Morning journal and courier., 1882-12-16
Pantomime in a Court-Room.
How a Youthful Lawyer Won Suit Over an Experienced Adversary.
 From the Columbus tOhio] Times

1 How Youthful Lawyer Won a Suit l Over an Experienced Adversary.
 From the Columbus tOhio] Times
 1 The attorney, at the date of the story l YVES serving the Commonwealth of Ohio and l the county of Vinton in the capacity of Lprosecuting attorney at the little town of l McArthur. He then bore rather youthful and possibly somewhat verdant appearance 1 for holding responsible a position 1 The most conspicuous parsonage known to l the Vinton Bar at that time was grave and pompous barrister from neighboring town "a man who had reached the middle age of 1 life, and with it an extensive practice, prof. l table alike in fame and pecuniary gain: man whose eloquence bent jurles to his will, and whose logic pinned them fast whoss in vective 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 practi- tioners. The attorney referred to Is living yet, one of the most prominent jurlsts in southern Ohio. His ability has not dimin- ished nor has his knowledge that he possesses ability. One day the young prosecutor had riot case to try, and to his consternation he learned that the gentleman referred to had been retained by the defense. Tho prosecu- rtar, handled his with great care, but from the first did not hope to convict the prisoner. He was stirred up somewhat, however, by the sneering allusion made to him during the examination, by the imported counsel and 50 when he to make his opening speech he indulged little in bom- bast himself. He expected to be torn up somewhat by the imported counsel but was utterly unprepared for the simeon that l swept through the court room when the i'm ported counsel got fairly under way. He
 paced up and down in front of the jndge he
 sawed the air in front of the jurors; he shook his finger in the face of the young prosecutor and shivered in imaginary horror
 at the thought of youthful youth under taking to measure swords with him The
 voice was loud and bitter in it's denunciation the gesticulations were violent and demon strative the manner threatening and awe. inspiring, and with face of scorn he sat down with folded and awaited the verdict which he did not suppose they dared to re- fuse to render. The young prosecutor was mad. He felt he would like to thrash the imported counsel out of his boots He arose to his feet, uncertain for moment
 what to do. 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 arching eyebrows he scowled out at the jury The jury 'dropped on 1t'' ln an instant. So did the judge, did the spectators There the familiar pose of the imported coun-
 sel perfect in its imitation. Then the young
 prosecutor began, and, without opening his
 lips, proceeded to copy the gesticulations and
 movements of the eminent attorney who had
 preceded him. He snorted and cavorted and
 stamped and rolled his eyes He strode up
 and down in front of the judge and jury, fol
 lowing in his gesticulations precisely those of
 which they had just seen the copy. He
 shook his finger menacingly under the nose
 of the eminent gentleman, and then, assum-
 ing the statesman like pose, he looked down l
 upon him disdainfully. Then he would stop |
 and twirl on his finger martingale ring, |
 which he had drawn from his pocket, and
 which was intended to represent the large
 seal ring on the small finger of the left hand !
 of the opposing counsel. It was too much
 The eminent attorney appealed to the court
 for protection, while the judge laughed until
 the tears rolled down his cheeks, and the jury l
 and spectators chuckled audibly. The jadge l
 replied that the young man had done noth
 ing had said nothing to him, and he did not l
 feel called upon to interfere with the argu-
 ment. That settled it. The imported eoun
 sel broke for the door, and the jury, after
 fifteen minutes absence, brought in 8 verdict
 of guilty.