West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-03-10


The Xeung lawyers first Case.
The young lawyer conducting his 6rst
case before q jury, says the Qnincy Argo,
3 worthy of the deepest COMMUNICATION.
Take him, for %lntaDcc, in the Criminal
| Court, before which he has q case. While
he Prosecuting Attorney ia tying the fret
witness into bowknois ard untyinp him
again, the amateur sits listening. but rL-
ieavoring TO loOEA9s unconcerned % a
marble statue in a thunder storm. He
throws in timid objections evcrytine he
thinks he sees c hold, and as each one IA
overruled by the Court, he puts on a stern
look, IA much as te cay, III knock the
wind out If that in the Supreme Court -
When the Prosecuting Attorney, usually
an Old ABLE attorney, dryly says, Take
the Witness" the youthful aspirsnt ,rem-
bles and endeavors to swallow sometime
that is sticking in his throst. He feels
that every eye in the room Is upon him
aud that they are Gs hot as stove lids.
He free few initistory questions a, the
witness, and warns 40 hc proceeds. un,,,
he is brought up standing by, ooh! your
Honor, We object to such irrelevant oueo-
t%ions,' followed by a few sc.tbing re-
marks by the Prosecutor. The Court ans
tains the objection, and advises the young
is"Yer TO keep within the bounds, which
sets him to wondering where 10 thunder
the bounds are. Objection follows obiec-
uoo, and each one is promptly sustained.
he wonders why it is that a free ard indie.
pendent people will tolerate such one. sided
justice. tie lunges ahead bliudly now
ondl he becomes so confused that he docs
DOT Kno" whether he is a praCticing sttor-
nty with a gilt sign, or a fly wheel on a
steam saw. Finally he runs out OF CUES
tlona, aud with a sigh of relief or some
thing tells the witness, "Thats all. go
ne grinds through, and at last the Prose
cutter rises u proceeds 10 address the
jury IN a mastery style. As he progresses
he picks up the evidence adduced by the
defense into particles fine enough 10 be
incorporated into Goldfish balls. TIE
youthful Blackstone wrestler begins 10
~
feel uneasy as his mind reverts to the fact
That 10 a few moments he must deliver lis
maiden speech.
lie wishes the Prosecutor would Lold
his grip aud keep it, until time TO adjourn
Court, feeling satisfied that he could make
q splendid speech the next day after q
nights fighting of the evidence. He tries
to re member what the witness swore TO.
bot cannot recall the evidence to save his
life. The Prosecutor finally Winds up
with a grand perorstiOn, and as be SAVE
And in conclusion, gentlemen Of the
jury the youth %nervously fingers his
muStsche, and wishes he had never begun
the obominable business. Cold chills are
lingering him al over the back as if meas
uring MIN Tor a new shirt, and mis- animal
column acts like it was tired and wanted
TO tt down awhile. Like Bauuuc's ghost.
the lump in his throat wouldn't s,ay down
by an obstinate majority, and be swalloys
It and wonders what he is golp1 10 CIV
and how long it will take him to say u
AZ the Prosecutor calmly takes his sest
the young lawyer rises and moves IN the
front. lie dares not look at The audience
and tries 10 imagine there lie no one m the
room but himself and the twe~lvr'spbvnx-
like forms in the jury box. The ewes Of
each juror arc fixed upon him, and he
would almost %relinquish bic homes ~
heaven IL sons one would raise a crv n
Gre 20 divert their attention until be pets ,
start.
Finally he Shrugs bis shoulders and
manages to remark, Gentlemen OF the
(sTsllowel jury" Very good. He then
surveys them a moment, and Every man
in tie box thinks he is endea7oring TO read
their thoughts but he isn't. He is wish
ing TO gracious be could read bis y
thoughts. Al last be strikes out and poes
for them about their intelligent looks. and
how be feels Nat his clients interests are
safe 10 their hands. At The came time he
feels serious doubts Rs 10 their safety in
bis own hands. He worries through HE
speech With an average OF two swallows
Of that lump TO the sentence. The Prose.
cutor closes The argument, and the case
goes to the jury, who retire 10 C. secluded
room 20 chew tobacco and ask each other
What they thought ~ &C. u 50 happened
That the HImsy testimony sgainst The a.
cused warrants a verdict Of mot guilty
whereupOu the amateur grasps bis clie,t,s