason; but if you will allow
me to make an Illustration will do 500
Certainly"
Suppose" said Mr.. Winchester some dis
tinguished man at home or abroad should be
seen walking on change; suppose you were
raj TO point out Daniel Webster and say,
There goes the defender Of the constitution"
Everybody would mark him, and nobody could
him But THY TS s aways
some man brought me head and two legs and
two arms OH platter and asked me to identify
them separately as belonging to Daniel Web
Ster, could not swear to them. In the same
way there is something about this signature
that does not look genuine; but l could not
swear to the particulars" Mr.. Webster smiled
at this repi;; and told the witness that he might
THE DARTMOUTH PRESIDENT AND HIS INDIAN
FRESHMEN.
The following anecdOte was related by Mr..
Webster in reference to his connection with
the celebrated Dartmouth college case, in
which the New Hampshire legislature at
tempted to interfere with the ancient charter
OF that institution: in which. it may not be for
gotten, MIR. Webster triumphed, by the deci-
sion Of the United States Supreme Court con-
frming the claim of the college. While en-
gagged in the case, Mr.. Webster told the presi-
dent that as the original charter was granted
and the endowment made by Lord Dartmouth
for the purpose Of civiliZing and in
the Indians, question might arise
on this point and as no Indian had been at
tached to the school for a long period, it would
be well for the president to go into Canada and
bring some Of the abOrigineS within the walls
Of the college, so that jury could not find
that the charter had been abrOgated on that
score. Accordingly the president went and
found three choice specimens and brought
them to the brink of the river; and after some
delay he procured boat and began to ferry
them acrOss-when the young Indians, not
precisely understanding the object of 50 much
kindness OH the part of the president, and
espying the walls of the college on the bank
had not only their wonder excited, but grew
suspicious that if once within those walls il
might be difficult to escape WhereupOn the
young Indian at the bow of the boat cast a
significant glance at his associates, gave the
and quick as thought they all
plunged into the middle of the river and swan
for the shore. Said Mr.. Webster: 1.-The fall
ing of the walls of Jericho on the sounding OF
the rams horns could not have astOnished
Joshua more than this unlOOked-fOr escapade
Of the Indians astOnished the president He
entreated, and tried to explain ali
but the Indians kept straight on their course
\ IL. .,fkI N