Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-28
lAVsafb Ouf OF eotafl
Journalistic Hhtnof Turned 10
Practical Account.
ohicsso Tribune.

~aN AAA'AaNs
Mr.. Frank Weiss, the editor Of the
Sonntagsgast, a humorous weekly
paper printed in Erie, Pa, may safely
claim to be the champion humorist OF
this country, for he has put his humor
to a very practical test. Many men
can write ~humorously, but in critical
moments their humor deserts them,
thus showing that it is a mere c
plishment, just as men can write very
readable religious articles who never
saw the inside OF a church and know
nothing of religion as a motive OF life.
MI. Weiss has used his sense of
humor, and not only defeated Justice
by laughing at her, but has shown us
the rare spectacle of the goddess her.
self standing solemnly upon her ped
estal, grinning all over and giggling
until her scales ratified in her hand
and her sword was palsied. The de-
tails, as told by a correspondent Of the
New York Sun. are very funny.
Mr.. Weiss was some time ago in
dlcted for libel, the offense consisting
OF publishing a cartoon representing
one John Firch, a member of the
Young Mems Christian Association,
who had been doing voluntary detec-
tive work in spying out the saloon
keepers, as pendant from a gallows.
The cartoon reused Mr., Firch's ire,
anG he appeared as principal prosecu-
tor in the libel suit. The entire
Young Mems Christian Association
appeared at his back while behind the
victim Weiss appeared the entire
German population, though, as the
sequel shows, he was amply qualified
to night his own battle, with no aid
but his own humor. AT che opening
of the case the District Attorney sent
a bomb5hell into the German ranks
by claiming the ancient right Of the
stand aside" by which and by the
help of pjremptory challenges it was
possible tor him to make up a jury to
suit himself, and consequently not off
nature to suit Weiss, as he could
stand aside" all Germans. 0pposi
ton was at once made to this wholesale
disposition Of panels, but the District
Attorney showed that there was a
statute to that effect enacted in the
time Of Edward l., which had never
been repealed by Parliament or
Legislature, and was consequently
good law. Under such circumstances
the court OF course ruled in favor Of
the District Attorney.
The humorist was a sad man in
court that day, but underneath his
mask Of apparent sorrow he was con-
c%octing a scheme viii h was big with
fun, and was destined to explode the
whole court room-jury. prosecution,
court and all-With bursts OF laughter.
On the second day the humorist ap-
peared 10 court loaded down with all
the ancient legal lore that could be
found in the libraries and borrowed
from his friends. The sight was
viewed with CONSERVATION by the
court and jury. He addressed the
court to the effect that if unre-
pealed ancient procedure was good
law he had more of the same sort
which he must offer in his own behalf,
and which, OF course, the court must
rule as admissible or violate his prece-
dent just laid down. He would,
therefore, first claim the right to have
the Ease decided by ordeal" a statute
not yet repealed by Parliament or
Legislature, and therefore good law.
UnderIthis statute he could offer to
establish his innocence of any libelin
pieturing Mr.. Firoh pendant from the
gallows tree by putting his arm in
boiling oil or walking barefoot over
red hot plowshares, but inasmuch as
he had a method Of showing his limo
cence, which was superior to the
ordeal he would not insist upon the
latter, but would introduce the
wager Of battle statute not yet
repealed by Parliament or Legisla-
ture, and consequently as good law as
the stand aside, and equally ancient
Thereupon the humorist produced his
authorities and announced his pro
gramme as follows:
The judges and clergy are to assem-
BILE on a given day, aud before them
the accused person must fling down
his glove and declare his intention 10
defend the same with his body. The
prosecutor will then pick it up and
announce his readiness to make good
the appeal, body for body. Then both
men will bring out their battle axeE
or javelius, and, kneeling before the
judges, will make oath that the
weapons have not been charmed by
witchcrsft, etc. This done each is to
grasp his ak in the right hand, and
the left hand of the other in his left
The accused person to say: "Heal
this, D man, who eallest thyself John
Firch by the name OF baptism, that |,
who call myself Frank Weiss by the
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