The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1882-08-25

expenditures, but he spent no mans
money but his own.
Among the important cases in which
he appeared to great advantage was that
of the State VS.. w. A. Newman, indicted
for the murder OF OIL. Jno. Hunt Fox.
whose death resulted from sword cane,
in a fierce renconnter in the streets Of
Monticello. Tue trial took place at the
fall term. 1858, Of the Circuit Court OF
Lawrence county. Newman resemblei
Fox in nothing but size, strength aud
courage. both being large, athletic aud
in the prime Of life. Newman was
poor shoemaker, almost a stranger iu
the county, without money, family inHu-
ence or friunds. Fox, on the other hand,
belonged TO Que of the largest, wealthiest
and most influential families in the coun-
ty. being son of Gen Arthur Fox, who
figured largely in the early politics OF tie
State aud became Lieut., Governor.
Hunt Fox was much esteemed and res
pected for his many high and noble
qualities OF head aud heart, being auick,
TO resent an insult but generous even
to foe, aud his untimely taking of by
violence created general indignation.
Lynch law was threatened, but acting
under the advice Of the present 'Clistin-
guished Judge OF this Court, Of then
a membe; of the bar, the law was allow
ed to take it's course. In aid Of the
prosecution appeared Judge VIM. Van
ners0n, then noted criminal advocate.
and f. Stafford, fluent speaker, but
with moro reputation in civil than GRIM
inal cnses. The law aud the facts bore
heavily against the prisoner, but he had
some ground to stand ON under our
broad statute OF self.deience, and his
counsel made the most OF 1t. The
speech Of Judge Hurst on that occasion
was one Of the most powerful aud effec--
tive l ever heard at the bar. II COM
pletely mastered and overcome the
minds of the jury, although il was led
by such well-balanced man as w. o.
f. Brooks. There was no checking the
effect Of that speech. All the combineil
efforts OF the representatives ofthe State
could not stop the magic current set in
motion by his eloquence. aud IL flowed
ON unbroken long after he had ceahed 10
speak, and his voice still rang In the
ears 81 tue jury as they wrote their YER
dict, mot guilty"
A case Of much celebrity was tried
at HOlmesville just after the war thattof
the Stnte vs. McGehee, in which the
attitude OF the deceased and his SLAYER
was exnctly the reverse OF the uatfiea
IN the case just mentioned. The person
slain was poor man without friends.
influence or money. The prisoner.
McGehee, was the son Ct one OF the
most opulent men in Wilkinson county,
Money without stint was expended IN
his behalf, aud at the trial he was sur-
rounded by Gordon OF friends and
elegant ladies' and gentlemen of his large
family connection. / doubt il any mah
in this State was ever defended by sncli
an array OF brilliant lawyers. There sni
in front OF the jury in the little cramped.
up, dingy old Courthouse four men.
then in the zenith OF their fame-,n The
full maturity OF their mental and bodily
strength.
There was Simrail, persuasive and
self-polaed, with the voice OF the zephyr
or the tempest; Lamkin, with his vehe
ment aud irresistible torrent OF speech-
an intellectual Vulcan, handling facts a.
! no other man could, each word from hi
. lips, like the clang Of hammer, hitting
/ the nail square on the head; Cassedy,
argnmentative aud logical, relieving a
times the argument by apt ILLUSTRATION
or amusing narrative; and at the heat
Of this legal phalanx stood Hurst, inferi
or to none, in the full meridian of hil
| splendid intellectual powers. They al
{ addressed thejury, and it is hard to sa,
who made the best speech. No on,
eclipsed the brilliancy Of tue others, AMI
the effort OF Hurst was equal TO tho best
! No twelve ordinary minds could resis
the overmasteringspower of four sucl
superior intellects, and Of conne YER
, dict Of not guilty was rendered.
Continued on second page.