The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-04-16
A COURT H0AXED.
BAsTRop, La,

10 Gne EUlGOr OIL but NOW OIlednS DcLiO-
crat:
Knowing that some of your read
ers enjoy good joke, / have conclu-
ded to give you an account of the
hugest April fool that has been per-
petrated in this Parish for years..
Our District Court is in session, and,
knowing the high esteem in which
our bar holds Chief Justice Man
ming, it occurred to me early this
morning that l could sell out the
court and bar. So I went to the tel
egraph Office and fully posted the
operator, and went back into court.
About ten minutes afterward the tel
egraph messenger walked in and, ap-
preaching our grave and dignifed
Judge Parsons, handed him a tele
gram. The Judge adjusted his spec
tacles and read:
'N April III !, 1879. 5
Hon. S. G. Parsons, Bastrop, La:
kilograms received here last night all
nounce the sudden death of Chief Justice
Manning, from heart disease, last evening.
s. d. McENERY,
watched the Judges countenance
and saw it flush crimson as ones
countenance when startling informa-
tion is first conveyed, and then in
stantly he became as pale ss the
white horse that Asrael, the angel Of
death, is said to ride. In nervous,
trembling voice, he announced to the
bar that it was his painful duty to
convey intelligence of the death OF
Louisiana's greatest jurist, and one
of her most honored citizens, the
Chief Justice of the State. Here he
read aloud the dispatch. Colonel R.
b. Todd, grave, dignified lawyer, of
fine address and legal attachments,
rose amid most breathless silence
and began an impromptu eulogy up
on one whom he said an entire State
loved, and whose death would carry
sorrow te every heart where love of
country found lodging, and where
fine legal and literary attachments
were appreciated. He would be
mourned by ali who appreciated high
mental and moral culture, unfalter-
ing devotion to duty, and exalted
worth in ali that adorns human
character.
will not undertake to follow him
through his speech and will pass /,
by as soon as ] have told you that it
was cue of the best efforts of the kind
/ have ever heard.
He was followed by Mr.. C. New
ton, young but rising attorney,
whose 6ne fancy carried him 70 the
grave Of the ,llustrious departed,
where he vas strewing immorteiles
and shedding tears that Que who had
lent so much grandeur TO human
character, who had thrown so much
light aud spicnior upon the labyrin
thine intricacies of The law, whose
decisions fcad like romances tenn
pered With the stern justice ola God
that Sucti nan shouit be cut OH in
the prime Of strong manhood was tC
him source Of unfeigned sorrow
Exhausted, he sal down, looking {
very picture of grief. He was fol
lowed by Sampson Levy, Judge JAS
Bussey, David Todd, j. Harye,
Brigham and Captain w. I. Hail, al
OF whom re
"Knew him but to love him,
And named him but to praise"
This ended, a committee was ap
pointed to prepare suitable resolu
lions.
At this moment, according to pre-.
concerted arrangement, the telegraph
messenger came into court and hand
ed the Judge second dispatch. He
read it, flushed angrily, and ex.
claimed: Gentlemen, It's all vii.
famous trick. You've been shame.
fully imposed upon. Listen" He
then read The dispatch, as follows:
MONROE, La,
April l, 1879 s
Hon. s. G. Parsons, Bastrop, La:
Did the bench and bar bite at an limo.
Cent April foolf Answer.
" S. D. McENERY.
At this moment it would have
been worth fourteen years of mans
life to have seen these men who had
wasted such fine orations in vain.
That blank, mean look that ones
countenance assumes when he dis
covers that he has been made the
victim of villaiuous joke, was on
their faces. o ye Gods! that I could
have painted them! 1t Is needless
to attempt description. You can
imagine it better than lean describe