The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-01-12
Peter Bennett. Speech.


ander II. Stephens gave an interviewer the fol
lowing amusing "reminiscences Of his law prac-
tice in antc-war times in Georgia;
a doctor named Royston had sued Peter
Bennett for his bill, long overdue, for attending
the wife of the latter. Alex H. Stephens was
on the Bennett side, and Robert loom0s, thcn
Senator of the United States, was for Dr. foYs-
ton. The Doctor proved his number Oh 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 ont his case, and as there was nothing
whercwth TO rebut or offset the claim, 1.-The only
lining left to do was to pay 1t. mo" said
Peter: Il hired you to speak to my case, and
now speak"
| Mr.. Stephens told him there was nothing to
say: he had looked on TO see that ii 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, "if Bobby
Toombs wont 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 adj
vantage of us | amt no lawyer nor doctor,
and | amt no objections to them in their prop
er place; but they amt farmers, gentlemen Of
the jury.
Now this man Royston was II new doctor
and | went for him for 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.
Tharc is doctors as is doctors sure enough, but
this man don't earn his money, and if you send
| c,rh flyipcnn did for a no
gro boy as was worth $1,000, he just kills him
and wants pay for it."
Il don't" Numbered the Doctor.
did you cure him: =" asked Peter, with the
slow accents of a Judge with the black cap on.
The Doctor was silent, and Peter proceeded
LAS was a sayin' gentlemen of the jury,
we farmers when we sell our cotton has got to
give valley 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 diploma" exclaimed the new-fedged
orator, with great contempt His diploma
gentlemen, that is big word for printed sheep.
skin, and it didn't make no doctor of the sheep
as first wore it, nor docs it of the man as now
carries it, A good newspaper has more in it.
and | pint out to you that he amt no doctor at
ALL"
The man of medicine was now in "a fury
and screamed out, ASK my patients if | am
not doctor"
IL asked my wife" retorted Peter, "an' SHE
said as how she thought you wasn't"
ASK my other patients said DIR. Royston.
This seemed to be the straw that broke the
, camel's back, for Peter replied with look anC
tone of unutterable Sadness That is a hare
sayin', gentlemen of the jury and one as re
, quires me to die or to have power as I've hearl
1 tell ceased to be exercised since the Apostles
Does he expect me to bring the Angel Gabrie
e down to toot his horn before his time and or,
aloud, Awake We dead, and tell this Court ant
l Jury your opinion Of ROyston'S practice" Am
: to go to the lonely churchyard and rap on the 81
! lent tomb, and say to um as is at last at res
I from physic and doctor bills, Cit up here, yor
\ and state if you died material DEATH or wa
s. hurried up some by doctors| He says asl
+ his patients, and gentlemen of the jury, the
/ are all dead Where is Mr. Beazlcy's ma
II Sam? Go ask the worms in the gravcyar
y where he lies Mr.. Peake's woman Sarah wa
7, attended by him, and her funeral was appoin
2 ed and he had the corpse ready, Where Is thu
t likely Bill as belonged to Mr. Mitchell? No'
< IN glory n cxpressn' his opinion of Royston
IA doctorin'. Where is that baby gal Of Ilarr
6 Stephens? She are where doctors cease troI
e troublin' and the infants are at rest.
e "Gcntlemen of the jury, he has ct chicke
5, enough at my house to pay for his salyc and
" don't suppose he charges for maxim of hi
e worse, and even he don't pretend to charge ft
IS curin' of her, and am humbly thankful Thu
1T he never give her nothin' for her inwards, ;
he dId his other patients, for somcthin' mac
UNI all die mighty sudden
Here the applause made the speaker $
=. down in great confusion, and in spite of
+ logical re-statemcnt of the case by Senate
Toombs, the Doctor lost and Peter Bcnnc
: won.