The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-08-09
A Lawyers First Case.

Judge Shickleton relates an interest
ing reminiscence of the early days OF
Arkansas. Il came here said the
Judge, ''iust after had been admitted
to the bar in Northern State. Like
the average young lawyer, was poor
and actually thirsted for case. Short
ly after l arrived l went to a mountai4
district and stopped at small town
where there was considerable excite
ment over the trial of a young man
who had been indicted for murder.
The older lawyers were 10th to engage
in the prosecution, so the young Pros
ecuting Attorney was working single
handed. met him the second day after
my arrival, and when he learned that
was lawyer, he said:
eel am at present prosecuting, fol
murder, young fellow named Dawes.
He is guilty as guilty can be, and should
by all means hang, yeti fear, with 50
much opposition, that I will not be able
to assist justice to a proper punishment
of the terrible crime. Now, what I want
you to do is to assist me-
- studied the case carefully. made
every point so clear that I could see
| the jurymen shaking their heads when
an illustration was strikingly vivid.
/ The counsel for the defense, composed
of old lawyers whose fame had long
since been established, looked at me in
establishment. They met me and want
/ ed a compromise. | knew nothing but
! justice, and justice knew no comprO-
mise. Finally the case went to the ju-
ry. Within five minutes afterward q
verdict of guilty was rendered. The
young man was hanged. / moved to
another part of the State, where l soon
established a good practice.
Zone day about three years after
ward | met, at a Northern watering
place, beautiful young woman whose
| husband was dying of consumption.
The consumptive grew worse rapidly,
but his wife was still hopeful, for he
would talk of what he intended to do
when he recovered. One night about
! twelve o'clock | was summoned to the
! poor fellow room. He lay gasping for
breath, and his wife, even beautiful ia
grief, sat holding his hands. The end
soon came, and l saw her bow her head
! in despair.
% 1 did not see Mrs. Delure, the fair
widow, for few days after the funeral
Then she came to tell me goodbye.
"' When the memory of your hus-
band affords melancholy pleasure, in
stead Of a deep grief, will you not write
to me?' l asked.
al don't know she replied. L
don't feel as though | shall ever again
feel disposed to write, but l thank you
for the deep interest you have taken in
me, and hope to some day meet you
again
g I returned to Arkansas and resumed
my practice, but business cares did not
remove the image of that beautiful face.
Two years passed and [ heard nothing
from Ella, as l had learned to think of
her. AT last 1 determined to 90 again
to the watering-place. One evening
after had been there few days. l was
strOlling on the mountain when [
CHANGED to stroll near Delure's grave.
Hearing voices I approached cautious
ly. l stood behind q tree. The moon
came out, and 1 saw Mrs. Delure and a
man sitting near the grave.
- / can not marry yOu,' she said.
/ You have been very kind to me, and
have greatly aided me in getting my
school, but [ can not marry you
DO you ever expect to marry again?'
he asked.
Il don't know. There is one man
whose memory l love. He was with
me when my husband died. If l were
to ever marry any one would marry
him. l promised to write to him, and
have tried a dozen times, but each let
ter seemed like a love letter.
Il could stand no more, and exclaim-
ing Ella Irushed from my hiding place
and caught her in my arms. The man
looked on for moment and turned
away.
Our arrangements were soon COM
pleted. Our wedding was quiet and
simple, and Immediately after the cere-
mony we started for my home in Ar
kansas.
I'VE began housekeeping at once;
and / know there was not happier
man in town than l. One evening while
Ella and l were sitting in the twilight
she said:
'''I never saw man so little inter-
csted in ones history as you are. You
have been acquainted with me for long
time now, and have never asked me
anything about my former SELF
'''YOur present self, l replied, be-
longs to me; your former self did not.
am never anxious about anything that
does not belong to me-
'''D Do you know that used to live in
this Statet'
g Did you?' asked in surprise.
Yes she said, in saddened tone.
L have been three times married. My
first husband was named Dawes, but he
was bad man, and died by the hand OF
the law
Great heavens! had hung her hus-
band. "-ArkGnSd1U Traveller.