Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-11-15
A Good Story of stephens and
1OOmbs.

que, Tor attending the vile Of the latter,
Alexander II. Stephens was on the
Bennett side, and Robert Toombs. then
Senator OF the United States, was for
DR.. Royston. The Doctor proved the
number of his visits, their value ac
cording to local custom, and his own
authority to do medical practice. Mr..
Stephens told his client that the phys.
iciaa had made out his case, and as
there was nothing wherewith to rebut
or offset the claim the only thing left
to do was to pay it. mo, said Peter,
II hired you to speak in my case, and
now speak"
Mr.. Stephens told him there was
nothing to say; he had looked on to see
that 1t was made out, and it was.
Il will, said Peter Bennett. "if
Bobby ToOmbs will not be too hard
on me"
Senator Toombs promised, and
Peter began:
Gentlemen Of the jury-you and |
is plain farmers, and If we don I stick
together, these ere lawyers and doc
tors will git the advantage of us. |
amt no objections to them in their
proper places, but they amt farmers,
gentlemen Of the jury"
Nov this man Boyston was a new
doctor, and | went for him to conc
an to doctor my wife s sore leg. And
he ccme and put some salve truck on
to it aud some rags, but never done it
one biz of good, gentlemen of the jury.
L don believe he is no doctor, no
way. There is doctors as is doctors
sure enough, but this man don't earn
his money; and if you send for him,
as Mrs. Sarah Atkinson did, for a
negro boy as was worth $1,000, he Just
kills him and wants pay for it.
II don't" thundered the doctor.
Did you cure him?" asked Peter,
with the low accents Of a judge with
black cap on.
The Doctor was silent, and Peter
proceeded:
AS was a sayin' gentlemen of the
jury, we farmers, when we sell our
cotton, has got to give vally for the
money We ask and doctors are none
too good to be put to the same rule.
And | don't believe this Sam ROystOn
is no doctor, no how"
The physician again put in his oar
with: Look at my diploma, if you
think | am no doctor"
His diplomat" exclaimed the new
tiedged orator, with great contempt.
His diploma. Gentlemen, that is a
big word for printed sheepskins, and it
didn't make no doctor Of the s heep as
first wore, nor does it of the man as
now carries it, aud | pint out to you
that he amt no doctor at all.
The man of medicine was now in a
fury and screamed out" Ask my parents
if I'm not a doctorl"
II asked my wife" retorted Peter,
"and she said as how she thought you
WASH |"
Ask my other PATIENTS" said DR..
Royston.
This seemed to be the straw that
broke the camel's back for Peter
replied with a look and tone of un-
utterable sadness:
That is hard saying, gentlemen
of the jury. Does he expect me to
bring the Angel Gabriel down to toot
his horn before the time, and cry,
Awake ye dead, and tell this court
and jury your opinion Of Rlyston's 5
practice? Am | 10 go to the tomb
and say to um as is at last at rest
from physic aud doctors bills, git up
here you, and state if you died a nat
ural death, or was hurried up
some by doctOrs?' He says
ask his patients, and gentle.
men Of the Jury they are all
dead Where is Mrs. BeaSleys man
Sam2 Go ask the wormsin the grave
yard where he lies. Mr.. Peak s
woman Sarah was attended by him
and her funeral was app'inted, and he
had the corpse ready. Where is that
likely Bill as belonged to Mr.. Mitch
ell? Now in glory, an expressin' his
opinion on Reyston's doctorin'
Where is that baby gal of Harry
Stephens She are where the doctors
cease from troublin and the infants
are at rest
Gentlemen Of the jury he has eat
chickens enough at my house to pay
for the salVe and | furnished the rags,
an | don't suppose he charges for
maxim OF her worse, and even he
don't pretend to charge for ourin' her,
and am humbly thankful tIat he
never gave her nothin' fer her inwards,
as he did his other patients, for
sumethin' made 'em all die mighty
sudden"
Here the applause made the speaker
sit down in great confusion and in
spite Of logical 1estatement. in the
case by Senator Toombs the Doctor
lost and Peter Bennett won.