The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-10-21

plentiful, but here Is one thar | have
never seen in print, and certainly az
good as the best. have IL from a
gentleman who has enjoyed the
privilege Of close friendly intercourse
with a near relative Of O'ConneIl's,
and who Is the happy possessor of
several or the great mans manu-
scripts.
OConncll was possessed Of power
OF Misrepresentation that amounted
almost TO mind-resding. His in
sight into character, and his read
ing Ofphyslognomy were wonderful.
The following instance Is a remark
able example OF this:
On a certain occasion ne was en-
9aged lIy aa heiraLIaw 10 conte Il
the validity of will which had been
unexpectedly brought forward az the
last will and testament OF the de-
ceased, and declared 10 have been
by him made on the very day Of his
death.
The ccn'es.snt was nephew OF the
testator, and nearest relative, and a
very few h0urs before his uncle died.
he (the uncle) had told him that he
was his sole heir.
But the posscssors OF the new will
swore rouDdly, aud the cases seemed
dubious for tho nephew. In tito
course Of the trial witness for the
defence OF the late will was called,
who sw0re positively that he saw the
testator's hand upon the paper, with
the pen In his fiBge r., and that the
will was then signed.
OCoDnell watched This man mar
rowly. He was very proper man
In appearance solemn and sedate !;
with an outward show Of piefy.
There was something In his tesli-
moBy not na.uraI. The man was
not telling truly what ne had seen.
At length OConnell took him in
hand for examination.
"Witness you were in The room,
and saw that will signed 90
ayes, SIR"
"You saw the testatOr, himself,
write his name ?''
eyes, sir saw him write on the
paper-on the spot where his name
il now"
"And he was alive at the time 81
"There was life In him certainly
sir-life and sense"
This was the point which O'Con-
nell had before marked "rhere
was life In him 20 And furthermore
he observed a peculiar twitching Of
the witness's lips,-a puckering OF
the mouth-that could Only have
been the result OF some bit Of remem-
brance which caused him thus to
pucker his mouth iBvOluntarIly.
"George Henry McGrath,' calling
him by his full name, ssyou know
that the testator sigRed that will ?''
ayes, SIR"
'sDid he have assistance 90
ayes, sir. A mau held his hand
to steady it, for he was very weak. >
"Yet he was alive ?''
"He had life and sense, sir"
At this juncture 0'Connell strobe
forward and looked straight into
the mans face with one OF those ex.
pressions which never failed 10
terrify the guilty /; and when he
spoke his voice was like a crack d
doom.
'McGrath Look me In the eye
Do you suppose / cannot look into
your craven heart and see the base
subterfuge you harbor there 81
Then grasplng the mans arm, ant
sinking his voice to the tone of th,
se2ulchre, he went on, speaking
louder as he proceeded
"You say the testator had life lef
in him. Now, sir-on your oath
what was IL that had been put int
his mouth ! Was IL a living fly
Answer me ~
The poor wretch shook like al
aspen and the. attorney for the de
fendant had started forward TO saw
he day, but O'ConneIl was on hi
guard.
"Answer me %
And a convulsive "yes' burs
from the pale lips Of the frightene
man. He was not proof against tn
electric power of the legal giant.
OF course that closed the trial an
we will only add, in conclusion, tina
while Daniel was able to appear il
court the man who would appear
against hiiR must have Truth aad
Right ON his side. If he had not n
amount of testifying and swearing
could avail agaisnt the wonderful
Misrepresentation aud cunning crafl
of this man of the people.