River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-07-24
An Old-Time Georgia Justice.


An Old-Time Georgia Justice.
There are many amusing anecdotes re-
lated Of the way the ignorant back-coun-
ty justices of the peace in Georgia used to
manage their court affairs before the war.
One old standby (whom | will call JUS
tice Brown,) a pretty good type of his
class, had formed an especial friendship
with a young sprig of the law, mem
Der of the noted Cobb family of that re-
gion, and who himself in later life be-
came widely known. Cobb was in those
days rather wild young fellow; and he
and Brown, who bad acquired and held
his office by the mere ability of drinking
deeper, fighting harder and swearing
louder than any other man in the country,
probably found fraternal qualities each in
the other, for there was soon not horse
race, chicken main or bar-room in
that section that was not familiar with
the spectacle Of this jovial and we'll
matched couple, who, by these peculiar
ly southern recreations enlivened the dull
routine of the laws slow course. The
fraternity that existed between the twain
in their hours of ease and pleasure,
speedily began also to evince itself even
in their business relations; and it was
not long before it was noted that every
case which came into Browns court was
invariably decided in favor of the client
who had the good fortune to retain Cobb
as his lawyer, no matter what the merits
Of the case might be on that side. This
became so noticeable that people began
to comment upon it, and finally one of
his friends even undertook to demonstrate
with the justice himself concerning the
matter.
''Look here, Squire Brown said he,
''people round here do say that you and
Cobb are getting to be little too thick"
"How's that?' inquired the squire,
blandly.
"Why, they do say that there hasn't a
case come into your court for the asst
three months with which Cobb was CON
nected that no matter what the case
might be, you haven't given Cobb judg
are ment for his client in it; and beginn-
ing of to complain this one-sidedness."
Comp ain, do they?H remarked Brown,
perplexed, scratching his head at this
point blank accusation. 'Now, look
we're" cried he, after few moments
cogitation, slapping the other heartily on
the shoulder as his face suddenly bright
ened with a new light that had beamed
upon him and shown him brilliant es
cape out of the dilemma, "don't you say
another word about this to anyone. I'll
straighten things out all right so that
people won't have any cause to complain
again" And he strobe away lightly
and cheerfully like man with his mind
quite at ease.
The very next case after that that came
before Browns court Glanced to De a
horse-stealing affair, in which Cobb was
employed for the prosecution. The de-
PENDANT went before Brown with consider
able reluctance; for that Justices partial
ity for Cobb was now well known. The
prosecution made out very strong case,
as it happened, against the accused; and
the latter sat trembling with apprchen-
sion as witness after witness was called
who fastened the crime closer and closer
upon him. Finally the poor devil, wrought
upon by his fears and expecting but lit
tie favor from the justice as against the
Justices faYorite, burst out with full
and free confession of his guilt, and
threw himself upon the mercy of TIL |
court. This, of course, brought the ties
timoDy of the prosecution to an abrupt |
close; and the genial Cobb, gathering to- |
gether his law books and papers, and re
ceiving the congratulations of the nu-
merous spectators upon his able manage |
ment of the case, prepared to adjourn to |
a neighboring bar-room with some of his |
admirers to celebrate his success; merely |
as formality as he passed by |
the justice on his way out, with wink |
to the latter to hint that the refreshments |
outside awaited him when he was at leis-
ure as well as the rest of them, "Of
course your honor decides for usl''
Hold on, Mr.. Cobb cried his honor,
who had sat stolidly silent all through |
the case up to now, and had even disre-
earded the tacit invitation of his old |
crony out to splrituous refreshments, but |
now who suddenly aroused himself. std
like to hear few remarks from you on |
this case before | close, thus intimat-
ING that his mind was still in doubt with |
regard to the decision he should render, |
despite the remarkably plain case the |
had made out, and notwith- |
standing even the confession of his guilt |
from the prisoner himself.
Cobb, as we'll as all the spectators,
looked thunder-struck at this; but the |
former managed at length to gather his
wits together again, and proceeded to set
forth to the court in veay able speech |
the laws regarding confessions of guilt.
The justice sat doggedly listening. At
last. when the attorney had finished, his |
honor Strengthened his huge frame in |
ms chair. gravely relieved his mouth OF
mast1cated quid and took new supply, |
then, with dignity and an air Of conscious
rectitude, addressed the nonplussed spec
tators and bewildered COBB.
.'Gentleman, | understand that it has /
been said in this neighborhOod that l
have been leetle too partial in my de
cisions in this yer court towards Mr.. |
Cobb's clients, and praps | have, gentle |
men. for Mr. Cobb and me have been |
right good friends. But,gentlemen, am |
ot@oing to have any more such harges |
brought against me in the future; and so /
I intend to sorter equalize the rulings of
NV court hereafter. / have given Mr.. Cobb |
a fair and squa' hearing, and as was no
more than right, but my mind was made
up from the first jump of this yer case,
and nothing he can say will change II.
Tharfore, decide in this action that the
prisoner at the bar is fully and freely ac-
quilted. that this is malicious prose
cution against him, and that the prose-
cutor shall pay every cent of the cost of
the case; and now, gentlemen, if that
don stop people talking about my court
me, / don't know what
will t''-Fredertck r. Williams.
Cut VEINS and chintz bugs are report
cd in great numbers, IN Otoe county, Neb,