Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-03-15
A Story of Toombs and Stephens.

Peter Bennett for his bill long over due,
for attending the wife of the latter A.
IL. Stephens was on the Bennett side and
Robert Toombs, then Senator of tho
United States, was for DR.. Royston. The
doctor proved the number Of his visits,
their value according to local custom 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.
mo" said Peter. ri hired you to
speak in my case now speak"
Mr.. Stephens said there was nothing
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 him
self, if he thought one could be made
II WILL" said Peter Bennett, if Bobby
Toombs won't be too hard on me-"
Senator Toombs promised, and Peter
began:
Gentlemen of the Jury-You and I
is plain farmers, and if we don't stick to-
gether these ere lawyers and doctors will
get the advantage of us. | amt no law
yer nor doctor, and amt no objections
to 'em in their proper place, but they
amt farmers, gentlemen of the jury"
''Now, this man Royston was new
doctor, and ! went for him to come an
doctor my wife's 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. l don't believe
he is no doctor, no way. There is doc
tors as is doctors sure enough but this
man don't earn his money. and if you
send for him. as Mrs. Sarah Atkinson
did, for a negro boy as was worth 81 900
he justs kills him and wants pay for it."
Il DON'T" Numbered the doctor.
''Did you cure him ?" asked Peter
with the slow accents of ajudge with
black cap on.
The doctor was silent, and Peter pro-
cseded:
"As I was sayin', gentlemen of tho
jury, we farmers when we sell our cotton
has got to give vally received for the
money we ask, an doctors amt none too
good to be put to the same rule. And I
don't believe this Sam Royston is no
doctor, nohow."
The physician again put in his oar
with "Look at my diploma, ifyou think
l am no DOCTOR"
Ellis diploma !" exclaimed the new
aedged orator with great contempt
His diploma ! Gentlemen, that's big
word for printed sheepskin, and it didn't
make no doctor Of the sheep as first wore
it. nor does it Of the man as now carries
it. A good newspaper has more in it,
an i'll pint out to you that he amt no
doctor at all.
The man Of medicine was now in
fury, and screamed out
"Ask my patients if am no doctor p
II asked my wife," retorted Peter,
can she said as how she thought you
wasn't"
"Ask my other patients" said DR..
Royston.
This seemed to be the straw that broke
the camel's back. for Peter replied with
look and tone of unutterable sadness
THAT is hard sayin', gentlemen Of
the jury, and one that requires me to die
or to have the powers as I've hearn tell
ceased to be exercised since the apostles.
Does he expect me to bring the angel
Gabriel down to toot his horn before bis
time and cry aloud, Awake, ye dead.
and tell this court and jury your opinion
Of Royston's practice p Am to go to
the lonely churchyard and rap on the
silent tomb and say to um as is at last
at rest from physic and doctor bills,
Get up here, you, and state il you died
natural death. or was hurried up some
by doctorsY He says ask bis patients,
and, gentlemen Of the jury, they are
all dead Where is Mrs. Beasly's man
Sam :? Go ask the worms in the grave
yard where he lies. Mr. Peake's wo-
man Sarah was attended by bin, an her
funeral was appointed, and be had the
corpse ready. Where is that baby gal
Of Harry Stephens She are where
doctors cease from troublin and the in
faDts are at rest
"Gentlemen Of the jury, he has ct
chicken enough at my house 10 pay for
his salve and | furnished the rags, an
don't suppose be charges for maxim Of
her worse, and even he don't pretend to
charge for curin' Of her, and | am hum
bly, thankful that he never gave her
nothin' for her inwards, as he did his
other patients, for somethin' made um
all die mighty sudden
Here the applause made the speaker
sit down in great confusion, and in spite
Of logical restatement Of the case by
Senator Toombs, the doctor lost and
Peter Bennett won.