The crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1877-1878, 1878-04-04
PETER BENEFITS SPEECH.
stephens and ToOmbs Outmatched In
ElOquence by Plain n-SpOken Farmer


ElOquence by Plain n-SpOken Farmer
From the New York
A doctor named Royston had sued
Peter Bennett for his bill, long overdue
for attending the wife of the latter
Alexander II. Stephens was on thu
Bennett side, and Robert Toombs, then
Senator of the United States, was for
DR.. Royston. The doctor proved the
number of visits, their value according
to local customs, and his own authority
to do medical practice. Mr.. Stephens
told his client that the physician had
made out his case, and, as there was
nothing wherewith to rebut or offset the
claim, the only thing left to do was to
pay it. no." said Peter; 81 hired you
to speak in my case, and now speak"
Mr.. Stephens told him there was moth.
ing to say; he had looked on to see that
it was made out, and it was.
Peter was obstinate, and at last Mr.
Stephens told him to make speech
himself, if he thought one could be
made"
Il WILL" said Peter Bennett, "ifBobby
Toombs will not be too hard on me-"
Senator Toombs promised and Peter
began:
Gentlemen of the Jury You and |
is plain farmers, and if we don't stick
together these ere lawyers and doctors
will git the advantage of us. | amt no
objections to them in their proper
place; but they amt farmers, gentlemen
of the jury.
Now this man Royston was a new
doctor, and | went for him to come, an
to doctor my wife's sore leg. And he
come an put some salve truck onto it
and some rags, but never done it one
bit of good, gentlemen of the jury. /
don't believe he is no doctor, no way.
There is doctors as is doctors sure
enough, but this man don't earn his
money; and if you send for him, as Mrs.
Susan Atkinson did, for negro boy as
was worth $1,000, he just kills him and
wants pay for it"
Il don't" thundered the doctor.
Did you cure him?" asked Peter,
with the slow accents of Judge with a
black cap on.
The doctor was silent, and Peter pro-
ceeded.
"As was sayin, gentlemen of the
jury, we farmers when We sell our cot.
ton has got to give vally for the money
we ask, and doctors amt none too good
to be put to the same rule. And | don't
believe this Sam Royston is no doctor,
nohow."
The physician again put in his oar,
with Look at my diploma If you think
| am no doctor"
His diplomat" exclaimed the new
fedged orator with great contempt
"His diplomat Gentlemen, that is a
big word for printed sheep-skins, and
it didn't mako no doctor of the sheep
as first wore it, nor does it of the man
as now carries it, and pint ont to ye
that he amt no doctor at all.
The man of medicine was now in a
fury, and screamed out: ASK my pa
titnts if l am no doctor at all?"
Il asked my wife," retortcd Peter
"an' she said as how she thought you
wasn't"
"Ask my other patient" said Dr.
Royston.
This seemed to be the straw that
broke the camel's back, for Peter replied
with tone of unutterable sadness
"That is hard sayin', gentlemen of
the jury, and one that requires n u
die or to have powers, as I've heard IN
ceased to be exercised since the A s..
ties. Does he expect me to bring aC
Angel of Gabriel down to toot his p-u
before the time and cry aloud, a. NC
We dead, and tell this court and jury
your opinion of Royston's practa-t
Am 1 to go to the tomb and sly tC
him as is at last at rest from physio and
doctor bills. Git up here, you, m.
state if you died a natural death, o. wl
hurried up by some doctors?' He sT
ask his patients, and, gentleman o. N.
jury, they are all dead Where is Nj q
Beazly's man Sam? Go ask the worn
in the graveyard where he lies, Mr.
Peaks woman Sarah was attended b!
him, and her funeral was appinted, an(
he had the corpse ready. Where il
that likely Bill as belonged to MIR
Mitchell? Now in glory q exprcssin
his opinion on Royston's docterin.
Where is the baby gal of Harry Steph
ems? She are where doctors cease from
troublin' and the infants are at rest.
Gentlemen of the jury, he has ca
chicken enough at my house to pay TO
his salve, and 1 furnished the rags. ant
1 don't suppose he charges for maxim
of her worse, and even he don't pre-
tend to charge for curin' of her, and
am humbly thankful that he never CAV
her nothin' for her inwards, as he diC
his other patients, for somethin' mad
um all die mighty sudden"
Here the applause made tn
speaker sit down in great confusion
and in spite ol logical restatement O
the case of Senator Toombs, the docto
lost. and Peter Bennett won.