The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-06-07
Judge Began.

When Judge Began was practicing
lawyer in Georgia he weighed about 300
pounds. lie was q short man, and had no
coupling pole betwXt his head and slloul-
ers. Ills back was as broad as cellar door
VI course he was a goOdnaturcd man, but
sometimes was very sarcastic in the use of
language before jury. One day he had Il
case Ill justice court, in one of the uDDcr
counties OF Georgia, and there was little
lawyer on the other side named Wiggins
WIggins weighed about ninety pourCs, and
was game and sassy, like most all little men,
and had voice as iinc'a the + string on a
fiddle.
Well, the Judge was rollicking along in a
good -naturcd way to the jury, and made some
alllsions that insulcd Wiggins' dignity
Whcrcupon Virgins hoped up like a kill
dee and hit the Judge wlack on the back.
The Judge. looked round little, and,
says ne, "What you bout, Wiggns-what
you 'bout?"
.'Tm fitin'!" says Wiggins.
Set down and behave YOURSELF" said
the Judge, and his eyes twinklcd merrily as
he continued his rhapsody of random re-
marks. Pretty Soon he offended Wiggins
again, who, rising forward, tumultuously
popped him three Or four times more, max
ing us much impression as If he had hit the
side Of Il house.
"What you bout, Wiggins? What you
lryln' to dof' said the Judge as he winkcd
at the jury.
81 tell you sir, Pm ttin'," screamed
virgins, and he popped him again.
The Judge reached his arm back and
gently "squashcd" Virgins down in his
Chair, saying ''sct down, Wiggins, and he
quiet, or lll take you by the napc of the
neck and seat of the brccchcs and throw
you up SO high that the blue birds will build
III your jacket pocket before you come
down BE still, say!"
Virgins ''bccd STILL" but he studied the
code OF honor for a few days and then went
back to his tailor's trade.
When the Judge was elevated TO the
bench he didn't give the jurors much lati-
tudc IN making up n verdict If the vcr-
diets didn't suit him he charged 'em over
again and sent 'cm back. One day Colonel
roster was defending II fellow who was
s.lcd on promissory note and wound M an
eloquent speech with 'thcsc are grand prin-
ciples OF the law, gentlemen, which control
this case. They arc as old as England, as
solid rs the blue Ridge and have come down
to us untanishcd by the tide of time or the
wreck of bloatcd Empires, and SO will his
Honor Charge you.'
The Judge was leaning forward, his eyes
sparkling and his mouth twitching at the
corners. Hardly waiting for the Colonel
to sit down he sad oils Honor won't
charge you any such thing, gentlemen; for
those eternal principles my Brother Foster
has elucidatcd have no more to do with the
case than the Koran of Mohomct This
defendant admits that he signed this note,
and if you believe him, then all these dla-
tory, nagalory, purgatory pleas that he has
a nRPfH ffunca HR tafpRsd ab, w4} WI dv aya1 III hm
do You say to that, Brother Foster, eli 2"
"Nothmg, sir; only that am obliged to
differ with the Court, said the Colonel.
eyes, sir, you can differ; you have the
right to differ; but where the Court and the
council differ, the Court prevails, and that's
the law Of this case, gentlemen. Retire
and make up your verdict"