The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-14
PANTOMIME IN A COURTROOM,
How Youthful Lawyer Won Suit
Over an Experienced Adversary.

columbus (ohio) Times.l
The attorney, at the date of the
story, 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 youthful and possi-
bly, verdant appearance for man
holding so responsible position. The
most conspicuous parsonage knwn to
the Vlnton bar at that time was
a grave and pompous barrister
from neighboring town. man
who had reached the middle age of
life, and with it an extensive practice,
profitable 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 attor-
ney referred to is living vet.
one of the most prominent iurists
i'll 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 illusions made to him dur
ing the examination by the imported
counsel, and so, when he came to
make his opening speech, he in
Obliged little in bombast himself.
He expected to be torn up somewhat
by the imported counsel, but was ut
terly unprepared for the simeon that
swept through the courtroom 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 jurors; he shook his finger in
the face of the young prosecutor and
shivered in imaginary horror at the
thought of so youthful a youth
undertaking to measure swords
with him. The voice was loud and
bitter in its denunciation; the gesticu-
lations were violent and demonstra-
tive; the manner threatening and awe
inspiring, and with face Of scorn he
sat down with folded arms and await
ed the verdict which he did not sup
pose they dared to refuse to render.
| The young prosecutor was mad. He
felt he would like to thrash the i'm
| ported 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-arching eyebrows he
scowled out at the jury. The jury
dropped on it in an instant. So did
the judge, so did the spectators. There
was the familiar pose of the imported
counsel, perfect in its imitation. Then
the young prosecutor began, and.
without opening his lips, proceeded
to copy the gesticulations and move
ments of the eminent attorney
who had preceded him. He
snorted and cavorted and stamped
and rolled his eyes. He strobe
up and down in front of the Judge
and jury, following in his gesticula-
lions precisely those of which they
had just seen the copy. He shook his
finger menacingly under the nose OF
the eminent gentleman, and then, as
Stunning the statesman-like pose, he
looked down upon him disdainfully
Then he would stop and twirl ON his
finger a 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. 1t was toe
much. The eminent attorney appealed
to the court for protection, while the
judge laughed until the tears rolled
down his cheeks and the jury and
spectators chuckled audibly. The
judge replied that the young man had
done nothing, had said nothing to him
and he did not feel called upon to in.
terfere with the argument. That
settled it. The imported counsel broke
for the door, and the jury, after fifteen
minutes absence, brought in a verdict
Of guilty.