The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-29
"Mnking Il Few Inquirics."

Detroit was visited by the the sIlon.
John Clurk Jones, Esq" Il resident OF a
township not over fifty miles from Green
Vile NJ ch. The '-iIonorahlc" stood about
six feet hsgh in his boots, had hair and
whistles about the color Of light oak grain
Ing and when he spoke he had habit of
draw ny down his left eye and slappinm
his left leg. icwas elected Justice of the
Peace some time since, and now, as he cx-
planned:
81 am sort o'travclin' on my dig. and
am calkcrlatin' to call on The Detroit
Justices and sec how they 'cr up"
lie was accompanied to one Of the nu-
mcrous "fountlrics" on Griswold street.
introduced by name, and the way he got
down to business was charming Rcm0v-
ing his hat and blowing his nose with great
vigor, he extended tivc.ccnt cigar and
sat down with the remark:
"llavc a smoke? Now, then il YOU are
busy | won't take up over two hours of
your time; if not. want to talk to you all
day. Gosh! l wish had your place in
Detroit. You must have three or four
cases week"
The Detroit Justice modcstly replied that
he sometimes had thirty.
"Ihirty law suits week." shouted the
"lion. as he slapped his leg with ,rcmcn-
dous force. "Why, never average over
two, even in the wet season, and if | am
considered the biggesl gun in my county
what must folks think of yon' | suppose
you run over half the town, don't you?"
The Dctroitcr blushad aud cva,lrd an
answer by picking up the strangers card
and asking how he got the ''llon' before
his name
s'I put it there" was the honest reply.
''lf Justice Of the Peace isn't Just az
much of an Hon as anybody else, then |
want to know why. Don't look bad on tho
card, does it? Generally takes stranger
down peg or two when shove it under
his nose"
After some general conversation regard
ing law books, the ':llon." remarked:
'Now | want to ask how you fellows
work up business down here. DO you lay
in with fighter to raise rows aud riots and
slip around yourself and plan, the seeds for
law suitsl'
The Dctroiter indignantly repudiatcd the
idea.
'Wcll, all right--no harm done.
don't do that way myself, either. | never
encourage a man until hc comes for the
papers. Another question: DO the lawyers
address you as Your Honorl"
The Dctroiter pondcrcd over the idea for
some time and then answered that he
thought they did.
'Ihat's the way-that's correct. There
is chap mp our way who used to address
this court as Jones-plain Jones. Just be-
cause he got a little more mail than | did
at the post office, and because he had the
only cight-day clock in town, he undertook
to make hollow mockcry Of Ills court.
Did he suCceed2 Not by The shades Of
Blackstone! l decided against his client
every tarnal time, and when no found he
couldn't bluff me he came right TO time.
When this court is IN SESSION she is on her
dig; and the majesty of the law has got to
be upheld If l have to call out the mclishcy
to do it,"
There was some scattering conversation
relative to witness fees, and then the
"1lon." suddenly broke out with:
ooh, here's another thing. Do you De
troit Justices always decide in favor of the
PLAINTIFF"
The Detroit Justice bushcd deeply and
hesitatcd to reply, when the sIIon." re-
marked:
81 don't always do 1t. If the defend
ants lawyer is a purity good fellow, and if
he seems to feel the respect due to my posi-
ton, give him verdict now and then to
encourage him."
They had some further talk about Jury
decisions and the stranger rose 10 60, say
ing:
''Wcll, I'll call again this afternoon. AS
to jurics, they are blamed frauds--blamed
frauds. When defendant demands jury
in my court, he demands to be hanged to
him! Why, just look at the idea Of jury
fooling away two or three hours on q case
that you Or could decide according to law
according to law boiled right down and
sliced fine for the OCCASION"