The news., 1882-11-21
A COURT ROOM SCENE.

was serving the Commonwealth of Ohio
and the county of Vinton in the capacity
of Prosecuting Attorney at the little town
of Macarthur He then bore rather a
youthful and possibly somewhat verdant
appearance for man holding so respon-
sible position. The most conspicuous
parsonage known to the Vinton bar at
that time was grave and pompous bar
rister from neighboring town--a man
who had reached the middle age of life,
and with it an extensive practice, profit
able alike in fame and pecuniary gain; a
man whose eloquence bent juries to his
will, and whose logic pinned them fast;
whose invective and pointed sarcasm
blanched the cheek OF the witness or the
prisoner, as might be necessary to gain
the case, and was alike dreaded and hated
by his fellow practitioners. The attorney
referred to is living yet, one of the most
prominent jurists in Southern Ohio.
His ability has not diminished nor has
his knowledge that he possesses ability.
One day the young prosecutor had riot
case to try, and to his CONSERVATION he
learned that the gentleman referred to
had been retained by the defense. The
prosecutor handled his case with great
care, but from the first did not hope TO
convict the prisoner. He was stirred up
somewhat however, by the sneering al
lusions made to him during the examina-
ton, by the imported counsel, SO when he
made bis opening speech, he INDUCED
little in bombast himself He expected
to be torn up somewhat by the imported
counsel, but was utterly unprepared for
the simeon that swept through the court
room when the imported counsel got
fairly under way. He paced up and
down in front of the Judge; he sawed the
air in front of the jury; he shook his
finger in the face of the young prosecutor
and shivered in imaginary horror at the
thought of so youthful a youth daring
to measure swords with him. The voice
was loud and bitter in It's denunciation;
the gestulations we're violent and de-
monstratiye; the manner threatening and
awe-inspiring, and with a face OF scorn
he sat down with folded arms and await
ed the verdict which he did not suppose
they dared refuse to render. The young
prosecutor was mad. He felt he would
like thrash the imported counsel out of
his boots. He arose to his feet, uncertain
for a moment what to do. A happy
thought struck him, and throwing his
head back, he cast his left arm behind
him and thrust his right hand in the
breast Of his vest, while under over arch
ing eyebrows he scowled out at the Jury.
The jury dropped on it, in an in
slant. So did the Judge; so did the
spectators. There was the familiar pose
of the imported counsel, perfect in its
imitation. The young prosecutor began
and without openening his lips proceed
ed to copy the gestulstions and move
ments Of the eminent attorney who had
preceded him. He snorted and cayorted
and stamped and rolled his eyes. He
strobe up and down in front of the Judge
and jury, following in his gestnlations
precisely those of which they had lust
seen the copy. He shook his finger men
acingly under the nose Of the eminent
gentleman, and then assuming the states
man like pose, he would look down upon
him disdainfully. Then he would stop
and twirl on his finger martingale ring
which was intended to represent the large
seal ring on the left hand Of the opposing
counsel. II was to much. The eminent
counsel appealed TO the court for protec-
tion, while the Judge laughed until the
tears rolled down his cheeks. The Judge
replied that the young man had done
nothing, had said nothing to him, and be
did not feel called upon to interfere with
the argument. That settled it. The i'm.
ported counsel broke for the door, aud
the jury brought in verdict of guilty.