The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-07-19
Speech of a Plain Farmer.

n doctor named Royston had
sued Peter Bennett for his bill, long
overdue, for attending the wife OF
the latter. Alexander IL. Stephens
was on the Bennett side, and Robert
| rO0ms, the Senator to the United
States, was for DIR. Royston. The
doctor proved the number of visits,
their value according to local Gus
tom, 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 Pc
ter, Il hired you to speak in my
case, and now speak,
MIR. STEPHENS told him 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 10 make a
speech himself, if he thought one
could be made.
Il WILL said Peter Bennett, Eif
Bobby looms will not be 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 get the advantage of US.
l amt no objections to them in
their place; but they amt farmers,
gentlemen of the Jury
Now, this man Royston was a
new doctor, and l went to him to
come and to doctor my wife's
sore leg. And he come and put
some salve truck on it, and some
rags, but never done in one bit of
good, gentlemen of the Jury. 1
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.
4 DON'T Numbered the doctor.
Did you cure him p asked Peter,
with the slow accents of a Judge
with black cap on.
The doctor was silent and Peter
proceeded.
'As was 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 teo good to be put to the same
rule. And L don't believe this Sam
Royston is no doctor no how
The physician again put in his
oar, with, Look at my diploma il
you think / am no DOCTOR
'His diploma! exclaimed the new
fledged orator, with great contempt.
Ills diploma! Gentlemen, that is
a big word for printed sheep-skins,
and it didn't make no doctor of the
sheep as first wore it, nor does ii
of the man as now carries it, and ]
pint out to We that he amt no doc
tor at ALL
The man of medicine was now In
a fury, and screamed out, ask my
patients if ain no DOCTOR
Il asked my wife, retorted Peter,
'and she said as how she thought
you wasn't
ASK my other PATIENTS said DR.
Royston.
This seemed to be The straw thai
broke the camel's back, for Peter
replied with look of unutterable
sadness.
THAT is hard ssyin'. gentlemen
of the Jury, and one that requires
me to die or have powers as I've
heard tell ceased to be exercised
since the Apostles. Does he expect
me to bring the angel Gabriel down
to toot his horn before his time and
cry aloud, Awake, ye dead, and
tell this court and Jury your opinion
of Royston's practiceP Am 1 to
go to the tomb and say to him as is
at last at rest from physic and doc
tor bills, Git up here, You, and
state if you died q natural death, OF
! was You hurried up some by doe
tors !? He says ask his patients, and
gentlemen of the jury, they are all
dead Where is Mrs. BeaZley's man
Sam? Go and ask the worms in
the graveyard where he lies. Mr..
Peaks woman Sarah was attended
by him, and her funeral was ap-
pinted, and he had the corpse ready.
Where is that likely Bill as belong
ed to Mr.. Mitchell? Now in glory
a. expressin' his opinion on Roys-
/ toms doctorIn,. Where is the baby
gal of Harry Stephens2 She are
where doctors cease from trou bin
and the infants are at rest
Gentlemen of the jury, be has
eat chickens enough at my house
to pay for his salve, and / furnished
the rage, and don't suppose he
charges for making of her worse,
and even he don't pretend to charge
for curin' of her, and am humbIy
thankful that he never gave her moth
in for her inwards, as he did his
other patients, for somethin' made
INN all die mighty sudden
Here the applause made the
speaker sit down Ia great confusion.
and In spite of logical restatemeni
OF the case by Senator Toombs' the
doctor lost, and Peter Bennett won,